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Topic ClosedSway bar in the rain
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Sway bar in the rain
    Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 6:51am
mcarter, great information. Thanks for clarifying. Just drove back home from the WV mountains monday in the rain from Florence with the sway system engaged, makes me cringe now....
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:10am
Kind of a judgement call. Really about conditions where the trailer can lose traction, if that makes sense. If it does the sway bar can have a negative effect, by allowing the trailer to not follow directly behind the TV. For the same reasons, it is why it's recommended you don't back up with sway bar enabled.
Mike Carter
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Posts: 473 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:45am

Ok, there is potential danger when driving on 'wet', 'gravel', 'icy' or 'snowy' conditions due to loss of traction. 

Ice or snow of course are bad in themselves, with or without a sway control. 

On wet or gravel roads, we should just slow down out of prudence, anyway, and especially on turns. 

I'm curious, doesn't slowing down then take care of any sway problem by itself, and therefore the necessity for the sway control bar? 

Also, is this potential hazard true for weight distribution hitches too, which aren't so easy to remove.?

 
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:45am
Makes total sense mcarter. I can visualize hydroplaning the trailer wheels which in turn breaks the TV wheels lose via torque transmitted forward by the antisway system.  Thanks again for making that clear. 
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 8:49am
This may apply for a friction sway control bar, but I likewise question its validity for all situations. For example, the Equal-i-zer hitch I used to have would not have the ability to loosen the bars without affecting the WD which in turn would have made the front (steering) end of the TV lighter and would have made control more difficult. The Hensley hitch I have now also does not have the ability to lessen sway control since the way it is built, the TV must initiate turning. I think situational awareness and slowing down when conditions make traction questionable is the best way to address this.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 9:39am


Though it has been a while since I read the stuff, I recall nothing in the paperwork for my E2 600/6000 regarding disconnecting during rain/snow/gravel. I've towed lots on gravel and rain and lived to tell of it.

It would be interesting if those who own the various brands & types would send an email to the manufacturers of their equipment and see if they care to comment on the situation.



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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 9:43am
Sorry Guys but I'm not buying it yet. If left free to wander the trailer can exert all kinds of steering forces on the TV. With the sway system connected the TT has to act through the lever arm created by the front and rear wheels of the TV. The TV wheels usually have more weight on them and better slip resistant tires so they should hold better than the TT tires. Has anyone found another source other than Reese? If this is true any of us with Equal-i-zer, E2, Hensley or Andersen hitches are in trouble.

BTW, the reason friction sway controllers should be disconnected when backing is they will bend or break under the sharp angles encountered while backing. The friction device cannot withstand large compression forces and it crumples.
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Posts: 2628 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 9:50am
Originally posted by David

Though it has been a while since I read the stuff, I recall nothing in the paperwork for my E2 600/6000 regarding disconnecting during rain/snow/gravel. I've towed lots on gravel and rain and lived to tell of it.

It would be interesting if those who own the various brands & types would send an email to the manufacturers of their equipment and see if they care to comment on the situation.
The built-in friction of some WD hitches is a different situation than a purely friction-based anti sway bar. The first thing is they are distributing weight, and some tow vehicles need the weight distribution to make the TV/TT combo safe in the first place. If the front wheels of your TV are too light, that could be a far more dangerous thing than having "too much" sway control. That said, the built-in anti sway function of hitches like the E2 are relatively mild, and I doubt that they might contribute to this issue.

Secondly.... Towing your TT in snow or ice might be a questionable activity to begin with...
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 10:50am
A bit more reading and thinking and I conclude the problem is limited to the friction devices. These devices cannot withstand the severe compression forces generated if the trailer breaks free and swings sideways. Equal-i-zer, E2, Andersen, Hensley? No sweat; camp on.
Charlie
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 3:40pm
I agree with CharlieM, years ago I had a WDH, like David don't recall a warning. The warning was in install instructions with a friction sway.
Mike Carter
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