Disable sway control?
01-04-2019, 12:23 PM
#31
Agreed on bigger truck
You had me at 3.31 gears is pulling a 9,000 lb. 35' Open Range TT and glad that PP sorted your sway out. If it didn't, I'd be concerned for you! If I ever upgrade my TT (not to exceed my trucks capability) and feel my Equalizer wasn't cutting it, PP would be a cheaper upgrade than a bigger truck...then again a doesn't hurt to have a bigger truck 
01-04-2019, 05:25 PM
#32
Senior Member
I was under the impression that the truck's integrated sway control only kicks in when the sway is pronounced.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
01-04-2019, 11:38 PM
#33
Senior Member
I was under the impression that the truck's integrated sway control only kicks in when the sway is pronounced.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
01-05-2019, 11:56 AM
#34
I was under the impression that the truck's integrated sway control only kicks in when the sway is pronounced.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
My understanding as well. I read the manual (for a change) and it said SC does not prevent sway, but it helps out once it has begun. I have a 22' TT that weighs about 4,000 lbs. I have always driven with my sway control on. I have never noticed any sort of computer control, and my mileage was in the 10 range on the last trip.
I was under the same belief, as can be seen in a few posts in other threads stating this exact same thing...until I got a Blue Ox and discovered that somehow, some way it is interfering with the WDH. How, in what manner, I don't know, but as soon as I disabled it, the little bit of swooshiness I felt when a truck went past the other way stopped. It felt like the rear of the truck was swaying, not the trailer. If I turn t back on during a trip, the swooshiness comes back.
01-05-2019, 02:40 PM
#35
Senior Member
I was under the same belief, as can be seen in a few posts in other threads stating this exact same thing...until I got a Blue Ox and discovered that somehow, some way it is interfering with the WDH. How, in what manner, I don't know, but as soon as I disabled it, the little bit of swooshiness I felt when a truck went past the other way stopped. It felt like the rear of the truck was swaying, not the trailer. If I turn t back on during a trip, the swooshiness comes back.
01-05-2019, 11:20 PM
#36
Senior Member
I have a blue ox sway pro wdh and I leave the sway control on my truck. I haven't noticed any sway problems with my truck when pulling the trailer.
A tiny bit of sway when a truck passed the other direction, and a little sashay at times. Once I turned the trucks sway control off, never felt it again. The truck didn't indicate any sway control kicking in, can't explain the how or why, just that it stopped doing it the moment I disabled it.
01-05-2019, 11:27 PM
#37
Senior Member
This summer while on I-90 heading east out of Bozeman, MT, an idiot deer came across the highway at full speed. I thought for sure she was going to cross in front of my truck. In stead, she veered behind my truck. Unfortunately, I was pulling my trailer at the time. I felt a huge thump but never noticed much sway at all, and nothing on the dash lit up. My wife said the rear of the trailer definitely swung to the right a little.
As mentioned earlier, my truck's sway control is engaged, and I have the Blue Ox Sway Pro and weight distributing hitch.
As mentioned earlier, my truck's sway control is engaged, and I have the Blue Ox Sway Pro and weight distributing hitch.
I was under the impression that the truck's integrated sway control only kicks in when the sway is pronounced.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
I only experienced the sway control once and it was obvious. Had to swerve suddenly to avoid a dead animal in the road and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with "SWAY CONTROL!" displayed in big red letters, as well as a loud annoying chime going off.
I'm not convinced that there is any other "behind-the-scenes" sway control actively engaging during regular driving.
01-06-2019, 12:39 AM
#38
Senior Member
Thread Starter
OP here. I finally picked up my trailer right before Christmas. The original trailer was damaged when I went to pick it up, so they had to order another one. That's a story for another time...
I have only towed it less than 100 miles at this point. The dealer installed a Recurve R6 hitch. It was not set up correctly and I needed to set it up again according to the manual after the initial drive home. I needed to make the WDH bars much more active, which helped to eliminate most of the bouncing and "porpoising" over bumps. I have also installed airbags, as my truck already had a 2" level installed.
Anyways, no sway problems at this time. It actually feels pretty darn stable after spending time to set the WDH correctly. I keep the sway control activated on the truck but have never seen any indication that it has been used.
I have only towed it less than 100 miles at this point. The dealer installed a Recurve R6 hitch. It was not set up correctly and I needed to set it up again according to the manual after the initial drive home. I needed to make the WDH bars much more active, which helped to eliminate most of the bouncing and "porpoising" over bumps. I have also installed airbags, as my truck already had a 2" level installed.
Anyways, no sway problems at this time. It actually feels pretty darn stable after spending time to set the WDH correctly. I keep the sway control activated on the truck but have never seen any indication that it has been used.
02-11-2019, 12:55 PM
#39
Senior Member
I have a Blue Ox 1000 Sway Pro and did Austin to Colorado and back(~2500 miles) with sway control on with no issues including a few mountain passes like Wolf Creek and many semis passing in both directions. When a semi did pass it pushed/pulled my truck & trailer as one unit.
This is with a 2017 F150 XLT 4x4(Bilstein 5100 & SumoSprings) and a 2018 Cruiser MPG 33ft Bunkhouse that is about 6400# dry.
I do crank my Blue Ox tight to link 11 (they recommend starting at link 9). I do jack it up pretty high to get the bars on/off which I dislike but it drives great so...
(On link 9 I had some sway and porpoising, On link 10 no sway but still some porpoising)
That said, my trailer also has what I think are Load C tires(max 65 psi) and oversized axles(think they are 4400 lbs rated).
I still have the stock Dynapro 20" on my F150(for now) which I put the rears to about 50psi when towing.
When I was researching hitches I noticed people had a wide variety of experience with the Blue Ox and other hitches. IMO I think a lot of it has to do with different trailers and how they are loaded. My friend has towed my trailer with his F350 with no WDH and says it feels very good compared to other trailers.(He runs an RV rental business).
Blue Ox does mention disabling away control on some trucks though...I wish we could get a more technical answer on why. I am guessing that on some truck/trailer/wdh combos the F150 computer is 'fooled' into thinking trailer sway is taking place.
This is with a 2017 F150 XLT 4x4(Bilstein 5100 & SumoSprings) and a 2018 Cruiser MPG 33ft Bunkhouse that is about 6400# dry.
I do crank my Blue Ox tight to link 11 (they recommend starting at link 9). I do jack it up pretty high to get the bars on/off which I dislike but it drives great so...
(On link 9 I had some sway and porpoising, On link 10 no sway but still some porpoising)
That said, my trailer also has what I think are Load C tires(max 65 psi) and oversized axles(think they are 4400 lbs rated).
I still have the stock Dynapro 20" on my F150(for now) which I put the rears to about 50psi when towing.
When I was researching hitches I noticed people had a wide variety of experience with the Blue Ox and other hitches. IMO I think a lot of it has to do with different trailers and how they are loaded. My friend has towed my trailer with his F350 with no WDH and says it feels very good compared to other trailers.(He runs an RV rental business).
Blue Ox does mention disabling away control on some trucks though...I wish we could get a more technical answer on why. I am guessing that on some truck/trailer/wdh combos the F150 computer is 'fooled' into thinking trailer sway is taking place.
Last edited by RichAP; 02-11-2019 at 01:02 PM.