Sway bar help

Diana Langley · 04-17-2003, 09:47 PM

Or is it an anti-sway bar? I have a Globetrotter and there is a ball welded to the frame for one, so it must be a good idea even for a smaller trailer.

Any information on what to get and what to avoid would be appreciated.

Chas · 04-17-2003, 11:10 PM

Do you want to get one for yours? The little ball is where a friction sway once went and the current Drawtites will most likely attach to it. As far as little trailers needing them I would say the smaller the trailer the greater the need for one, especially single axle ones like your Globetrotter.

Chas

Diana Langley · 04-18-2003, 08:00 AM

Thanks, Chas!
Yes, I do want to get one. I've read too many stories about swaying, rollovers, big scary 18 wheelers, and idiot drivers to assume it will never happen to me.

I'm towing with a '97 Toyota 4Runner with the tow package and have really done OK so far. (I know, get a bigger tow vehicle, but I can't justify it for only 4 short trips a year)
I just want to be as safe as possible with what I have for now.

Rickk48 · 04-18-2003, 01:40 PM

My Bambi has the small ball on the A-Frame and another small ball on the ball mount which goes into the receiver on my tow vehichle. I use a Reese Friction Sway Control which is a fairly simple bar which goes onto these two balls and then by tighten you get some control over sway due to the friction or "braking" mechanism built into the bar. I believe these are available from any Reese hitch dealer for something around $100.

By the way, Diana, know of any good pet sitter in Orange County?

Diana Langley · 04-18-2003, 03:03 PM

I went out this morning and bought one. You're right, it was around $100. It looks easy to put on, simply a matter of putting the small ball on the w/d hitch. The ball is already welded on the tongue.
My next questions is: how do you know how tight to adjust it?

Rick, if you'll e-mail me privately, I'll get you some info on sitters in your area.
pawprints@earthlink.net

hhuber · 04-18-2003, 03:39 PM

I was just wondering about the sway control for my '67 Caravel.
Tried to get one last week but the RV guy told me they were all alike. I asked for Reese and he had one called pull-rite.
I have not found anyone in my city with Reese products in stock.
Since that's seems to be what most people use I thought it
would be a good idea.
There is no ball on my frame. Can it be added?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Heidi
'67 Caravel/'03 Tahoe

Pahaska · 04-18-2003, 04:18 PM

There are several sway bars on the market that vary only in details; DrawTite and Reese being the most available. They all work essentially the same.

Reese says to tighten the lever until it is parallel with the bar. I find that is about as tight as I want to go comfortably with my arthritic hands.

My 22' International behind my Silverado is rock solid in any sort of crosswind and traffic with my Reese bar. I have driven, albeit slowly, in 70 mile cross gusts and torrential rain, to the point that construction signs were blowing away, and had no control problems..

garry · 04-18-2003, 06:27 PM

If you do go with the anti sway bar use caution when backing up it is possiable to bend the bar or break the ball off in a sharp turn in reverse. I have never had a problem but was warned of the potential.
When I think of it I always disconnect the sway bar if I'm going to back with a sharp turn.

Garry

Pahaska · 04-18-2003, 06:45 PM

I never disconnect it and I have never had a bit of trouble. If the ball on the trailer tongue is located correctly, there should be no problem short of actually jacknifing the trailer. The forces on the bar are the same backward or forward.

garry · 04-18-2003, 07:01 PM

When I bought the anti sway bar the sales person told me backing to the side the bar is on "you could" back sharp enough that once the slid is in as far as it will go you could snap the ball or damage the anti sway bar !! Sounded good to me so I have used caution and never had a problem !!

I wonder if this has happened to anyone ??

Garry

crowldawg · 06-10-2008, 04:15 PM

I was told to take it off when backing my Globetrotter up. I'm a little confused about adjusting the length and tension . When I had it put on along with the stabilizer bars and hitch parts that was the only thing I didn't get documentation for .I have towed the camper about 5000 miles .I would like to check if everything is still OK

Excella CM · 06-10-2008, 04:57 PM

When manevering in tight quarters with large angles between the TV and trailer, unhook the friction anti-sway so you dont bend it. The adjustment is easy. With the ball disengaged, tighten the lever on the friction pads until you cannot move the bar up and down at the ball end with you hand, note the position of the lever and then loosen the adjustment so you can hook up the ball again. Then bring the friction lever back to the previous position and go 1/2 to 3/4 turn further. It's just a brake type set up so "goldilocks" it-not too loose and not too tight.

Excella CM · 06-10-2008, 05:51 PM

Part the second.

Here is the Reese data sheet for their # 26600 friction sway control

easyride · 06-10-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hhuber

I was just wondering about the sway control for my '67 Caravel.
Tried to get one last week but the RV guy told me they were all alike. I asked for Reese and he had one called pull-rite.
I have not found anyone in my city with Reese products in stock.
Since that's seems to be what most people use I thought it
would be a good idea.
There is no ball on my frame. Can it be added?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Heidi
'67 Caravel/'03 Tahoe

If you buy new sway bar it will come with new balls,attach one end to your hitch,slid it out half way and thats where the one on the frame should go,either bolted,or welded. dave