Should Friction Sway Control be Used with Dual Cam Setup of Strait Line

Question:

I have a strait line trunnion bar weight distribution system. I am towing with a 1500 suburban and a 31foot Cruiser RV Shadow Cruiser within weight limits. The sway is pretty bad and I was looking at adding a sway control bar. Is it bad to add the sway control bar to the strait line system? It is advertised as providing sway control, but even a honda civic passing me caused the whole thing to swerve last time... The hitch and bars were set up by my rv dealer. What would the downside be of adding the sway control bar? If I shouldnt add it, do you have good guidance of how to maybe set up the bars better? Thank you!

asked by: James M

Expert Reply:

The dual cam setup of the Strait Line systems is going to be much more effective than a friction sway bar like you are interested in. Adding a friction sway control device would not stop what you are experiencing. Your best way of fighting the type of sway you are getting would be to get more tongue weight on the trailer as an inadequate amount of tongue weight relative to the total trailer weight is the biggest cause of sway. So if you can move weight forward in the trailer that will be your best option.

Another thing to check is to make sure the trailer is sitting as level as possible too. If it's too nose high this will have a similar effect as having not enough tongue weight.

For the occasional sway caused by high winds and passing semis (not civics) we have the Tuson Asymmetric Sway Control # 335TSC-1000 which senses sway and will apply the trailer brakes to stop it.

expert reply by: Jameson C