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Topic ClosedIs sway control needed with electronic sway?

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Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Is sway control needed with electronic sway?
    Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 2:35pm
Originally posted by rcase13

I wish they made sway control without WDH that you could backup with. I ran the friction sway control in past. Not for me.

They do... It's called friction... What was the issue I wonder? 
I loved it! Adjusted according to the need/requirement. 
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rcase13 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 2:30pm
I wish they made sway control without WDH that you could backup with. I ran the friction sway control in past. Not for me.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 2:20pm
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.
Mike Carter
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Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 2:18pm
My Taco is also equipped with sway control. As stated, pertains mostly to the truck (and it's load), not what's being towed. It's a whole different physic's thing that Offered could better explain. Mine is not electric, as electric deals with operating the brakes, which I don't consider a good sway control method. It will get you out of trouble, as it arises (which it will at some point). 

I removed my WDH, as I learned more about and found with proper packing the Taco sat well without. I did add a sway control hitch, which I will say all should have. Let's just say for most cases you don't require the sway control. You just lower the pressure and travel. Yet when you hit that 'cross-wind danger' area, you can walk back there and tighten up. Insurance well worth having, IMHO.

Last run on the way back (last week) we crossed a gap in Virginia that Semi's were on their side up against the guard-rail. Ya, there will come a time you may really wish you had it. 

MHO is yes you do still require.

Safe Travels!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 12:49pm
We have almost the same truck (a 2015 with a lower-numerical rear diff) and find the WDH is needed to deal with headlight aiming. You can mitigate for that with airbags or super springs or sumo spring, or "something". The WDH deals with it.

bp
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 6:39pm
If anyone is interested this is the text from the manual. So this system is as others have said a reactive system. I have decided to load the trailer and truck properly using the advice from above. If the system comes on at all I will know I need to either redistribute load and/or look into away control. I will give the built in brake controller a chance.

Trailer sway control
Your vehicle is equipped with trailer sway control. When properly
equipped, trailer sway control will use the vehicle’s AdvanceTrac-
with
RSC-
system to detect and help reduce trailer sway by applying brake
force at individual wheels and, if necessary, by reducing engine power.
WARNING: Trailer sway control does not prevent a trailer from
swaying, it mitigates the sway from increasing once it has
occurred. If you are experiencing trailer sway it is likely that the trailer
is improperly loaded for the correct tongue weight or the speed of the
vehicle and trailer is too high. Pull the vehicle-trailer over to a safe
location to check the trailer weight distribution and tongue load and
reduce speed to a safe level while towing. If trailer sway is
experienced, SLOW DOWN.
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jato View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 5:46pm
+2 to OG and sway control.  My old '94 F-150 had no fancy stuff, just a stick shift V-8 5.0 litre with 322,000 miles and no issues.  Now this newer fancy '17 F-150 I purchased used in 2019 has traction control yet I still feel good using the same Curt anti-sway ($ 50) bar on this new vehicle that I also used when the TV was '08 Explorer or '13 Explorer over the last 8 years.  To date now 36,000 + miles on our 10 year old 177 and except for a few times, have almost always towed with the Curt anti-sway bar link.  Not 1 issue ever.  Do you need it for your setup?  The above posters make that rather clear.  Do I?  With at least 11% or more tongue weight probably not, just a habit I have had and for me not a big deal to hook up, takes maybe 20 seconds.  Just have to remember to loosen it before backing up, otherwise I will have an issue.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 4:52pm
The integrated brake controls many truck/SUV builders install as an option are excellent in my opinion.  Ford has led that effort for years.  GM was behind on the effort.  There is no need to add another brake controller IMHO.  Plus 1 to OG the sway control which my Chevy also has, has nothing to do with trailer sway, it's a traction control system for the truck.  Maybe your owners manual might help explain.  I'm towing my Pod with an integrated brake control and a 60 buck friction sway bar.  Works fine.  No issues 5 years.
Mike Carter
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 4:32pm
When you have a tow vehicle that weighs about twice what the trailer weighs, AND your trailer has proper weight distribution, (tongue weight ) then the likelihood of severe and uncontrollable sway is almost non-existent, and becomes even less of a problem when you load up a lot of heavy items (water jugs, generator, fuel, coolers, cases of drinking water, spare tires, camping supplies, etc in the bed of the truck, AHEAD of the rear axle. 

With your setup you can load the trailer with even more tongue weight than normal, (2 house batteries and 2 full propane tanks will help) up to around 20% and your trailer will absolutely behave itself. 

This is 'towing authority' and my rig has it also. 

Enjoy!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 4:22pm
I wouldn’t count on the truck’s electronic sway control since that doesn’t directly control the trailer, only differentially applies the truck brakes to try to mitigate sway effects on the TV. But you’re probably fine at 12% tongue weight. If you want you can add a simple friction antisway bar for around $60.
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