There is nothing more important when towing a travel trailer than safety. For trailer owners, one of the biggest challenges to face is trailer sway. This treacherous trick makes towing adventurous and hazardous. Usually, it happens from wind, uneven loads, or sudden motions. Knowing about trailer sway and how to control it is the key to safe and smooth towing.

Sway control systems are specifically designed to address this problem. By inhibiting the trailer from swaying and keeping it staked to your tow vehicle, these systems help make towing worries much safer and less stressful. We are here to share tools and information to help you travel safely. So, in the sections that follow, we’ll take a closer look at trailer sway, sway control and what you can do to augment towing safety.

A deeper understanding of sway control technology can better protect you and improve your towing experience. Read on to learn why sway control is a crucial element for those towing a travel trailer!

Understanding Trailer Sway

Trailer sway is a common problem that can make towing unsafe and stressful. Trailer sway is when a trailer begins to sway from left to right uncontrollably during tow. This rocking motion yo-yoing back and forth from side to side can be triggered by a number of influences that include heavy breezes, rapid lane moves, rough road surfaces or misloaded cargo. When sway begins, things can rapidly expand to the point at which the driver loses control over both the trailer and the towing vehicle.

The swaying effect can be deadly as it causes loss of stability of the towing vehicle. An accident may happen if it is not tailored accordingly. Understanding what can trigger trailer sway is key to preventing it. Also, make sure your trailer is loaded properly and that the weight is distributed evenly to help prevent sway from happening. Routine inspections of your hitch, followed by appropriately balanced adjustments, can help prevent sway as well.

Why You Need Sway Control When Towing

Sway control device: It keeps the trailer permanently stable to tow. This is done by adding resistance or pulling tension to keep the trailer from swerving away from the towing vehicle. This resists side to side movement that creates sway so the whole towing experience is safer and more enjoyable.

Such sway control systems come in a variety of forms. Some damp the sway by using friction, others use mechanical solutions like bars and chains to stabilize. Higher-end sway control systems can automatically adapt to shifting conditions to make adjustments — in real time — based on the direction of the trailer. When you add sway control to your tow vehicle and trailer, you greatly reduce your chances of losing control of your trailer, making trips less stressful and much safer.

The Advantages of Sway Control Systems

Benefits of using sway control systems all in all, sway control systems come with important benefits that make your towing safe and sound. One of the major advantages is enhanced stability. Whether its a strong gust of wind or uneven road conditions, a sway control system allows your trailer to stay aligned to where your towing vehicle is heading. This greatly improves towing safety by minimizing the chance of accidents caused by trailer sway.

The other benefit is enhanced steering and braking response. If your trailer is stable, your vehicle handles better, steering and braking more responsively and effectively. This increased control is vital for emergency maneuvers or if you need to make a sudden stop. Also, sway control enables the driver to save on fatigue and effort to maintain steady towing over long distances.

Seeking More Sway Control? This is How to Do It

Here are a few tips to maximize use of your sway control system. First, ensure your trailer is loaded correctly, always. Spread out the load and do not put too much weight at the back of the trailer. This keeps the balance on point and minimizes the likelihood of sway. Do regular inspections on your hitch and sway control system for any signs of wear or deterioration. Your equipment would work sufficiently if you service it on time.

Second, modify your driving habits to increase safety. Drive at moderate speeds, particularly in windy conditions, and don’t make sudden lane changes or abrupt stops. Top Tip: When you’re on the road, do so from a safe distance behind other vehicles, it will give you lots of time to react. Finally, practice makes perfect. Practice towing with a sway control system, in a safe, open location. It will be a good way to get used to the way it feels and respond, so that you will be confident and prepared in real-world towing situations.

Reasonable people can debate the extent to which they’ll make your towing safer, so knowing a few things about trailer sway and how sway control systems work makes it easier to be a reasonable person. With stabilizing systems, your trips are safer and more enjoyable as you have better vehicle control, reduced fatigue over long distances, and trailer stability. By taking best practices into account, such as loading your trailer correctly, regularly inspecting your equipment, and operating your vehicle safely, you can get the most out of your sway control system.

If you're ready to take your towing safety to the next level, be sure to look at some of the best sway control solutions on the market. You are not alone on this, and you can follow the link to ProPride Hitch to learn more about our sway eliminating weight distribution hitches and the difference they can make for your next towing experience. Make sure your next adventure is as safe and stress-free as possible with ProPride Hitch.