sway bar question

[KNDB]

We just purchased a 2020 Freedom Express Ultralite trailer--weight is 4800 lbs. We are towing this with a 2019 Ford F-150 with the heavy duty towing package with sway control. We have the weight distribution hitch. Do we need sway control bars as well? The towing package states is comes with an anti-sway system. Has anyone had "real-life experience" with this system? Thanks for your help.

[MitchF150]

This was ME coming into East Wenatchee just a couple of weeks ago.. Steel shelf popped out of the truck in front of me after making a pass..

There was a box truck in the right lane too, but I checked my mirrors and was clear just before I swerved into the right lane.. All good, I don't think anyone behind me hit the steel shelf as I saw the car behind me swerve too..

No sway and just kept going.. Seemed to happen in slow motion too..

https://youtu.be/n0EVPUxxMaA


Mitch

[CFerguson]

Good advice above. All I can add is if anyone isn't convinced, watch some youtube vids on overturned TTs.
Don't skimp on important safety stuff.

[Terryallan]

KNDB wrote:
Thanks everyone for your input. We are going to add a friction swaybar to the system.

Just remember. A sway control bar is not a anti sway. It does not prevent sway. You should have no sway with out it. It is there to help control sway once it has been induced either by a sudden jerk of the steering wheel, like dodging a accident, or deer. or by a flat tire, or sudden wind.

If the TT sways in normal driving with out the bar. The hitch should be adjusted to a 0 sway point, and then sway control added.

[KNDB]

Thanks everyone for your input. We are going to add a friction swaybar to the system.

[Jebby14]

yes, you want at least a friction sway bar. cheap and easy

[WayneAt63044]

Based on the Freedom Express manufacturer's website the 4,800 lbs will be unloaded weight and gross will be 7,000 or more. You'll be close enough to the max towing capability of your F-150 to want sway control in the hitch. Which hitch do you have? If no sway control in it, do get the anti-sway bar. You will have about 1,000 lbs on the hitch of the truck.

[MitchF150]

The Ford "built in sway control" is for the worst case sway situation, like you are see-sawing the steering wheel and out of control.. I have it on my F150, but it has never kicked in thankfully!

It's not a substitute for a mechanical sway control built into the WD hitch setup.

That being said, when you say you have a #4800 TT, is that loaded up going down the road or what the "dry weight" says?

Don't really know what you mean by "heavy duty tow package"? Ford has a regular tow package, a max tow package and a heavy duty payload package.

Other factors in controlling sway is hitch setup, loading and proper tongue weight.

Good luck!

Mitch

[Lwiddis]

My Tahoe has sway control and I use sway control bars. So, yes.

[opnspaces]

Hi KNDB welcome to the forum. You'll get various responses to your question here with some saying no sway control and some saying yes to sway control. By and large though the majority will say yes to sway control even with the Anti sway feature of the Ford. The theory is that the add on sway control dampens and stops sway before it happens. While the Ford system only comes into play after the sway has started. My personal opinion it add the sway control. If for some unfortunate reason you wind up with sway; then the Ford system will hopefully come into play and stop it.