Friction Sway Control vs. Weight Distribution and Integrated Sway Control for 20-Foot Trailer

Updated 09/07/2017 | Published 09/05/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Reese Friction Sway Control Kit - Economy - by Draw-Tite, Reese and Hidden Hitch

(486)

$74.53

Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System w/ 4-Point Sway Control - 6,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW

(840)

$825.00

Question:

I just purchased a trailer that is 20.6 ft long and fully loaded weighs 4000 lbs. Do I need a sway bar?

asked by: Steve M

Expert Reply:

When a trailer weighs more than half the weight of the tow vehicle, quite likely in the case of your 4000-lb trailer, there will typically be a need for sway control.

There are two types of sway control, the stand-alone friction bar style like # 83660 and those shown on the linked page, all of which use controlled friction to help stop trailer sway, and the integrated type of sway prevention that comes with weight distribution systems (WD/SC). These systems both equalize the load on the tow vehicle axles (moving trailer tongue weight forward onto the front axle) and also prevent trailer sway by keeping the trailer in line with the vehicle.

Friction systems can certainly provide a handling improvement as compared to nothing at all, but even with two of them installed on the trailer they will not provide the same overall handling improvement that comes from an integrated WD/SC system like the Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System with 4-Point Sway Control, part # EQ37060ET, which would work for a trailer like yours with tongue weight in the range of 500-lbs.

expert reply by: Adam R