Recommended Sway Control for 1800 lbs 13 Foot Scamp Travel Trailer

Updated 03/19/2015 | Published 03/18/2015

Question:

Question - Trailer sway controller? I have a 2008 Mercury Grand Marque and I will be pulling a 1,600 lb. 13foot Scamp trailer that will have an adult tricycle mounted on a cargo carrier behind the trailer 178 lb. total weight. If I determine that I need a sway controller, which one of your sway controllers would you recommend. Best

asked by: Harold W

Expert Reply:

Sway control is designed to be used in situations where the trailer sways under adverse conditions such as high winds or when large vehicles are passing causing the trailer to become unstable. Sway control also helps if you have to maneuver suddenly. Also if the trailer has a low tongue weight percentage the sway control can help to a point, but a weight distribution system will help more with this situation.

The best solution for sway that is present without the above mentioned adverse conditions is proper trailer loading. Your trailer's tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight, loaded and ready to travel. Sway control provides a level of safety for situations that can cause the trailer to become unstable. We have a question page (see link) that goes more in depth about sway control and weight distribution.

Sway control is not absolutely necessary for towing but is a factor that needs to be addressed if the trailer is unstable behind the vehicle. When first towing your trailer you should get up to speed slowly while monitoring the trailer because sway can show up dramatically as speed increases, especially if the trailer is improperly loaded.

The Friction sway control, like the Reese Friction Sway Control Kit, item # 83660, which you referenced, will help stop sway once it has started and is a good item to have installed for the conditions stated above, especially on smaller trailers such as the one you have.

Active sway control is more consistent than the friction type and is built into a weight distribution system for the best towing performance and safety.

expert reply by: Chris O