Should a WD System with Sway Control be Used with a 2018 Toyota Tacoma that Includes Sway Control

Question:

2018 Tacoma 4x4 V6 double cab comes with the trailer sway control built in. Planning on towing a travel trailer weighing 5400 lbs. Do you recommend the weight distribution hitch to include additional sway control such as sway bars? Thanks

asked by: Chang W

Expert Reply:

I took a look at the online version of the owner's manual for your 2018 Toyota Tacoma and found on page 192 that if the trailer's weight is over 2,000 lbs then Toyota recommends using a sway control device. Because of this I highly recommend using a Weight Distribution (WD) system that includes a built-in sway control.

You will want to choose a WD system with a Tongue Weight (TW) range that the Total Tongue Weight (TTW) of your towing setup falls in the middle of. To find the TTW of your towing setup you will need to add the TW of your fully loaded and ready-to-go trailer along with the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. Keep in mind that a properly loaded trailer will have a TW that is 10-15% of the loaded weight of your trailer.

If your trailer weighs 5,400 lbs loaded then that means your TW should be in the 540 lbs - 810 lbs range. For that TW range I recommend going with the Strait-Line Weight Distribution System # RP66084 which has a TW range of 600 lbs - 1,200 lbs. This system features dual cam sway control arms that actually fight to prevent sway before it starts as opposed to correcting it after it has already begun like other systems do.

Everything that you need for towing with the WD system is included aside from a hitch ball. You can use part # A-90 for a 2" option or part # 19286 for a 2-5/16" option.

I have attached a review video for you to check out as well. If your TTW does not fall in the range of this WD system then let me know and I can make a different recommendation for you.