How Can You Tell if a Friction Sway Control Bar is Too Tight

Question

Question:

How can you tell if the friction sway bar is set too tight?

asked by: Chuck

0

Expert Reply:

If the Curt friction sway control bar # 17200 is too tight then it can bend or break, be excessively loud, or it may seem like the trailer is not wanting to turn. Otherwise it can be hard to tell if it is too tight. You will want it tight enough to work against sway but once you find that sweet spot I would not go much more than a 1/4 turn of the handle unless needed.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Answer 1

Yes, you can use sway control #17200 with Curt weight distribution hitch. But if the trailer gross weight is between 6,000 lbs and 10,000 lbs, you will need two sway-control units, one on either side of the trailer. You will also want to use two…

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Answer 2

A friction type sway control unit like the Curt #17200 should be adjusted so that it is not easy to move by hand, but still can be moved by the greater force from the moving trailer. You will need to do some road testing to find the correct…

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Answer 3

The Reese Friction Sway Control #83660 like what you referenced can be used either on the right or left side of a trailer. To switch sides you will need to remove the slide bar and then reinstall it upside down. For trailers 26 feet long or more,…

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Answer 4

The handle is actually the on/off switch for the unit and the bolt under the handle is the tension adjustment bolt. You will need to turn the On/Off handle clockwise (tighter) until the handle will stay firmly in place parallel with the main body of…

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Answer 5

The handle is actually the on/off switch for the unit and the bolt under the handle is the tension adjustment bolt. You will need to turn the On/Off handle clockwise (tighter) until the handle will stay firmly in place parallel with the main body of…

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Answer 6

If you are backing up in a straight line or with only slight turns then you can back up when using friction sway control such as #17200. But on unlevel terrain or if you have to make tighter turns while backing up (which at some point you will) then…

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Answer 7

If using a friction style trailer anti-sway control mechanism such as #17200 it is necessary to release the tension on the arm, or better yet, disconnect it completely from the sway control balls on the hitch and trailer. For many maneuvers releasing…

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Answer 8

I spoke to my contact at Curt and he informed me that there really isn't a factory preset tension that the #17200 will have. But in your case for a great starting point you will want to loosen the tension bolt till it no longer makes contact with…

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Answer 9

With friction sway control like #17200 you know it is too loose if the trailer is still swaying. If it is too tight then when you turn it will make a lot of noise (some noise is common) and it may get damaged when you turn. Start out moderately tight…

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Answer 10

The Equal-i-zer High-Performance Lubricant #EQ91-00-4250 can be added to the hitch ball and spring bar sockets on the hitch head of the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution #FA92-00-0800 to reduce the amount of squealing you are experiencing. Be sure to…

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Answer 11

You won't see too much information on how tight to make a bar style friction sway control unit because it will be different for every situation. You would make it about as tight as you think it needs to be and then tow the trailer to see if it…

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Answer 12

The best way to make sure you have the proper tension on a friction sway control bar is to just do some testing of your own. The reason for this is because the amount of tension needed will vary from trailer to trailer. The owner's manual for the…

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