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Topic ClosedIs sway control needed with electronic sway?
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Is sway control needed with electronic sway?
    Posted: 22 Feb 2021 at 10:27am
Even with a wdh you still end up a little lower at the rear axle. The purpose of a wdh is to bring the front axle weight back up to what it was without the trailer, not to make the tow vehicle level. Sounds like you will be fine as is.

Note that the 190 like my 179 has the fresh water tank forward and the gray tank aft. So if you carry water like I do that water weight shifts rearward as you use it. That creates a change in tongue weight of about 3% of trailer weight, which is quite a lot, making the trailer more prone to sway on the return trip than the outbound trip. Just something to keep in mind.
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rcase13 View Drop Down
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Posts: 25 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2021 at 9:35am
So went out on our maiden voyage. Towed about 4 hours. There was some windy points along the route. No issues at all with towing without WDH or sway control. The wind or passing semis had no effect.

I have no issue purchasing the right equipment. I will continue to monitor the situation but setting up the tongue weight properly and making sure the height is perfect at the hitch seems to have been all that was needed. I also measured the sag in back and did not notice anything. It lowered the back by only an inch or two. But we didn't tow at night so the jury is still out on the headlight issue.
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2021 at 11:24am
Thanks G2, I'm going to monitor mine more closely.
Mike Carter
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Posts: 2706 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2021 at 9:58am
Originally posted by mcarter

G2, I do recall you said you were using a WDH.  I have a 14 Chevy Z71 and don't get a drop enough to effect headlights.  Surprised a Ford drops that much.  I do have 380 lbs on tongue weight.
I don't know that it is that much. The one time we towed without it happened to be when we were evacuating for the CZU fire complex. It was 3AM when we left, so I decided to not bother with the WDH. It towed just fine, and the truck did not appear to have much (or any) squat. However, as I drove down the road, I noticed the headlights were above where they ought to be. I don't think it takes much to affect headlight aim, so it was a lesson learned.
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Posts: 333 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 4:29pm
I have the Hayes system and it has worked great for me.  Was heading to Fort Myers Beach with wind gusts of about 40-45 and you could feel the brakes go on as soon as the gust hit and the trailer snapped back straight.  My Escape has the built in anti sway.....haven't noticed it working but you can definitely feel when the Hayes is activated.  I think you can send the Hayes unit to the factory to have programmed for the GM vehicles.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 3:53pm
So I think it’s not that complicated what sway control on the TV does. There are inertial sensors in the truck that look for yaw and if they see it they apply rear braking on the wheel opposite the direction the rear of the truck is heading which will tend to pull the truck back in line. That will tend to straighten out the whole rig but it’s not as positive as applying braking action to the trailer wheels like the Hayes system will do, which should immediately get the trailer back behind you where it’s supposed to be. Not sure why the Ford anti sway system doesn’t activate the trailer brakes via the integrated brake controller but it doesn’t sound like it does. At least I couldn’t find anything suggesting it did.

In any case, if you don’t like friction antisway bars then StephenH’s suggestion to go with Hayes or another electronic system is a good one. Even if Ford’s system activated the trailer brakes it can never be as good as a system that is monitoring trailer yaw which is going to be more severe and sooner than TV yaw in a sway event.
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Posts: 25 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 3:36pm
Nice thanks, I never heard of these before. That Hayes is plug and play and less then $300.
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Posts: 6418 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 3:28pm
Electronic sway control such as that from Hayes or Tuson provides the safety without affecting the ability to back up. There is nothing to bend or squeak. It works (certain caveats for GM vehicles IIRC)  with vehicle integrated brake controllers also.
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 3:09pm
Biggest issue I have seen with them is over tightening.  I back up short distances with mine, if its making noise it is to tight.
Mike Carter
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Posts: 25 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 2:49pm
The friction I had, had to be removed before backing up. I forgot once and bent it. Also it squeaked like crazy. I hated the damn thing. LOL

Most importantly my wife hated it.
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