Recommended Weight Distribution/Sway Control System for 29-Foot Travel Trailer  

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The best trailer anti-sway systems are those that are integrated into a weight distribution setup. We do offer simple add-on friction-style sway control units like # 83660 that can be reasonably effective with smaller/lighter trailers but for a 29-foot travel trailer you will want to choose an integrated weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) system. This will not only prevent trailer sway but also will help keep the tow vehicle level.

The key to choosing a system is knowing your trailer's actual fully-loaded tongue weight (TW), with all gear and supplies, water and propane tanks filled, etc. The system needs to be tuned to your actual trailer TW in order for it to function properly. The weight of anything in the vehicle that sits behind the rear axle, say a loaded cooler or generator, also has to be factored in to the total TW. We offer a handy scale # e99044 but other methods for measuring TW are outlined in the linked article. Measuring the TW is critical to selecting the correct system.

Ideally your total TW figure will fall in the middle of the system's operating range. A properly-loaded trailer that weighs 7000-lbs will have a TW in the range of 850 to 1000-lbs (about 12 to 15-percent of gross weight). So for this TW a WD/SC system rated for between 800- and 1200-lbs would be ideal, such as the Equal-i-zer 4-Point system # EQ37120ET.

This system actually prevents sway from happening, instead of trying to stop it once it starts. The system's frame brackets are fairly small, making it easier to fit them on many trailer frames. These need to mount to the trailer frame between 27- and 32-inches back from the hitch ball. This systems comes complete with everything, even a 2-5/16-inch hitch ball. Thin-walled socket # EQ70-00-4800 is recommended for ball installation.

expert reply by: Adam R

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