
While sway bars can be a real lifesaver in reducing trailer sway and improving the overall stability of the travel trailer and tow vehicle, there are a few possible drawbacks to keep in mind.įor starters, sway bars can be a bit of an added expense, especially if you're opting for fancier models or multiple sway control bars.Īdditionally, the added weight of sway bars and other control devices can reduce fuel efficiency and put extra strain on your trusty towing vehicle.Īnother potential downside is that hitch sway bars can limit your trailer's maneuverability, making backing up or navigating tight spaces more of a challenge.Īnd, of course, improper installation can be a real headache, potentially making vehicle sway worse rather than better and making you and your passengers less safe. You'd be surprised how much better it can feel. They also help reduce the amount of wear and tear on your vehicle's suspension system over time by absorbing some of the shock force from bumps in the road.Įven if you weren't having severe swaying issues, a stabilizer or anti-roll bar can make the ride smoother. Sway bars keep the trailer steady, which makes it much more comfortable to tow. Do Sway Bars Improve Ride Quality of the Tow Vehicle?

One surefire way to know if a trailer sway bar is a good choice is if you experience mild trailer sway at lower speeds.
Travel trailer equalizer bars manual#
Thankfully, many high-end campers and trailers come with a factory-installed sway bar, or multiple, for added safety check your user manual to confirm if you have sway bars pre-installed. Generally, the heavier it is, the more likely you are to need sway bar hitches. Your need depends on the size and weight of your trailer. Do I Need a Sway Bar or Weight Distribution Hitch for My Camper or Trailer? This helps prevent accidents caused by instability at high speeds and on sharp turns.įor those of you who want more control over your ride, there are adjustable sway bars available that allow more customization to fit the sway bar to your tow vehicle. Sway bars are designed to counteract and minimize body roll.Ī sway bar connects directly to opposite wheels, like the left and right wheels of a trailer, together in doing so, the sway bar ensures that the force can be proportionally distributed between them to keep the body steady. When this uneven weight distribution or force happens, you may find your trailer swaying back and forth when driving, which is incredibly dangerous. It's like how your car can lean to the side when you get in. The heavier the load on one side of a trailer, the more the body will want to tilt in that direction. Trailer sway comes from the tilting of the body of a vehicle or trailer due to forces interacting with weight distribution. Ready to make your next towing adventure as smooth as a dolphin's glide through the ocean? That's the ultimate RVer's dream, anyway. or higher capacity springs.When it comes to towing a travel trailer, the most important factor is the weight distribution between its axles. rated axle should be matched with two 2,000 lb. Also note that spring capacity is given per each spring-thus a 4,000 lb.Each of our springs will have the bushing size listed in the description. Most leaf springs we sell include a 9/16" ID bushing in the closed eye, however some are supplied with a 1/2" ID bushing.An inside diameter of 9/16" is the most common size, but some older trailers used 1/2" bushings/bolts.The inside diameter of the bushing in the attaching eye of the spring needs to match the shackle bolts and spring hanger holes used to mount spring.Measure from the center of front bushing in a straight line to the end of spring for HOOK-END, FLAT-END and RADIUS END leaf springs.

Travel trailer equalizer bars free#
Measure the length of the spring when the spring is not under load (jack up trailer by the frame), this is the free length of the spring.Count the number of leaves, each layer of spring metal is considered a leaf.Match the existing spring according to its shape and type (double eye, slipper-open eye end, slipper-hook end, slipper-flat end, or slipper-radius end), Length and Width.
