Sway Bars - Educate Me Please!

[Ex-Calif]

Just bought a FR 25 BHS. I haven't weighed it but empty is listed around 4800#. Loaded will likely be around 6000"

I will likely also carry a generator in the truck bed.

Tow vehicle is 2019 Ram 1500 Tradesman Classic 5.7 hemi with 100k miles, 8600# rating and 1800# payload.

Trailer brake module installed.

In the storage bay are sway bars. My question is how do they hook up and work?

I am slightly familiar with load distributing hitches and this is not that.

I towed about 140 miles home. On state highway at 60 I got 12mpg.

On the freeway at 70 I got 8.5mpg.

I slowed to 65 and got 11mpg. I think that's gonna be my target speed.

I had zero sway issues even when wind plowed by semis. I did get a little porpoising when I hit a weird dip but no side to side instability.

Also monitored oil, coolant and tranny temps. 225, 204 and 185 respectively on a 95 degree day so we'll pleased.

Any thoughts to this newbie tow captain is appreciated.

 

[John From Detroit]

There are Sway Bars and Load equlizer bars (they also limit sway and are sometimes called Sway Bars)

The difference.. I used the first.. ti's a single bar with adjustable friction that mounts to a smaller ball next to the big ball hitch on a trailer.. Worked to control sway on my 2,000 pound trailers.

The fact you said "Bars" suggests load equlizers. These come in pairs. They mount UNDER the hitch and you put tension on the m to pull the hitch UP. thus transferng some of the trailer's tongue weight to the FRONT axle on the tow vehicle (Equalizing the load between front and rear.,

You want the two vehicles to look like this - - Not this \ / and that is what they do.,

 

[Jackiemac]

We have only used ours a couple of times in high winds....

 

[Lou Schneider]

Sway is usually caused by the trailer's center of gravity being too far back, i.e. not enough weight forward of the axles (tongue weight).

Equalizing bars are designed to bridge the joint at the hitch ball, applying leverage to the trailer tongue to raise the truck and trailer back to a level configuration. In the process it compresses the truck's front springs, increasing the front axle's weight on the road.

A sway bar is a friction element that reduces the ability of the trailer to move away from a straight line by restricting the ability of the hitch to pivot side to side. You have to be careful about how much sway resistance you dial in because the friction works both ways, both opposing the trailer moving off-center and returning to a straight line when the turn is finished. Most advise against use on slippery surfaces so the truck and trailer can't get locked in a perpetual turn if the truck's rear axle loses traction.

 

[Primerump]

if you are towing 6000+ with a 1500 then you will most certainly need a weight distribution hitch.
sway, as mentioned above is mostly due to insufficient load on the hitch. aim for at least 10 to 12% on the tongue.

 

[Ex-Calif]

Thanks for the tips so far. I googled sway bars and realize I am missing half the kit.

The only pieces I have are the sway bar a-frame brackets, the sway bars and mini cheek ball. All the truck reciever side stuff is missing.

I towed 140 miles yesterday and it was very steady. I am about to launch on 2400 mile road trip. I will evaluate en-route.

 

[John From Detroit]

Sounds like you have it all.. Thew mini ball goes on the Truck the A-Frame bracket should also have a ball on it.

Some times you do a different Truck mount Depending on if you are bumper mounted or receiver mounted On a bumper if there is a hole oh about an inch over from the main ball that's where the mini ball goes Use locktite on the nut.

If you use a receiver there is a bracket you can get that goes between teh ball and the receiver

Or an aircraft rated welder can weld one on for you.

 

[Ex-Calif]

Sounds like you have it all.. Thew mini ball goes on the Truck the A-Frame bracket should also have a ball on it.

Some times you do a different Truck mount Depending on if you are bumper mounted or receiver mounted On a bumper if there is a hole oh about an inch over from the main ball that's where the mini ball goes Use locktite on the nut.

If you use a receiver there is a bracket you can get that goes between teh ball and the receiver

Or an aircraft rated welder can weld one on for you.

This is the bit I don't have. The part that goes in the reliever and accepts the bars.

Thi is a $215 Harbor Freight setup and looks identical to the bits I have.

 

[John From Detroit]

Ah that is the equlizer type.. Yes you will need to visit a Hitch or RV store to obtain that.

I'm told they really do improve the ride but I've never needed them due to light weight (I could lift the tongue w/o the jack) trailers.

 

[Babe2201]

Towing that kind of weight you might want to consider a WDH like a Blue Ox system. They recommend that on half tons for anything over 5,000 lbs.