humblerb

When we bought our first travel trailer about 5 years ago, the salesman told us during our walk-through that you should never back without removing the sway controller. He said you will tear it up. He said he had seen them come in bent in half. He made a point to stress to us that we would regret it if we didn't remember to remove the sway bar, even if only backing a little.

Well, I learned shortly after buying that he was not nearly as knowledgeable about towing as he pretended to be.

But, since it really does no harm, we have always tried to remember to remove it before backing.

However, there have been a few times when I have been in a position that I needed to back up and forgot to disconnect it. The only problem I had was one of the cotter pins got caught and it mangled the pin.

Is the reason for his warning just that you might over-extend the bar if you have a very tight turn? Or under-extend (I know that isn't a word), depending on which way you are turning?

If you are making a relatively normal or wide arch when backing, will the sway bar be OK? Or is there something else that might go wrong that I am not thinking of?


Thanks for the input.

brulaz

That's my understanding.

Like you I've always removed it before tight turns when backing up.

Actually I've gotten out and removed it before making tight turns when going forward too!!

Nice thing about my new Equal-I-Zer is that I don't have to do that anymore.

Scarlet

Yea, when I had my Travel Trailer I had an Equil-I-Zer on it. I just kept an eye on it with the back up camera. Just be aware of your angle when you are backing up. I never had a problem the few times I used it.

raisin

I saw a van backing turned very sharp and collapsed the sway bar braking the round ring off. I've never felt I would turn that tight so I usually don't take it off or I forget.

acadianbob

If you have an "add on" friction bar, definitely remove it.

With my Reese Straight Line system, I have never removed anything to back the trailer. And we have been in many tight squeezes.

Can't speak for other WD hitch brands.

Jeriko

any brand with a built in sway control (husky centerline, reese straitline, etc) I don't believe you have to remove anything to back up or corner sharply. Like previously mentioned, if you have an additional mounted sway controller like a friction bar, I'd remove that to be sure you don't stress it in any unintended directions.