Sway Bar attachment?

[Toaster]

Ok, I have a small like 3/4 ball on the front A frame, and a small ball on the side of the trailer hitch itself I've now just now heard about this trailer anti sway bar. I have 2 rods, about 24" attached by chain, is this it, or what does it look like? Mounts from A frame to ball hitch on pull vehicle. :-\

Ah, this is what mine looks like, that's what that's for!

http://www.americanlisted.com/delaware_8/misc_117/trailer_anti-sway_bars_and_receiver_150_placerville_14529876.html

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

That's for a friction-type anti-sway mechanism. They work well enough IF you can figure out the proper adjustment, i.e. tight enough to be effective but not so tight that it binds in normal turns. In my opinion, most people end up with the sway bar set too loose and thus pretty much useless, but I don't have any real data to support that.

Here are a couple examples:
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-hitches/friction-sway-control-ez-lift.htm
http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Curt/17200.html

 

[Toaster]

Ok, thanks

 

[Toaster]

Ok, just wondering if you know how to attach the chains. Looked at it today and those are the only thing I don't get. It looks like this: The chains at the rear.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-hitches/friction-sway-control-ez-lift.htm

 

[Toaster]

Ah, ok, I think I have this figured out. Its an older model, so there aren't any pics I can find. The chain has to be tightened, with an upward motion of the clamp thing. I guess you could use a pipe. The chain might just lock into the clamp thing on an off link.  ???

 

[Mopar1973Man]

Typically there is a short piece of pipe or EMT tubing that you use to lower the hook and hook the chain. If you can't reach the chain you can hitch up and jack the tongue of the trailer so your lifting both RV and truck and then you'll be capable of grabbing any link in the chain. The whole idea to adjust the bars to so the tow vehicle sits level with the RV hitch up. So check your RV and truck to see if they are level.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

The chains are not related to the sway control, though. The chains are for putting tension on the weight distribution bars (aka spring bars).  The right amount of tension is critical for proper trailer balance and safe towing. See this library article for the adjustment technique.

http://www.rvforum.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=195:using-a-adjusting-a-weight-distributing-hitch&catid=26:towing-and-towables&Itemid=45

 

[Toaster]

Ok, thanks. On these, I think you have to just put a chain link in them, and I suppose use some sort of pipe to tension it. Here is a bad pic, but maybe you could check it out:

 

[garyb1st]

That's for a friction-type anti-sway mechanism. They work well enough IF you can figure out the proper adjustment, i.e. tight enough to be effective but not so tight that it binds in normal turns. In my opinion, most people end up with the sway bar set too loose and thus pretty much useless, but I don't have any real data to support that.

Here are a couple examples:
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-hitches/friction-sway-control-ez-lift.htm
http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Curt/17200.html

That's good to know and makes perfect sense.  When I purchased my trailer the dealer told me to tighten the anti-sway bar as far as I could and then back it up 1/2 turn.  They never told me why and I've assumed that since my trailer doesn't sway I must be doing it right.  Then again, I've got a long wheel base truck which, from what I understand, helps to minimizes sway as well.