Can Sway Control Be Used for Boat Trailer with Surge Brakes

Question

Question:

I need to tow boat and trailer. Total weight including the trailer around 5000 lbs. Tandem axle. My vehicle is LX 470 weighs around 6000 # and is rated to pull 6500 #. I looked up a sway control on your site,m but it said not with surge brakes. Whats up with that ?

asked by: Barry I

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Expert Reply:

I definitely have a solution for you, however as you mentioned in your question a standard friction sway bar like the Reese # 83660 or a full weight distribution system that uses this type of friction sway control cannot be used on trailers with surge brakes. This is because the tension they put on the tongue will limit the movement and effectiveness of the surge coupler (and thus your braking).

With all of that being said, there are still weight distribution systems with integrated sway control that are rated for use with surge couplers. For your 5,000 pound loaded trailer I really like the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution System # FA92-00-0800 that's completely compatible with surge brakes and features integrated 2-point sway control that will do a great job of limiting side-to-side movement during travel. You will just need to add a compatible hitch ball like the 2" # EQ91-00-6080.

Now if your boat trailer happens to have a straight pole tongue (instead of a standard A-frame), you can still use the Fastway system by adding the Pole-Tongue Adapter # EQ95-01-5950. This will mount to the trailer tongue to provide the proper mounting points for the Fastway L-brackets.

I have attached a couple short video reviews below that you can check out as well.

expert reply by: Chris R

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Answer 1

Yes, you can use the Reese Friction Sway control part #83660 without a weight distribution system. You would just need to use the tab part #RP26003 on the ball mount as well.

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Answer 2

I do have a recommendation as unfortunately the Friction Sway Bar #17200 is not surge brake compatible. Using a hitch like the Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System #EQ37100ET integrates sway control into the weight distribution. Best of all it…

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Answer 3

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…

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Answer 4

You do have a couple options but the Curt Ball Mount w/ Sway Control Tab #D320 is not available in a 10K weight capacity. You can use the similar Curt Ball Mount #C45310 rated for 10,000lbs and weld on a Sway Control Tab #C45822. We do also have…

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Answer 5

The adjustment of any friction sway control system, including the Reese #83660, is relatively simple. Basically, you will drive with the trailer loaded to determine if more or less tension is needed. Then you will either make it tighter or looser my…

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Answer 6

The Curt Rockerballs like the #C63KR will not interfere with your surge brakes. The movement they allow would not prevent the inertia of your vehicle applying the brakes from activating your surge actuator.

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Answer 7

Traditionally, trailer manufacturers did not use electric brakes on boat trailers because the brake magnet wiring and trailer wiring did not always have the best insulation or water protection. These days, more and more manufacturers are using…

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Answer 8

You would be just fine to drill the mounting brackets for sway control like part #83660 on your camper trailer. Your frame being the same dimensions as the bracket that attaches the friction sway control unit would be just fine.

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Answer 9

Most of the time releasing the tension is the most you'll need to do. However, if you find yourself in a situation where the trailer could jackknife, removing the entire unit would be your best bet. Removing the unit is very simple, all you need…

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Answer 10

I spoke with my contact at Reese and since the Friction Sway Control Kit, #83660, has not been tested on a Rockwood Freedom Pop-Up Camper trailer, we can not guarantee that the support mount on your trailer would not interfere with the operation of…

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Answer 11

Trailer hitches are rated in two ways. The most common rating is weight carrying. This rating is for towing a trailer with a standard ball mount that transfers all of the trailer tongue weight to the towing vehicle. The second rating is weight…

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Answer 12

The type of sway that you are getting won't get fixed by a sway control device as it's a loading issue in the trailer. Basically you don't have enough tongue weight in your trailer relative to the total trailer weight to allow the trailer…

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