Comparing Friction Anti-Sway Units to Actual Weight Distribution/Say Control System  

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A friction-style anti-sway bar like # 83660 and the similar items shown on the linked page can help the handling of smaller trailers like pop-up campers but for a 25-foot tandem-axle travel trailer like your StarCraft Autumn Ridge 21FB the best way to deal with sway is not a "Band-Aid" type solution like the friction bars, but instead an actual weight distribution and sway prevention system that not only stops sway before it starts but that also redistributes some of your trailer's tongue weight (TW) forward to the vehicle's front axle. Moving TW forward means your vehicle's steering and braking performance will not suffer from the trailer tongue weight lifting its front end.

This type of weight distribution/sway control (WD/SC) delivers far better performance than even two simple friction-style anti-sway arms. It will also allow you to back up your trailer, which cannot be done with friction units until you get out of the truck and disengage them. If not, they can be damaged. I suggest you have a look at the linked article and video on WD/SC which will give you more details about how they work.

I also linked our main page for WD/SC systems that prevent sway and that work with your trailer's electric brakes. These include the required shank component. All you need to know to select the correct system is the trailer's fully loaded tongue weight, with all your gear and supplies loaded, which you can measure with scale # e99044. To the trailer TW you will add the weight of any cargo in the tow vehicle that sits behind the rear axle, such as a generator or loaded cooler.

Once you know that total TW figure just use the linked page to click on that weight; you will then see systems rated correctly for your trailer. Since your 21FB has a dry hitch weight of 480-lbs, by the time you fill your water and propane tanks and load all your items, you will likely be at an actual loaded TW of more like 800-lbs. For this weight a system like the USA-made Equal-I-zer # EQ37100ET would be ideal. You want your total TW to fall near the middle of the system's operating range. This system works over a range of 600- to 1000-lbs.

expert reply by: Adam R

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