How to Prevent Trailer Sway
Updated 06/03/2025 | Published 07/04/2015
Question:
Looking for sway control possibly with weight distribution. It seems to make sense to purchase a product with both systems as a single unit as opposed to purchasing a sway control product separate from a weight distribution product. So I guess that is part of my dilemma as I dont have to much budgeted for a solution. I think the sway control is probably more important. I am trying to stay away from drilling into my frame and I see that I will need a new mount or mount adapter if I use the friction sway control. I am trying to distinguish from all the different products. Can someone whelp me narrow it down? Thanks,
asked by: Peter
Expert Reply:
To fight trailer sway your best defense is proper trailer loading. If you can load your trailer so that 10 to 15 percent of the total weight of the trailer is tongue weight you will be doing well.
Sway control can help with sway from intense wind or from a passing semi-truck, but it will not fix a trailer that wants to sway at a certain speed.
Weight distribution will take some of the tongue weight and actually distribute it back up to the front axle of the trailer which will also help with sway. It will also help with sagging rear suspension and improve handling/braking.
Without knowing what you are trying to accomplish it's hard to say what would be your best bet, but a weight distribution with sway control would be a great option
The best way to pick out a weight distribution system is to base it off of the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow. This figure also includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. I attached a help article on determining tongue weight for you to check out as well. You will want the loaded tongue weight of your setup to fall right in the middle of the tongue weight range of the system you use.
I attached a couple help articles for you to check out. A Strait-Line system like part # RP66083 would be great if your tongue weight fell in it's range of 400 lbs - 800 lbs.
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Paul
6/3/2025
One very common fault is to have the hitch ball too high. The trailer should be level or hitch down. Hitch up will cause bump steer in the wrong direction with most suspensions and cause the trailer to weave uncontrollably.