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Old 12-23-2014, 02:26 PM   #1
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Anti-sway: truck option or hitch option or both?

I have a 2011 GMC 3500HD Duramax with a factory installed stability control system specifically designed to control trailer sway. It uses both the truck brakes and the trailer brakes to reduce sway. It also manages engine speed and gear selection. I pull a FC25FB. I have a weight distribution hitch but no anti-sway attachment. The trailer maxs at 7300 lbs with a 830 lb tongue weight. The truck is rated for 1000 lb tongue weight and 13000 lb trailer so it will pull the trailer without a WD. I want to know if adding anti-sway bars to the hitch gains anything for me. Am I just adding redundancy to the truck stability controller?
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Old 12-23-2014, 02:31 PM   #2
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Just my opinion, but I would add the anti-sway bar. It will stop the sway from starting, and while the stability control system is good, it can only work after it has sensed that sway has started.

In any event, you won't have any serious problems pulling that trailer with that truck.
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Old 12-23-2014, 02:33 PM   #3
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I tow with a one ton also and use a sway control device. My trailer is only four thousand pounds. If I were to pull the weight you are pulling, I would use a wd hitch with sway control. I donot need wd because of the light weight of my trailer. Hope this helps.
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Old 12-23-2014, 02:37 PM   #4
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I am trying to picture how your tow vehicle detects trailer sway. If it is to apply differential braking to correct sway, it must have some means of detecting and measuring the direction and amplitude of the track deviation.

It sounds very slick. I don't understand how it works but, if effective, a very neat invention.

A standard issue friction anti-sway bar certainly couldn't hurt but might be redundant. What does your owner's manual say?

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Old 12-23-2014, 04:30 PM   #5
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Dog my GMC has the same stability question. I wouldn't want to find out whether it works. Better to stop the sway with an integrated WD hitch with sway control. I like ProPride but others like other brands. Like the Nike commercial "just do it".
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Old 12-23-2014, 04:43 PM   #6
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Anti-sway

A Google search for GMC Trailer Sway Contol will get you details. As I understand it it is based on vehicle sensors that measure yaw etc. Combined with truck "knowledge" that it is pulling a trailer, presumably based on a sensor linked to the trailer electrics or the use of the tow mode. What I find amazing is that it will selectively brake the trailer, not just the truck.
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Old 12-23-2014, 05:17 PM   #7
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The best of hitch sway control systems prevent sway. Many help control sway. My recommendation is a sway "control", or prevention hitch setup. The TV integrated electronic sway systems help (rather dramatically) end a sway condition AFTER it begins to occur. It is best to install a hitch system which will reduce the chances of the TV system from ever activating.

However, if the worst of scenarios occurs and the hitch system can't keep everything in order, the TV system may save your bacon. They are, perhaps, the greatest safety system for trailer towers in the last many decades.
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Old 12-24-2014, 10:23 AM   #8
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Anti-sway hitch: "Don't leave home without it". A few years ago the Airstream Mag published a nice article about these anti-sway hitches and the main takeaway point, other than preventing sway while towing, was that the shorter the trailer, the more likely one is to encounter uncontrollable sway....the oscillations on a shorter trailer are quicker than on a longer trailer,..thus it is easier to lose control.

Ps...we have a Pro-Pride..

Interesting. Merry Christmas everyone.
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Old 12-24-2014, 02:58 PM   #9
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RubyDog:
While the best answer would be to use the anti sway device, personally I have never attached the one on my WD hitch assembly. I have towed a 25'Safari FB with 2007 Escalade ESV, then the same Safari with a 2011 Denali 2500HD std box crew cab, then a 27'Classic FB with the 2011 Denali, then the 27' Classic with a 2015 3500HD Denali, all with the very same WD hitch assembly. Never have I felt a wiggle or any threat of sway problems. I am very particular about ensuring the trailer is truly level, the tow vehicle is very level and that the rear axle weights are in the correct range. Yes I have read the many excellent hitch articles in "AirstreamLife" over the years, and do recommend that people read them. Possibly I have been lucky to this point who knows. ....Tom
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Old 12-24-2014, 03:02 PM   #10
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Better to have the redundancy of the anti-sway control on your hitch setup in addition to the system in your GMC. My F150 has a similar system and I had the "opportunity" to try it out once when making a quick evasive maneuver to miss a road hazard. It immediately caused the truck to downshift and reduced speed. It may have also caused the trailer brakes to engage (not sure it all happened so fast). The combined effect was to bring the rig under control eliminating the sway in about 3 seconds. Pretty unnerving but much less than trying to bring everything back under control manually. Go with all the anti-sway control you can get just in case you're ever in a situation where you need it.
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Old 12-24-2014, 03:22 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RubyDog View Post
I have a 2011 GMC 3500HD Duramax with a factory installed stability control system specifically designed to control trailer sway. It uses both the truck brakes and the trailer brakes to reduce sway. It also manages engine speed and gear selection. I pull a FC25FB. I have a weight distribution hitch but no anti-sway attachment. The trailer maxs at 7300 lbs with a 830 lb tongue weight. The truck is rated for 1000 lb tongue weight and 13000 lb trailer so it will pull the trailer without a WD. I want to know if adding anti-sway bars to the hitch gains anything for me. Am I just adding redundancy to the truck stability controller?
I don't know about Duramax with that big a TV (3500), but I know Ford told me to turn off the automatic stability control in my F150 before pulling the 25'AS we have, it will work against the BlueOx anti-sway, weight distribution hitch....so I do. Have not had any issues. Check with your dealer to be sure or one of our experts here perhaps...
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Old 12-24-2014, 04:33 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsydad View Post
I don't know about Duramax with that big a TV (3500), but I know Ford told me to turn off the automatic stability control in my F150 before pulling the 25'AS we have, it will work against the BlueOx anti-sway, weight distribution hitch....so I do. Have not had any issues. Check with your dealer to be sure or one of our experts here perhaps...
I don't know why that would be...makes no sense to me.
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Old 12-24-2014, 04:52 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RubyDog View Post
I have a 2011 GMC 3500HD Duramax with a factory installed stability control system specifically designed to control trailer sway. It uses both the truck brakes and the trailer brakes to reduce sway. It also manages engine speed and gear selection. I pull a FC25FB. I have a weight distribution hitch but no anti-sway attachment. The trailer maxs at 7300 lbs with a 830 lb tongue weight. The truck is rated for 1000 lb tongue weight and 13000 lb trailer so it will pull the trailer without a WD. I want to know if adding anti-sway bars to the hitch gains anything for me. Am I just adding redundancy to the truck stability controller?
The sway control that is part of the tow vehicle will try to recover from a sway event after it has happened. I think it is a better idea to try to control it before it happens. Then think of the tow vehicle's sway control as insurance.

If it were me I would add a friction bar as a minimum, or use a sway controlling hitch.

I also agree with you that the WD is not necessarily required with your 3500 HD. If you are using heavy bars, it might even be harmful to your trailer.
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Old 12-24-2014, 05:51 PM   #14
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,Wd hitch with sway control like a Reese cam...,
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Old 12-24-2014, 07:12 PM   #15
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How tight do you turn the friction sway. I was told tight hand tight the back off half a turn. I am a weak female so my tight might not be the same as a guy's so should it be really tight? I do stop and take it off when I back in the driveway because of the angle, I am just a little confused on how tight, no sense of me having tne bar uf I am not using correctly. And by the way, I only have one side.
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Old 12-24-2014, 08:00 PM   #16
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My 3/4 ton truck has anti sway and I use a Reese Dual cam on the Airstream.

The factory sway control kicked in once pulling the Airstream

I had to quickly change lanes on on a section of interstate that was being repaved. It it had to be a 6" drop off! I felt a slight shudder and the sway control warning light came on the dash.

It was very quick, the drop off bumpy, but I really can't say there was any noticeable sway on the trailer......I just cannot believe the Reese bars even moved enough to do their thing.

Although it is just one data point - I think that the pressure from the dual cam bars on the hitch are arresting most minor sway before it starts and the truck electronics will kick in if there are enough sway forces for the electronic sensors to notice sideway motion of the truck.

Belt and suspenders.
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Old 12-25-2014, 06:42 AM   #17
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Adding the TUSON antisway is in ones best interest


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Old 12-25-2014, 07:51 AM   #18
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We run with an one ton Ford, Diesel - F350 6.7 Diesel and we tow a 30' AS. Our hitch set up is the equalizer. Our truck also has the built in truck anti sway feature which is supposed to activate brakes - engine when the truck detects any trailer sway. Never really experienced sway with our set up. So, either the system on the truck to detect sway works great OR the weight of the truck and equalizer don't really allow for sway to get started. I've towed short distances with no bars on, just the trailer sitting on the ball and have not experienced much sway either. But then this was NOT done on an open interstate with severe cross winds and fast movie 18 wheelers.
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Old 12-25-2014, 08:44 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsydad View Post
I don't know about Duramax with that big a TV (3500), but I know Ford told me to turn off the automatic stability control in my F150 before pulling the 25'AS we have, it will work against the BlueOx anti-sway, weight distribution hitch....so I do. Have not had any issues. Check with your dealer to be sure or one of our experts here perhaps...
I was told exactly the opposite. Truck antisway and trailer antisway operate differently mechanically, and should aid each other in a serious sway condition.

Does anyone have solid information on this subject. Important.
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Old 12-25-2014, 09:51 AM   #20
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Not solid, but the Air Stream dealer says turn the truck system off and the Ford dealer says leave it on. No help I know, but as usual two conflicting pieces of advice from "experts" on the same subject.
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