swirlygirls
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Post by swirlygirls on Feb 9, 2016 14:56:35 GMT -8
I just had a sway bar put on Dottie. I only have it on one side and had it put on by a local business with great quality. They explained it to me, put it on, warned me about backing up with it on, and sent me on my way. They did not tell me it was going to talk to me. Well, maybe it doesn't actually talk but I can hear it "moan" now and then, I think mostly when I turn. I have NO experience with sway bars. Is this normal?
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Post by vikx on Feb 9, 2016 20:06:27 GMT -8
It is on the ones I've used. They are a friction device, so sometimes groan when the bar moves in and out. The shop might have had it torqued pretty tight as well. Do NOT oil the bar....
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swirlygirls
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Post by swirlygirls on Feb 10, 2016 5:29:50 GMT -8
Thanks for the validation about the noise and the tip to not oil.
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Post by bigbill on Feb 10, 2016 7:28:41 GMT -8
That is one of the things that I hate about sway bars. I make every attempt to get a trailer to tow properly without using band-aids. I feel that anything that has to offer that type of resistance is telling you to rethink your entire system. I realize that the vast majority of trailers use sway bars but I don't like them.
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swirlygirls
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Post by swirlygirls on Feb 10, 2016 16:00:54 GMT -8
Hmm, well, that's an interesting perspective bigbill. When I've been out and about I've talked to people about sway bars and have gotten mostly positive reviews. Funny, no one mentioned that noise. I guess I'll give it a whirl for a while and see what I think. Great thing about them is that they come off.
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Post by bigbill on Feb 10, 2016 16:28:22 GMT -8
Hmm, well, that's an interesting perspective bigbill. When I've been out and about I've talked to people about sway bars and have gotten mostly positive reviews. Funny, no one mentioned that noise. I guess I'll give it a whirl for a while and see what I think. Great thing about them is that they come off. Yes they do and if you start watching you will see a bunch of them missing. I do have to agree that many people run them but do they tighten them down or are they kept fairly loose so that they don't make noise and if so are they doing any good. If I was towing in an area that has a lot of wind then I might use one. By the way I think I got one in the barn that was bought new in 1969 or 70 used it once or twice them put it in storage.  |
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Feb 10, 2016 17:08:07 GMT -8
That is one of the things that I hate about sway bars. I make every attempt to get a trailer to tow properly without using band-aids. I feel that anything that has to offer that type of resistance is telling you to rethink your entire system. I realize that the vast majority of trailers use sway bars but I don't like them. Let's not spread the word too loudly that anti-sway and weight distribution devices are "band-aids". Even with a well balanced tow vehicle/travel trailer set up, it creates an integrated and more stable rig in total. I use this one: link: Andersen 'No-Sway' Weight Distribution Hitch. It is not based on the conventional design that has been used for decades. It's completely quiet too… and won't come undone in reverse. You can attach it and remove it in minutes. Take a look… it has many advantages. My 2 cents. |
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65callie
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Post by 65callie on Feb 10, 2016 19:09:55 GMT -8
Anti-sway bars really helped on both our trailers (18' and compact) and they do tend to groan a bit due to the friction. But that's how they are meant to work. Also adding a metal cargo box, for extra tongue weight, made the compact tow perfectly.
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Post by bigbill on Feb 11, 2016 2:51:42 GMT -8
That is one of the things that I hate about sway bars. I make every attempt to get a trailer to tow properly without using band-aids. I feel that anything that has to offer that type of resistance is telling you to rethink your entire system. I realize that the vast majority of trailers use sway bars but I don't like them. Let's not spread the word too loudly that anti-sway and weight distribution devices are "band-aids". Even with a well balanced tow vehicle/travel trailer set up, it creates an integrated and more stable rig in total. I use this one: link: Andersen 'No-Sway' Weight Distribution Hitch. It is not based on the conventional design that has been used for decades. It's completely quiet too… and won't come undone in reverse. You can attach it and remove it in minutes. Take a look… it has many advantages. My 2 cents. You will never here me say anything negative about an equalizing hitch, in my opinion they are an absolute necessity for most trailers and tow vehicles. They are part of a properly setup trailer, very few people tow with a vehicle that is capable of towing safely without one. A few of us actually own a vehicle capable of towing with a simple hitch but most would gain from using an equalizer setup. |
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Post by bigbill on Feb 11, 2016 3:07:37 GMT -8
Anti-sway bars really helped on both our trailers (18' and compact) and they do tend to groan a bit due to the friction. But that's how they are meant to work. Also adding a metal cargo box, for extra tongue weight, made the compact tow perfectly. You have touched on what I am talking about when saying a "properly setup trailer" when you mention that adding a cargo box on the tongue which increased tongue weight made it tow better. Most trailers that sway are not setup with proper tongue weight because of either a bad design or improper loading, also towing a trailer hitch high can decrease tongue weight. If you want to see an example of what I am talking about load the rear of your trailer with heavy objects until you have no tongue weight then try to tow it, but be very careful because it could cause a very serious accident. Then change your load until you have 10 to 15 percent of your total load on the hitch and see the difference. I don't recommend this but if you are a non-believer it will show you what we are talking about when we preach proper tongue weight. Many people try to decrease tongue weight so the won't have to have an equalizing hitch, then they complain about their trailer swaying. It is important to have the proper balance and the proper hitch setup for safe and comfortable towing. |
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Post by bigbill on Feb 11, 2016 3:36:49 GMT -8
That is one of the things that I hate about sway bars. I make every attempt to get a trailer to tow properly without using band-aids. I feel that anything that has to offer that type of resistance is telling you to rethink your entire system. I realize that the vast majority of trailers use sway bars but I don't like them. Let's not spread the word too loudly that anti-sway and weight distribution devices are "band-aids". Even with a well balanced tow vehicle/travel trailer set up, it creates an integrated and more stable rig in total. I use this one: link: Andersen 'No-Sway' Weight Distribution Hitch. It is not based on the conventional design that has been used for decades. It's completely quiet too… and won't come undone in reverse. You can attach it and remove it in minutes. Take a look… it has many advantages. My 2 cents. Watching that video should be required of all trailer owners, as he explained the setup of the hitch he pointed out that the tow vehicle must be capable of handling the load and that the truck and trailer should be level not up or down. That does look like a nice hitch and if you notice he doesn't say you need auxiliary sway bars, he tells you that if you set everything up properly with the right tow vehicle you are ready to tow. A person might want to purchase a replacement set of urethane bushing just in case something happened to one of them. |
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Feb 11, 2016 9:31:41 GMT -8
Let's not spread the word too loudly that anti-sway and weight distribution devices are "band-aids". Even with a well balanced tow vehicle/travel trailer set up, it creates an integrated and more stable rig in total. I use this one: link: Andersen 'No-Sway' Weight Distribution Hitch. It is not based on the conventional design that has been used for decades. It's completely quiet too… and won't come undone in reverse. You can attach it and remove it in minutes. Take a look… it has many advantages. My 2 cents. Watching that video should be required of all trailer owners, as he explained the setup of the hitch he pointed out that the tow vehicle must be capable of handling the load and that the truck and trailer should be level not up or down. That does look like a nice hitch and if you notice he doesn't say you need auxiliary sway bars, he tells you that if you set everything up properly with the right tow vehicle you are ready to tow. A person might want to purchase a replacement set of urethane bushing just in case something happened to one of them. Thanks bigbill… Surely, any special purpose hitch will not make up for a badly balanced and mismatched TV/TT situation. So, I think this thread topic is adding up to some good advice regarding towing in general. Actually, in the Andersen video you are referring to, he doesn't get too much into the anti-sway properties of his hitch. The ball has a tapered shaft under it that seats into a corresponding collar which is lined with auto brake material. Because of the taper, the more weight laid down on the ball, the more resistance the brake lining provides when the trailer wants to sway. So the resistance is automatically made proportional to the weight applied, which in my opinion is a pretty clever design dynamic and use of materials. It's self adjusting. Of course the steering of the tow vehicle can easily overcome this resistance. I'll also point out, the ball/shaft rotates WITH the coupler, which further contributes to the integrity of the set up (therefore, no grease on the ball). The first time I towed with this hitch, I encountered a sandstorm in northern New Mexico with at least 75 MPH gusting cross winds… for at least an hour. At a cautious tow vehicle speed of 50-55MPH, it never swayed once. Regarding the bushings… I don't worry about them "failing". That kind of material (like the brake lining) will wear very slowly. In the case of the brake material, in the hitch setting, it's not withstanding forces nearly as strong as if it were used in a standard brake pad scenario. The other benefit the bushings provide is an "anti-bounce" effect. Not only are they absorbing the forces that go into the weight distribution, but they also smooth out the ride. My understanding is that conventional design WD/AS devices can actually amplify bounce. |
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