Is sway control needed with electronic sway?

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   So we have the RPOD 190 that weights about 3000lbs. loaded it weights about 3500lbs at the most. The truck is an 2012 F150 SuperCrew with 6.5' bed. It has the 3.73 gears with 4x4 and electronic rear locker. This configuration gives me 9100lb tow rating. The truck also has built in brake controller and has Fords electronic sway control.
My questions since I am so far under the tow rating and payload rating I should not need WDH. But what about sway? Is the electronics good enough if I keep tongue weight at 12% or more? I can buy the BlueOX if necessary but don't want to shell out $700 if I don't have to.

And finally I have no experience with the built in brake controller. Is it decent enough to use or should I use my old but trusty Prodigy P3?

Thanks so much for everyone's help. I know these are newbie questions but the truck is new to me and I am not familiar with Fords electronic sway or built in brake controller.

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rcase13 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Aug 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Topic: Is sway control needed with electronic sway? Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 4:05pm
	So we have the RPOD 190 that weights about 3000lbs. loaded it weights about 3500lbs at the most. The truck is an 2012 F150 SuperCrew with 6.5' bed. It has the 3.73 gears with 4x4 and electronic rear locker. This configuration gives me 9100lb tow rating. The truck also has built in brake controller and has Fords electronic sway control. My questions since I am so far under the tow rating and payload rating I should not need WDH. But what about sway? Is the electronics good enough if I keep tongue weight at 12% or more? I can buy the BlueOX if necessary but don't want to shell out $700 if I don't have to. And finally I have no experience with the built in brake controller. Is it decent enough to use or should I use my old but trusty Prodigy P3? Thanks so much for everyone's help. I know these are newbie questions but the truck is new to me and I am not familiar with Fords electronic sway or built in brake controller.
	2012 Ford F150 5.0l 157"WB 4x4 ELD 2021 R-Pod 190

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	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.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	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!
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	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 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3336	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.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

rcase13 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Aug 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	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.
	2012 Ford F150 5.0l 157"WB 4x4 ELD 2021 R-Pod 190

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2706	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 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Olddawgsrule Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014	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!
	Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	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 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

rcase13 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Aug 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	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.
	2012 Ford F150 5.0l 157"WB 4x4 ELD 2021 R-Pod 190