Sway Control Options for a Straight Tongue Trailer

Updated 04/23/2020 | Published 02/01/2018

Products Featured in This Question

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

(486)

$74.50

Tuson Trailer Sway Control System - Electronic - Up to 4 Axles

(44)

$492.94

Reese Pole-Tongue Adapter for Weight Distribution Systems - 14,000 lbs GTW, 1,400 lbs TW

(25)

$250.83

Question:

I have a 30 foot enclosed snowmobile trailer that Id like to add a Sway Control bar to, but the trailer has a straight tongue? I dont need weight dist. bars, just would like to add the sway control bar. Can that be done? I see kits that are Pole tongue adapters that let you add weight dist. bars but no adapter to get that little mini ball to mount away from the straight tongue. Any help would be great. Thanks!

asked by: David

Expert Reply:

I do have a possible solution for you to add sway control to your straight tongue trailer, but unfortunately adapters like part # RP58393 are not designed to be used with friction sway control units like you would find in the Kit # 83660.

If you have brakes on your trailer and power running to the 12V pin on your vehicle side 7-Way the Tuson # 335TSC-1000 is an option for you. It senses when your trailer starts to sway and activates the brakes on your trailer to counter the sway.

A few other qualifying factors is that you have a trailer frame that can be drilled into for the installation (some aluminum trailers frames cannot be drilled into per the manufacturer) and that you do not have a factory or integrated brake controller that you are using with your tow vehicle.

If you are unable to use the Hayes Sway Master then the only other option for you would be to install the tongue adapter and a WD system that has integrated sway control. Let me know if this is the case and I can help you find the correct system for your application.

expert reply by: Jon G

James V.

4/20/2020

I have 20 ft cutty cab, pull with a 2012 jeep liberty, trouble is have a straight tougue calkins boat trailer with swing out, need to add equalizer / anti sway bar. but your equipment say no swing out tougue. So whats next????

Chris R.

4/23/2020

Unfortunately with this kind of setup there's just not a good sway control system available. The straight tongue prevents a lot of the traditional setups and the swing-away coupler provides additional obstacles. If you're having a lot of trouble with sway, your best option is to just try and re-distribute some weight towards the front/tongue of the trailer. I realize this isn't too easy with a boat trailer, but maybe something like a gas tank or some cargo at the front will be enough to help.