![]() ![]() If a load is not secured or is improperly positioned, then the load can shift during transit and have a negative impact. The wind is one of many things affecting the tow of a trailer. If you look in your tow mirror and discover the trailer moving out of line with your truck (encroaching or crossing the center line), you’ve got trailer sway. Because the side's surface area is larger than the front, this force can be intense.Įven a tiny gust of wind can push against the side of your camper or boat and cause it to move sideways. Wind forces also push against the sides of the trailer. The forward movement is caused by the towing vehicle and a drag force resisting that pulls (due to the trailer’s weight and wind resistance). Many unseen forces are acting on the trailer, wanting to pull or push it in different directions. There are a couple of reasons why a trailer might encounter trailer sway. Even worse, the trailer can become disconnected from the tow vehicle and become a multithousand-pound battering ram. ![]() If the trailer sways uncontrollably, it can cause the tow vehicle and trailer to jack-knife or flip over. Trailer sway is the side-to-side movement of a trailer that occurs when the physical forces from the side are more substantial than the force pulling the trailer. What is Trailer Sway and Why Is it Important? Knowing the ins and outs of trailer sway can help keep you, your family, and everyone else on the road safe and give you more time to spend making memories. A strong crosswind or even passing a semi-truck can create enough side drag on a trailer to make it lose control, jack-knife, or worse, kill someone. Whether you tow a camper, cargo trailer, boat, or something else, trailer sway is one of the most dangerous situations on the highway. The NHTSA reports that more than 55,000 accidents occur yearly involving a passenger vehicle and a towed trailer. The hitch is manufactured in Utah and is one of the most popular tow hitches on the market. Its four-point configuration transfers weight to each axle, which allows for superior weight distribution. The Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch is designed to help ease the effects of trailer sway. When you’re traveling on the highway and experience rough conditions, this bar will stay steady and prevent the trailer from moving closer or further from the tow vehicle. If you tow, you know that keeping s trailer from swaying all over the road is one of the most important things you can do. It is a solid bar that can lock into place at whatever length you choose. The adjustable type of sway bar connects directly to the tongue of the trailer and the hitch of the tow vehicle. Sometimes chains or adjustable bars are added for greater control or flexibility.Īdjustable sway bars are a bit less common these days, but they are still good pieces of equipment. With this model, the sway bar is built directly into the weight distribution hitch with no need for extra add-ons. Hitch sway bars are made with a pair of sturdy metal arms that connect the trailer to the hitch of the tow vehicle. The two main types are hitch sway bars and adjustable sway bars. Most campers on the market today come with sway bars pre-installed, so you don’t need to worry too much about seeking one out.Ĭamper sway bars come in a couple of different forms, but they all serve the same purpose. Some drivers find that sway bars make it harder to turn, but overall, the extra safety is worth it. They help prevent swaying on the highway and they can even save your vehicle from a dangerous crash or rollover. Sway bars are important pieces of safety equipment for RVs. They can be installed on vehicles to minimize body roll or on hitches to minimize camper sway. A sway bar is simply a device that stiffens side-to-side motion to minimize it. ![]()
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