Do Parts of Blue Ox SwayPro Weight Distribution System Wear Out

Updated 04/17/2017 | Published 04/15/2017

Question:

I have a Blue Ox Sway Pro an older unit that I purchased used. I tighten up the tension on the sway bars but it seems to immediately become loose after each tow. I also am experiencing extreme sway on windy days. Is there anything inside that could wear out and cause it to lose tension or is my new trailer too heavy for the sway bar that I own? The new trailer is 32, weighs about 9k lbs, and has about 850lbs tongue weight. Not sure which model sway pro that I own so I dont know the rating. But the sway I am experiencing is too excessive. Im considering purchasing the 3P hitch system but dont want to waste money if I can simply replace the blue ox if it is worn out.

asked by: JoeW

Expert Reply:

It is hard to say if your trailer sway problem is the result of worn parts in your Blue Ox Sway Pro weight distribution system, incorrect set-up, incorrect loading of the trailer or if this specific set-up simply is not rated correctly for your trailer's actual fully-loaded tongue weight (TW). Any one of these issues, or a combination, could be the cause for your handling concerns.

Weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) must be tuned to the actual trailer tongue weight. This is the sum of the loaded trailer's actual measured TW plus the weight of anything in the tow vehicle that sits behind the rear axle - say a big cooler or a generator - since that cargo weight will act just like trailer TW. We offer a handy scale # e99044 for measuring. Ideally your total TW will fall right near the middle of the system's operating range.

If your loaded trailer weighs 9000-lbs and your TW is only 850-lbs, then your sway could be a result of this too-light TW. TW should be around 12- to 14-pecent of the trailer's gross weight. Any less TW and your trailer's rear-end may be so heavy that it erupts into sway, like the weight at the end of a pendulum. Before re-installing your WD/SC system re-load your trailer to get its TW close to 14- or 15-percent. See how it handles. If the sway is reduced, then you can re-install the WD/SC system to see if gets you the rest of the way.

WD/SC systems like the Sway Pro can be fitted with replacement spring bars which are the parts rated for your trailer TW. You may simply need to replace the spring bars for a set more appropriately rated for your trailer's actual TW. If you can find any reference numbers on your current springs bars please let me know.

expert reply by: Adam R