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Old 03-05-2012, 09:02 AM   #1
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Do I need a sway bar?

We have a TT, Salem Cruise Lite, 23', weighs 4,300 being pulled by our 2006 F-150 Lariat 5.4 Triton engine. We have a weight distribution hitch, and have towed it without problems for about 100 miles from the dealership to home. Do I really need sway bars?

I have discussed this with my RV center here, and they said that when a truck passes, we will feel it with or without the sway bars. He said to go without them unless we get excessive sway.

Any thoughts on this?
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Old 03-05-2012, 09:25 AM   #2
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I would install one as they cost less then $100 bucks. One bad sway could flip over the trailer and injurer people as well. opt on the side of safety. JMO
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Old 03-05-2012, 02:39 PM   #3
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If you have the weight properly distributed with the hitch, I doubt you will see any improvement with one of the friction sway bars--which I assume you are referring to.
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Old 03-05-2012, 04:26 PM   #4
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I have had them on all my trailers the last one i had i wore the pads out of they work great and help alot in windy conditions and when trucks pass wont tow with out one and they.cost less than a 100 bux as said above
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Old 03-05-2012, 09:45 PM   #5
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"excessive sway"? Really?
Any sway is waaay too much as it could quickly amplify into losing control.
I used one on my popup. Made the lashup feel like one single unit.
Buy and use a device.
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Old 03-06-2012, 02:32 PM   #6
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Okay, I think we have it now!

Just took your advice again, and bought a friction sway bar. We should be good to go now. Thanks for the input.
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Old 03-06-2012, 03:05 PM   #7
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Were in the same boat right now. Just sold my 24' tt which I used just a friction sway control (no weight distribution hitch). Worked OK...but never perfect,,,,semi's passing still caused a little push and pull problem that was tolerable.

Now were buying a new 25' tt which is heavier in the front. So now I do plan to buy a weight distribution hitch. The dry hitch weight is 525 lbs. I'm planning to get a 800# Reese trunnion setup. Does this setup come with the ears needed if I want to re-install my old friction sway bar? Or I might opt for the Reese "dual cam" anti-sway if I see that sway is a problem.

A friend of ours has a smaller 22' tt where he says just the weight distribution hitch is enough. He tows with a E-350 where as I tow with a shorter wheelbase Toyota 4-Runner.
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Old 03-07-2012, 05:39 AM   #8
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If you have a standard wd hitch then you may have to install the ball for the sway bar on the hitch you will also need to have the ball installed on the side of the TT. If you are looking at the Reese dual cam you may also want to check out equalizer hitch with sway control no need to drill holes in the trailer frame.
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Old 03-10-2012, 01:11 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buckeyes View Post
We have a TT, Salem Cruise Lite, 23', weighs 4,300 being pulled by our 2006 F-150 Lariat 5.4 Triton engine. We have a weight distribution hitch, and have towed it without problems for about 100 miles from the dealership to home. Do I really need sway bars?

I have discussed this with my RV center here, and they said that when a truck passes, we will feel it with or without the sway bars. He said to go without them unless we get excessive sway.

Any thoughts on this?
You need a sway bar to control any sway, exccessive or not, truck passing or not. TT's turning over start with a small sway and then it progresses to the point where you wont be able to stop it especially with a soft spongy F150 suspension and short wheelbase. The people at the RV center dont care if you wreck your rig or not if they have your money.
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Old 03-11-2012, 08:50 PM   #10
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I used to pull an 8800 lb wilderness TT with a GMC 3/4 ton Suburban using the Reese double cam lock equalizer/sway bar setup. I used that setup for 10 years until I went to a DRW truck as a tow vehicle. That is one of the most dependable and stable tow rigs on the market!
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