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Old 05-22-2024, 08:51 AM   #1
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Sutton , Ontario
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Help with Sway Bars

Although I have towed a 5th wheel for years, I am brand new to travel trailers (30RBT) and have a question about sway bars. Any advice on how tight to make the sway bar? I get a fairly loud rubbing noise every time I take a corner. I have loosened the sway bar to lower the noise but I then get unacceptable sway on the highway when trucks pass me.

How do you decide on the tightness. The sway bars are Husky 34715 if it matters
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Old 05-22-2024, 08:54 AM   #2
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What are you towing with?
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Old 05-22-2024, 09:00 AM   #3
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2022 F150, eco boost
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Old 05-22-2024, 10:19 AM   #4
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In my experience there's going to be noise when using a WD hitch with sway control. There are some points that need to be lubricated, and some which specifically should not be. Check your manual.
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Old 05-22-2024, 10:53 AM   #5
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In "my experience" here, you are going to get a "lot" of answers to this question! It would be helpful if you gave us more info on your TV and your Airstream model.
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Old 05-22-2024, 10:59 AM   #6
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Old 05-22-2024, 12:22 PM   #7
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Hello Gary, I have the same setup as you but with a Chevy Silverado 1500 TV. Having used this setup for over 17 years and I tighten the sway bars until snug, they still make a noise when turning which I consider part of the setup and know they are doing their job. It took some trial and error for me to get what works for me, some time pulling over to adjust. Enjoy your travel trailer. John
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Old 05-22-2024, 01:42 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Garyasml View Post
Although I have towed a 5th wheel for years, I am brand new to travel trailers (30RBT) and have a question about sway bars. Any advice on how tight to make the sway bar? I get a fairly loud rubbing noise every time I take a corner. I have loosened the sway bar to lower the noise but I then get unacceptable sway on the highway when trucks pass me.

How do you decide on the tightness. The sway bars are Husky 34715 if it matters
Hi Gary -

I think the noise you are describing is normal operation. This is based on my towing experience with two previous 23' Airstreams with Equalizer hitches, and our current 25' Airstream with a Husky Centerline TS.

These types of hitches rely on friction for the anti-sway properties. While the noise while turning may sound a bit odd, it is a part of how the hitch works. The Husky manual does state "Keep lift brackets clean, and using a light lubrication on the lift bracket support surfaces to keep rust to a minimum is acceptable." So perhaps keeping the L brackets clean and lightly (lightly) oiled may be what you want to do. I would not over do this, however, and never would use grease.

There are many ways to properly set up one of these hitches, and I would refer you to the owners manual that came with your hitch. If your selling dealer did not give you a manual, you can download one from the Husky web site for free.

By way of an example, for my rig (2020 Ram 1500 4x4 + 25 Flying Cloud 25 RBT), I have my L-brackets set up with three holes open on the top. Thus the upper one of the two 5/8" dog point screws is in the fourth hole from the top on the L-bracket. I find I have to lift the rig on the power jack a fair bit, in order to get the sway bar even with the L-bracket. Then I use the Husky tool to snap the bars in place.

Setting my L-brackets at this level results in very satisfactory numbers when using the Front Axle Load Height method specified in the owners manual of my truck. My rig is extremely stable at my typical tow speed of 68 mph.

Edit to add: I looked up the part no. you specified, and it appears to be a Husky sway control module. The owners manual is available online:

https://www.huskytow.com/Attachment/...downloadId=376

If the answer to your question is not in this manual, I'd suggest giving them a call.

Good luck!
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Old 05-22-2024, 03:20 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Garyasml View Post
how tight to make the sway bar? I get a fairly loud rubbing noise every time I take a corner. I have loosened the sway bar to lower the noise but I then get unacceptable sway on the highway when trucks pass me.

How do you decide on the tightness. The sway bars are Husky 34715 if it matters

This noise is perfectly normal. Its the friction created by the springbar pressing down. If it does not make this noise, its not working as you found out.

Dont grease the sway bar platform, its meant to have resistance and the noise is normal, sounding like a scrape noise.


You do whatever you want, but a 30 foot camper is too big for a 1500 frame. Too much tongue weight and overall, too much.
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Old 05-22-2024, 05:26 PM   #10
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That Husky 34715 is a friction control kit, not really anti-sway bars. I am not sure how much that is going to help with a 30' trailer and a 1/2 ton truck. Just my two cents worth.
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Old 05-22-2024, 06:14 PM   #11
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Didn't see what hitch the OP is using. If it's a WD hitch like an Equalizer or Blue-Ox set right He probably wouldn't even need that friction bar.
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Old 05-22-2024, 06:33 PM   #12
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The weight distribution hitch is an EAZ-Lift, installed at CanAm. The weight distribution part is working great. I have been to CAT scales with and without the WDB installed and also weighed the truck alone. The hitch weight is 1,040 lbs and is being distributed as follows:

160 lbs to the front axel
700 lbs to the back axel
180 lbs to the trailer axel.
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Old 05-22-2024, 06:44 PM   #13
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wd- hand tight, never lubricate, if they squeal a bit, they are working. no squeal, not tight enough
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Old 05-22-2024, 06:56 PM   #14
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You need to have it fairly tight on the highway, once you get to a campground you can loosen it or even take it off to reduce the noise.
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Old 05-26-2024, 02:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Garyasml View Post
The weight distribution hitch is an EAZ-Lift, installed at CanAm. The weight distribution part is working great. I have been to CAT scales with and without the WDB installed and also weighed the truck alone. The hitch weight is 1,040 lbs and is being distributed as follows:

160 lbs to the front axel
700 lbs to the back axel
180 lbs to the trailer axel.
We have the the same set up also installed by Can Am. We have over 100,000 km. on the trailer with no issues. As others have stated snug the lever up and you will have a groaning noise at low speeds (in campgrounds especially). I often stop before entering a campground and loosen the friction sway bars or stop on the way out to tighten.
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