Need "Sway Bar" 101

[Gracy]

You guys have been so awesome helping me with my stupid shower curtain and grey tank questions..... here is a serious one I'm sure the guys will love to help me with

What the heck is the sway bar and how do I attach it to the trailer and my vehicle?  I've seen it.... DH just doesn't know where on the trailer to attach it so I told him I'd ask you

I'm assuming I need a special "ball" tow thingy that is different then the one we use with the boat and the old Bethany?

So can I get what I need at Wallyworld or do I need to go to an RV store for that?

DH told me this morning that he doesn't know about it and should just take it to a trailer place?  Huh?  Can you guys just walk me through it or is it really that complicated?

[TheViking]

It's really easy. Go to camping world and buy this http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/adjustable-sway-bar-control/26649
 
 
Some folks will say to buy the Reese for double the price but you are wasting your $$. I used the same control on my 27' travel trailer, it WILL work for a pop-up. It has very easy instructions. Drill 8 holes in the tongue, then you may (Depending on your hitchwork) have to get the tab that holds the ball to your hitch welded on. Measure from ball to ball before drilling and welding.....Basically your done.  PM me if you have any questions.

[Gracy]

It's really easy. Go to camping world and buy this http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/adjustable-sway-bar-control/26649
 
 
Some folks will say to buy the Reese for double the price but you are wasting your $$. I used the same control on my 27' travel trailer, it WILL work for a pop-up. It has very easy instructions. Drill 8 holes in the tongue, then you may (Depending on your hitchwork) have to get the tab that holds the ball to your hitch welded on. Measure from ball to ball before drilling and welding.....Basically your done.  PM me if you have any questions.

Okay... the trailer came with that thing... but not sure if all those pieces are there?  I will print all this out and give it to DH tonight.  

He actually just told me on the phone that he needed something welded so we may already be on the right track  I'll PM you if we have anymore Q's!!  Thanks a ton

[austinado16]

Maybe you don't even need one.  Take the camper for a tow with it's tires aired up to the maximum on the tire, and your Trailblazer's tires aired up properly, and see what you think.

[dthurk]

The most important issue with eliminating sway is tongue weight.  Make sure that your tongue weight is 12% to 15% of the total weight of the camper.  Proper load distribution of your camper will stabilize the rig.  I can't promise it will eliminate all sway, but your tons ahead of the game with proper weighting.  
 
  That being said, the friction sway bar shown in a post above will give you additional security and peace of mind.  Check with your manufacturer to make sure the tongue of your camper is capable of handling an anti-sway device.  Also, make sure you disconnect or disable it when backing up.

[TheViking]

Also, make sure you disconnect or disable it when backing up.

 
 
 
You are supposed to do that???   OOOOOOPs    

[Dee4j]

You are supposed to do that???   OOOOOOPs    

I think that's how I broke the first one...I forgot to do that :banghead:

[dthurk]

You are supposed to do that???   OOOOOOPs    

Well, you don't HAVE to, you might be able to get away with it if you're really careful.  But you could get things messed up if you get a sharp angle between the tow vehicle and the camper while backing up.  That's with friction anti-sway.  There are other anti-sway configurations that permit backing with anti-sway connected.  Our Reese weight distributing dual cam anti sway is one of them.  Weight distributing hitches are not often used with popups.

[Gracy]

What a helpful thread I created

LOL!!!!!

[campdaddy]

Maybe you don't even need one.  Take the camper for a tow with it's tires aired up to the maximum on the tire, and your Trailblazer's tires aired up properly, and see what you think.

I agree, you may not even need one. I towed our Rockwood pup for a number of years without issue - except that one time I had it too light on the tongue. Was towing it from storage with more wight on the rear than on the front. Almost lost it; thank God for the manual lever on the Prodigy. But under normal camp-ready loads I've never need one. Even towing in the hills WV with 18 wheelers blasting by on the downhill stretches at 80+ MPH. So try it first without. Might save some time and money. Our HTT is a different beast altogether but it has a WDH with built in anti-sway.

[tlhdoc]

I agree, you may not even need one. I towed our Rockwood pup for a number of years without issue - except that one time

That one time could be the time you loose your camper or worse.  A friction sway bar is inexpensive compared to the losses you could have.

[markwi]

I tow a Jayco 1007 and I have pulled a Jayco 1206 and never had any trouble ever. I tow with a 2003 Ford F150 super crew. If you feel you need a swaybar you should get it. Mark

[campdaddy]

That one time could be the time you loose your camper or worse.  A friction sway bar is inexpensive compared to the losses you could have.

Well, you've got a good point there and God knows I wold never suggest anybody should something dangerous, however the one time I could have used a sway control the unsafe condition was of my own making (and I knew better). :banghead:
But then again I would never try to talk anyone out of using a safety device if they think they may need it. I was told that we wouldn't need the WDH or sway control when we got our HTT but I had one put on anyway. Just the added peace of mind alone makes it worth the price paid. So I'll agree if you think you might need one, go for it.

[Gracy]

UPDATE:

Everything was welded up yesterday so we are good to go

TY for all your help and suggestions