Friction sway-control bar ?

pugman · 07-23-2012, 06:05 PM

What is the proper way to use a sway bar ? I got a 2499 and been using a Reese friction sway bar . I hear and read so many different way to use then. What I been doing is turning the handle till it is just snug then I give it a half a turn more it seems to work for me I dont seem get a lot of sway.
The sticker on the sway bar says to turn till tight then back off 2 turns to me that feels way to loose . and it says remove on slippery roads. So you should not use them on wet roads?

**Sunline Fan** · 07-23-2012, 09:18 PM

I learned a little trick about 15 years ago for setting it: tighten it as tight as you can with just your index finger and middle finger together.

Yes, it does say to remove on slippery roads. I never have, but I've never used it on snowy roads. I've never had a Sunline out on those conditions, but I did have a scout trailer out in snowy weather and didn't use the friction sway control unless the roads were clear and dry. If you had like a 1550 (lighter trailer), then maybe I'd be concerned about the sway control being too tight on wet roads, but with a 2499, you have plenty of weight there that it shouldn't be a problem on wet road.

For newbies, I always suggest removing the friction sway when backing up. The reason is, it moves with most of the way the trailer turns, but it does bind up at extremes. If you get in a backing situation where you get turned too tight, it'll bend the slider bar. Sure, you can get it straightened, but you can't really use it until you do, and if you really back into it, it could do more damage than that.

That's why I like the dual cam setup. It's a little finicky to set up, but it never has to be removed to back up and can't really be on with not enough/too much intensity.

**JohnB** · 07-23-2012, 10:00 PM

Sunline Fan said it well. The T2499 is a very stable towing TT. The higher percentage tongue weight of that floor plan makes it stable to tow.

The friction bar is a trial and error setup. Most have a hex head bolt for changing the tension once it wears and then the handle for on and off. If the unit is new, then the hex bolt should be set OK. It should be just enough that the bar will still slide by hand when unhitched from the camper and the lever is all the way off. If it drags hard, slight back off the hex, if real sloppy, then snug a little.

Then hitch up. It may be 1 or 2 turns of the lever until it is snug and the handle inline with the bar. If the rig moves too much, go 1 more turn and so on. Those that state to crank that lever to until you run out of threads, ah no that is not correct. That description does not fit every friction sway bar out there.

The slippery road thing. This is not wet roads but slippery roads. If it is slippery you should be slowing down anyway. Sway is not that aggravated at slower speeds. They want you to back off the friction or remove it as if it is too tight and the truck starts to slide, the bar can hold the truck at that angle and make it harder to come back under control. And some times the brake material when really wet grabs really hard.

Hope this helps

John

pugman · 07-24-2012, 03:41 PM

Thanks guys for your help. I can always count on this forum for the answers. I have learned so much in the last 4 months about my sunline.

pwb01 · 07-31-2012, 08:17 PM

They all said it well. I always loosened the bar as I walked back to the car after I registered at the campsites. You don't need it at slow speed. I also loosened it just before I backed back into the driveway. Then I got a 5th wheel and don't need one anymore. Now if I could only learn to back up the 5th wheel!

pugman · 08-01-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwb01

They all said it well. I always loosened the bar as I walked back to the car after I registered at the campsites. You don't need it at slow speed. I also loosened it just before I backed back into the driveway. Then I got a 5th wheel and don't need one anymore. Now if I could only learn to back up the 5th wheel!

Don't feel bad about trying to learn to back up your 5th wheel. This is my first summer with my first travel trailer if you want to see someone having a hard time backing up come and see me

I couldn't imagine me trying to back up a 5th wheel.

**Sunline Fan** · 08-01-2012, 09:05 PM

Maybe it's just me, but I backed up my first fifth wheel the first time perfectly. I think it's easier and more predictable than a bumper pull.