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**ckreef** · 07-22-2020, 07:05 AM

Someone might know more but almost all trucks have a factory sway bar. That helps with sway for the rear end of the truck. You still want a weight distribution hitch (WDH) with anti sway to help with trailer sway.

**Guest** · 07-22-2020, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by elranas View Post

I have 2020 F150 with sway control built in. Does someone have an experience using it towing a trailer? Does it really help and can replace a conventional sway control bar?

Can you post some of the verbiage or the description in your owners manual on this subject? Sway bars as seen as the bar that runs under the rear axle from side to side or at the front of the vehicle will help to prevent body roll. These devices are referred to as sway bars. A dedicated electronic sway control (as in trailer sway) will use the vehicles yaw sensor and the brake system(s) to react in several ways.

1) The vehicle can apply the vehicle brakes individually to counter vehicle yaw and trailer sway. This is a similar action to the vehicles stability software.

2) Some vehicles can also apply the trailer brakes to reduce trailer sway. Since I control sway with a anti-sway hitch, I've never experienced this program being active.

The electronic sway control tends to be set to respond to the more aggressive sway where a proper anti-sway hitch or trailer sway bar should still be used for TTs.

Jim

**Cate&Rob** · 07-22-2020, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by elranas View Post

I have 2020 F150 with sway control built in. Does someone have an experience using it towing a trailer? Does it really help and can replace a conventional sway control bar?

The F150 does not have a "rear sway bar" in the context of a roll control bar under the rear axle. The electronic sway control is a system reactive to significant trailer sway. I have only had this engage once with a poorly loaded cargo trailer (never with the 5th wheel trailer) and it was a rather dramatic encounter. I would think that a hitch anti-sway and weight distributing system would be a better way to gradually control trailer sway.

From the online literature . . . By selectively braking and adjusting engine power the Trailer Sway Control system is able to maintain trailer control and help prevent sway.

Rob

**ncitro** · 07-22-2020, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by elranas View Post

I have 2020 F150 with sway control built in. Does someone have an experience using it towing a trailer? Does it really help and can replace a conventional sway control bar?

I’m petty sure that for an F150 with the size trailer you’ve purchased that you’ll need a weight distribution hitch anyway, but verify your truck ratings. If getting a weight distribution hitch go with one that has integrated sway control rather than the add on friction sway bar, they work way better. You have a 7000 pound GVWR, so your tongue weight will probably be 700-1000 pounds. I’d size your hitch to 1,000 pounds of tongue weight. Watch what you put in the bed, it can eat up payload quickly with the tongue weight and the weight of the hitch.

**TucsonJim** · 07-22-2020, 10:04 AM

I have an F350 with built in anti sway control. Even with my F350, I don't trust it to keep sway under control, but only to prevent an accident if the trailer starts to sway.

I highly recommend a quality weight/Sway distribution hitch such as Blue Ox. It will help level your load and keep the trailer tracking true at all times so the truck's sway control never has to kick in. I'm sure others can weigh in on their recommendations for a good hitch to meet this need.

Jim

**elranas** · 07-22-2020, 01:10 PM

This is extremely helpful! Thank you everyone

We decided to yes purchase EQUAL-I-ZER 500 LBS as our hitch weight it 504lbs ... is it better to get the 600lbs version?

**Schiefswret** · 07-22-2020, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by elranas View Post

I have 2020 F150 with sway control built in. Does someone have an experience using it towing a trailer? Does it really help and can replace a conventional sway control bar?

To the best of my knowledge, the Ford OEM “sway control” feature is not designed to replace a conventional Weight Distribution Hitch such as Curt, Equal-I-zer, Pro Series, etc. Check Ford YouTube videos on this issue which seems to clearly indicate that the OEM relates to Cargo Trailer sway.
I believe that if you install a major brand WDH system and your RV still sways beyond the acceptable amount, there is no way the OEM sway control could intervene and solve the problem, nor is it designed to be more effective and or efficient than a major brand WDH system.

**Guest** · 07-22-2020, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by Schiefswret View Post

"I believe that if you install a major brand WDH system and your RV still sways beyond the acceptable amount, there is no way the OEM sway control could intervene and solve the problem, nor is it designed to be more effective and or efficient than a major brand WDH system".

Agree except the electronic sway control can mitigate the most offensive sway. But it will not control it up to that point. The best solution which I believe everyone is in agreement is to use an anti sway hitch to avoid getting into severe sway. Most folks will never encounter this being active if properly balanced and while using an anti sway hitch on TT's.

Jim

**Country Campers** · 07-22-2020, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by elranas View Post

This is extremely helpful! Thank you everyone

We decided to yes purchase EQUAL-I-ZER 500 LBS as our hitch weight it 504lbs ... is it better to get the 600lbs version?

Yes I would go larger. Actually with your model the gross weight is 6995#. This could equate to about 700 or 800# of tongue weight, so I would suggest 800 or 1000# bars.
Hand in there you are learning well.

Brian

**Schiefswret** · 07-22-2020, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by Country Campers View Post

Yes I would go larger. Actually with your model the gross weight is 6995#. This could equate to about 700 or 800# of tongue weight, so I would suggest 800 or 1000# bars.
Hand in there you are learning well.

Brian

If it were me I would not even consider a WDH system of less than 10k, with two 1k bars.

**ckreef** · 07-22-2020, 04:20 PM

Originally posted by elranas View Post

This is extremely helpful! Thank you everyone

We decided to yes purchase EQUAL-I-ZER 500 LBS as our hitch weight it 504lbs ... is it better to get the 600lbs version?

I agree with others. Your actual tongue weight will come out in the 700-800 lb range so I too would go with the 1,000 lb bars.

I know weights can get confusing. Manufacturers always give way low specs on their tongue weight. For picking out a WDH you need to figure the worst case scenario which would be 15% of the trailers GVWR. Without going extreme you can't really have too much weight distribution but it is very easy to have too little.

**Guest** · 07-22-2020, 04:31 PM

My tongue weight on a 7000 GVW trailer is at 940lbs. This is worse case with full water. Since its never good to be at the limit it would be best IMO to go with the 1200lb bars. I have the 1000lb bars and if I could do this over I would have moved up to the 1200lb unit.

Jim

**elranas** · 07-23-2020, 11:49 AM

Jim, wouldn't it lift the trailer higher than it should? I'm thinking the higher the hitch lb rating the higher it will force lifting the truck -- I'm sure I'm wrong but this how I think it works

**Country Campers** · 07-23-2020, 12:25 PM

No it will not have any effect on the lifting force (maybe). You will be able to adjust that force by using more or less chain links, if equipped. The heavier bars will actually make it easier to transfer the weight.

Brian

Announcement

Build in sway control Vs. conventional one. What do you think?

Build in sway control Vs. conventional one. What do you think?

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