Backing up with sway control?

[JohnB]

Move Que Towing discussion to new post see here

Que Towing Attributes and axle locations

[quaddriver]

Dunno if all the answers are out yet...

but the word sway is sort of a misnomer.

its not that the trailer itself starts to sway side to side (which is actually "whipstocking") but rather with a light tongue weight - a needed evil - the moment of rotation is moved back over the trailer axles. Therefore there is nothing to keep the rig bending at the hitch point - since the tire sidewalls can flex on both trailer and 'tractor' a few inches of free lateral movement can get started and it not corrected by a pull thru or hitting the 'charlie bar' can actually induce the whipstocking, which is exacerbated on a turn or downhill, to the point that the neutrally balanced trailer can pull the rear end of the tractor around and no good comes from that.

If you have a 5th wheel hitch - never a problem. Well ok, a 5th wheel on an S10 is a problem....

if you have a 'big truck' (i.e. one with far beefier springs and rear axle than the tongue weight demands then some forego the w/d hitch and keep the moment forward (plus loading the rear tractor wheels is always a good idea)

I would always match the w/d trunion bars to the expected load. the lb rating is simply how many lbs will pull a pair of bars a certain distance from straight. since you want the hitch head to be perfectly vertical when in a neutral situation you need to 'drop links' in the chain to get the frame level and the head vertical. if you can do this with 550's (my small ez lift bars) then go with the smallest you can. I use my beavertail for a small T-L-B and never had to go more than 750's. 1200's...well...I am of the opinion, and being a professional installer, if you need 1200lb bars this is too heavy for the crud passing for vehicle frames and hitches nowadays. (plus the force behind taking off a 1200lb bar improperly will imbed your cheater to china....feet in the way be danged)

anyways, moving on to sway control, as mentioned (albeit differently) this resists the lateral movement from having an aggressive/too aggressive w/d hitch setup and the corresponding rotational moments. a good 'patch' to an unintended consequence, but as pointed out, jack-backing, or even too tight of a right turn can bend em. at the least you need to loosen the tension, as a precaution remove the pins. once bent, even the slightest, its junk forever.

I know, I ramble TMI but I see too many rigs that are "near death experiences" and by the time a lot of them get in my driveway, stuff is broken.