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Sway Bars Needed? |
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dsmiths 
Senior Member 
Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Location: Southern Ind Online Status: Offline Posts: 866 |
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 Topic: Sway Bars Needed?Posted: 06 Apr 2014 at 9:44pm |
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I tow with a simple friction bar anti sway bar. I have also towed 100 miles down the Interstate at speeds around 60 or 70 without any sway bar and never experienced a problem. I tow with a 08 Chevy Trail blazer and it has a long wheelbase and is a very stable platform. I guess its what you tow with and what you are comfortable with. I have never had any problem with sway, tuck or whipping motion period. I do put the single friction sway bar on most of the time. Tow with what you are comfortable with.
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Dane and Donna Smith
2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
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GrapeSoda
Newbie 
Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 8 |
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Posted: 12 Apr 2014 at 8:35am |
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Does anyone know of a sway bar that doesn't require any welding, drilling or tapping into the frame to install?
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CharlieM
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
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Posted: 12 Apr 2014 at 9:40am |
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If you are looking for only sway control (no WDH) you can find a friction sway bar that clamps to the trailer frame, but you will have to get a sway control ball welded to the hitch itself somewhere. Several companies make these units. The easiest and most complete solution, completely bolt/clamp on with no drilling or welding is to go for the WDH plus sway control combination. The Fastway/Progress Mfg. E2 is an example, but others such as Blue Ox, Husky, EAZ-Lift, Reese and Andersen make competing products.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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Hairy Podders
Senior Member
Joined: 05 Mar 2014 Location: Northwest Ohio Online Status: Offline Posts: 217 |
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Posted: 12 Apr 2014 at 12:26pm |
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Charlie is right. Our Blue Ox WDH with sway control is completely bolt on. No welding or drilling required.
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Darryl, Julie & Lindsey
Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
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GrapeSoda
Newbie
Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 8 |
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Posted: 12 Apr 2014 at 3:15pm |
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Maybe I should clarify.. I have an ezlift WDH but don't want to drill, tap, weld or otherwise invade the structure of the RPOD frame to install sway control. I thought there would be some sort of clamp on type but I can't seem to find one.... bah
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp 
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
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Posted: 12 Apr 2014 at 5:35pm |
The one we used with our popup had a plate that laid underneath the 2" ball, which had the smaller sway bar ball. No welding.
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2021 at 7:50pm |
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If you don't like sway bars, look into the Hayes Sway-Master or the Tuson Sway control which uses GPS and gyroscopes to detect speed and sway conditions. If sway exists, the devices will activate the trailer's brakes (Hayes, both or Tuson, individually) to bring the trailer back into line. It is a good alternative to a sway bar if Weight Distribution and/or sway bars is not desired.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Colt
Senior Member
Joined: 16 Nov 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 383 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2021 at 8:31pm |
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Just so we all are unconfused and, unlike my brother, assume traditional stabilizer bars, perhaps properly called anti-body roll bars and often called anti-sway bars have no effect on trailer sway at all. He added heavy front and rear stabilizer bars to his Tundra's suspension because some trailer sway alarmed him. Then added a WDH with sway control that helped.
Trailer sway is an instability caused by the center of gravity of the trailer being too far to the rear. My 180 is very stable with 14% on the tongue, but I run a friction sway damper, just in case. Just in case, turned out to be not flushing the black tank well enough. LOl! |
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John
'16 R-Pod 180 |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2021 at 8:38pm |
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It isn't just too little tongue weight that causes sway. You can be properly loaded and have sufficient tongue weight and still encounter conditions that cause sway. I know. I've been there. That is why I got the Hayes Sway-Master which I use in conjunction with an Equal-i-zer hitch (belt and suspenders approach).
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Pod People
Senior Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2021 at 8:58pm |
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this topic has been covered many, many times. The "search function" will give lots of responses. My take is that a weight distribution hitch with integrated sway is the safest way to go. It is not essential, but I am happy to spend the $$$ for safety and peace of mind. I have towed 3 different R Pods with 3 different tow vehicles Chevy Astro, Honda Pilot and Ford Expedition EL) thousands of miles including 2 cross country(NC to Washington State) trips. All of those miles used an Equalizer 4 point wdh hitch system with built in sway control. When roads are smooth and there are no sudden changes necessary, you probably don't need them unless you are dealing with weight/loading/balance issues. However, when you have that blowout or the passenger side tire drops off the pavement edge or other sudden change, sway may suddenly becomes a BIG issue. Like any other form of insurance, you only need it when you least expect it. Most of the time, if you don't have it the first time, you will have it next time and hope you don't need it. I am sure that my Ford Expedition EL will tow without either wdh or anti-sway, but I will always use it.I think it gives me more stability and safety without being difficult to use. Everyone has their own opinion and can justify it. safe travels Vann
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Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 
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