Recommended Sway Control for Trailer Over 12,000-lbs  

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Independent friction-style trailer sway control systems like the Reese # 83660 can help with trailer sway in lighter trailers, and two of them can be used with trailers up to about 10K and 26-feet or more in length. For a trailer over 10,000-lbs you will need a dependent (or built-in) type sway control that works with a weight distribution system. Friction units simply cannot deal with sway in trailers over that weight.

The key to selecting a weight distribution/sway control system (WD/SC) is to know the trailer's actual fully loaded tongue weight (TW) and to this to add the weight of anything in the tow vehicle that sits behind the rear axle, say a generator or loaded cooler. This total effective TW figure will let you choose a system that is tuned correctly for your trailer's TW and deliver the weight shift and sway reduction you are looking for. I linked an article on weight distribution systems and also one on determining trailer tongue weight, such as by using a scale # e99044.

With that TW known you can use the linked page to select a system. Click on your total TW figure to see suitably-rated system that include sway control. For an example we'll figure on a TW of 1400 to 1500-lbs. A great choice for a trailer with electric brakes and this TW is the Reese Strait-Line trunnion system # RP66075. All you need to add is a shank and a hitch ball, such as # RP54977 and # 63840.

This system will not only prevent sway from starting, it will shift some TW forward onto the tow vehicle front axle to maintain traction for proper steering and braking.

expert reply by: Adam R

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