No sway bar???

mic1hael · 04-02-2012, 06:11 PM

Well I just got the delivery of my new 3220bh Passport. I followed the checklist to the letter and nothing was wrong. BUT, they had to re-hitch the new trailer to a new truck and when they did I didn't notice till I got home that they didn't reatach the sway bar I had with the previous trailer. I am a little concerned, I was hoping for some advice on this. Do I need it or am I fine. The TT is 36' long and I have a stock valley WD system on it. The truck you can see in my signiture but it does have it's own anti sway system installed which basically means it senses when the trailer is swaying and adds brake by itself to bring it back in line. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

f6bits · 04-02-2012, 07:20 PM

I’d want the sway bar back on. The truck’s anti-sway kicks in *after* the white-knuckle swaying has begun. The sway bar will help prevent that from happening in the first place.

mic1hael · 04-02-2012, 07:46 PM

I couldn't believe that they did that to me. This is the second trailer I bought from them and you would think they would know better. Frustrating, all they care about is their sales. They throw safety right out the window.

chuck&gail · 04-02-2012, 08:04 PM

I would not tow without sway control.

Had friends that towed with no sway control for years. One day they were coming down a hill, in a crosswind, when a semi blew by. They lost it, rolled both TV and TT multiple times. Blocked all lanes of highway with pieces. Fortunately nobody coming the other way until it was over. They had no major injuries, but obviously everything was a total loss.

You know you need sway control when you find you REALLY need it NOW.

mic1hael · 04-02-2012, 08:16 PM

Yeah I am calling them tomorrow and have them reinstall that sway bar for me . If they try to charge me I am going to tell them to eat it. I really liked this company but they really dropped the ball this time. NOT HAPPY!

04-02-2012, 08:44 PM

That's a lot of trailer not to have the sway bar on. The electronic sway control is nice, but I agree that it doesn't come into play until your heart attack has already started.

Laredo291OH · 04-03-2012, 03:06 AM

If I were you, I'd use this as an opportunity to upgrade your sway control. For a trailer of that size the friction sway control isn't enough, at least 1 isn't. I believe the mfg. recommend 2 of them for anything over 24 or 25 feet. Personally I would leave the friction sway behind and upgrade to a dual cam or equalizer.

Badboy · 04-03-2012, 03:26 AM

I have a 34 ft cougar 31rks and before that I had a 30 ft outback with a single friction sway control,never had a problem,pulled outback all the way to Florida 2 years ago no problem.I think one is enough.

gilnutz · 04-03-2012, 04:59 AM

mich1hael,

I wouldn't be too upset with the dealer. Like others have said the friction sway control is pointless on a trailer that size. Also your truck can handle two of these trailers without having any issues. Your trailer is 6300lbs empty and roughly 7500lbs full (going by keystones site). Your truck weighs nearly 9000lb. A close friend of mine has the 2006 model of your truck with alot less power and tows a 9000lb trailer with no sway control. He has never had an issue. For me I would run sway simply because when it's windy its nice but with your setup I wouldn't say it's mandatory. I use the Reese dual cam and love it.

You have a Nice setup!

Billy

mic1hael · 04-03-2012, 05:28 AM

I appreciate everyone's comments and I will definetly look into an equilizer or a different sway control system. I guess the reason I was upset is because my DW and kids are driving from Oregon to Indiana this summer without me and I want them to be completely safe. I mean thats the reason I bought the truck in the first place. At least thats what I tell my DW.

Thanks again everyone.

Jorme · 04-03-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mic1hael

I appreciate everyone's comments and I will definetly look into an equilizer or a different sway control system. I guess the reason I was upset is because my DW and kids are driving from Oregon to Indiana this summer without me and I want them to be completely safe. I mean thats the reason I bought the truck in the first place. At least thats what I tell my DW.

Thanks again everyone.

I have been towing for 20 years, my father for almost 50 and my grandfather before him. Since they were invented, we have always used dual friction sway control on our TT's. I even put them on my 34' enclosed racetrailer (15000 loaded) I wouldnt tow a TT without them. What a huge difference they make.

mapleman3 · 04-03-2012, 09:33 AM

When I bought my 26' tt the salesmab said ...naw I don't think you need a weight distribution hitch or sway bar....was he an idiot or what? Damn right I needed one. Sometimes they just wabt the sale and for you to go home it seems

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

mic1hael · 04-03-2012, 10:03 AM

With the Reese Dual-Cam sway control can you back up with it or do you have to unhook to make sharp turns when backing?

04-03-2012, 10:06 AM

I've made quite sharp turns while backing up into some tight spots. Never unhooked my Reese. Dealer said that would be fine. Right now that's all I have to go on. Would be interesting to hear if anyone else knows more about this.

mic1hael · 04-03-2012, 10:08 AM

Nice TT. Is it me or does that thing look longer in the picture than in real life.

04-03-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mic1hael

Nice TT. Is it me or does that thing look longer in the picture than in real life.

It's the angle. One of these days I'll get a good side shot. Have to re-do it anyway for the new tow vehicle.

SteveC7010 · 04-03-2012, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mic1hael

With the Reese Dual-Cam sway control can you back up with it or do you have to unhook to make sharp turns when backing?

The cam action is supposed to work in both directions. When you turn left, one weight arm goes forward over the cam and the other backward. Turning right is the opposite effect. Backing up is no different

mhs4771 · 04-03-2012, 04:45 PM

Had the Reese Dual Cam on two different TTs and used with 3 different TVs over a course of almost 20 years. Connected everything up when ready to travel and didn't disconnect anything till parked at the CG or back home. If it hasn't been used for a while it will make quite a racket turning, but that's just letting you know it's working.

gilnutz · 04-04-2012, 04:51 AM

I own the Reese Dual Cam and when I park my RV at home I have to turn very sharp and I it works just fine. It will make some poping noises which is normal. The setup can be kinda of a pain at first but it works awesome! I have a 2006 yukon with a 29' Springdale. The trailer weighs more than my truck and I've been in 30mph steady winds with 50mph gusts. I certainly felt the wind but had full control.

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