sway control needed on 16'?

[floyd]

Originally Posted by David B.

I have read where some have tried to backup with the anti-sway device still connected and probably over tightened, and instead of tires losing traction, the sway device bent almost in half.
Dave & Paula

I haven't had a problem with backing up, but I have a square tube ACER. I have seen the standard type bend in extreme maneuvers. They can usually be straightened though.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Different dynamics is my guess. Commercial pull-behind trailers tend to be low and compact with lots of tongue weight, less affected by side drafts, pulled by heavy-duty trucks. Commercial trailers are often used for shorter trips around town, lower speeds, less open highway.

U-Haul designs their trailers to make them less vulnerable to sway. But sway related accidents still occur regularly, usually blamed on improper loading.

Fifth wheel dynamics are much different due to pin weight and location, so that is irrelevant to this thread. They have issues of their own- search "fifth wheel bucking"- but not usually sway.

Travel trailers are often light for their size, catch a lot of wind, and are larger relative to the size and mass of the tow vehicle. It's not just small travel trailers that use sway bars. Many larger pull-behind travel trailers use them too, either as add-on friction devices in addition to WDH, or integrated into some WDH designs.

Very interesting rationalization. I would be more likely to say it's a monkey see monkey do thing.

[k0wtz]

I see this as one more thing for me to remember!

good for you guys

bob

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

18 wheeler is NOT the only commercial tow. Dump trucks towing a Dump trailer using a pintle hitch. A pickup towing a 5th wheel trailer of any kind. U Haul trailer.
I just spent about how on the freeway looking trailer and hitches in an attempt to find any that had an anti-sway device. NOPE none did. The only place I've ever seen one is on a small travel trailer. Never on a utility trailer.
Wonder why that is.

If you don't see any clear benefit to a friction sway device, you really don't have to ever use one.
From your comments, I suspect that you haven't tried one, and if you're not interested why waste the 40 bucks?. No big deal.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Very interesting rationalization. I would be more likely to say it's a monkey see monkey do thing.

AHH! Resorting to "ad simianem?
YEAH! I just made that up.
(you can copy it if you want!)

[Mike Magee]

16' Scamps have been known to be a little bit too well balanced, or in other words, a little too light on the tongue. Trailer waggle has been noted and discussed before on this forum regarding the 16' Scamp. Best solution is to load differently and add more weight to the front, but adding some sort of friction sway control as an additional safety measure is never a bad idea.