Is a Sway Bar Required for Your Camper?
One of the most liberating experiences a person can have is traveling in an RV. Getting out on the open road is all you want after you’ve found the proper tow truck and camper to suit your needs.
Prior to doing it, though, you should have a look at a few pieces of safety equipment. Sway bars, which are ubiquitous in many towable trailers, are one of the most crucial components. Are our sway bars truly necessary for your camper, or are they only an extra item that you don’t really need?
The term “sway bar” is used to describe a piece of equipment that helps the vehicle maintain its balance.
The use of sway bars is highly recommended for recreational vehicles. As a result, they may assist to minimize swaying when driving on the highway, and they can even rescue your car from a potentially fatal accident or rollover situation.
Despite the fact that some drivers complain that sway bars make turning more difficult, the added safety is generally considered to be well worth the additional expense. Sway bars are already built in the majority of campers on the market today, so you won’t have to spend much time looking for one.
This device will be discussed in further depth below if you do not have a sway bar in your camper or if you are still debating the pros and drawbacks.
Although camper sway bars are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, their function is the same. Rigid sway bars and adjustable sway bars are the two most common kinds.
Trailer sway bars are constructed of a pair of strong metal arms that link the trailer to the hitch of the towing vehicle. They are also known as hitch stabilizers. The sway bar is integrated directly into the weight distribution hitch, eliminating the need for any other accessories. Chains or adjustable bars are sometimes used to provide more control or flexibility..
These days, adjustable sway bars are a little less prevalent, but they are still useful pieces of gear. It is possible to connect an adjustable sway bar directly to the tongue of the trailer and the tow vehicle’s hitch using this form of sway bar installation.
You may adjust the length of the bar to your liking since it is a solid bar that can lock into place. When going on a highway in inclement weather, this bar will maintain its position and prevent the trailer from drifting closer or farther away from the tow vehicle if the road is bumpy.
Sway bars are also standard equipment on most automobiles and trucks, however, their configurations vary from those seen on campervans. Improves the suspension of the vehicle and ensures that it remains stable throughout turns and in difficult driving situations.
The weight distribution hitches on many new travel trailers are already installed, and the sway bars are already connected as well. As a result, you won’t have to go out of your way to purchase a separate sway bar in most situations.
Make certain to inquire about the hitch with your dealer so that you can be certain that you have this critical piece of equipment..
In order to properly maneuver your camper, a sway bar is required.
For those of you who have purchased an RV before, you are probably aware that there are two types of accessories: requirements and optional extras.
Purchasing add-ons, appliances, and supplementary amenities for your apartment might be a never-ending cycle of spending money. The fact that there are so many different items available for the RV industry makes determining what is most vital difficult.
If I claim that sway bars are not unnecessary extras, believe me. Absolutely not the case! Your family, your passengers, and the RV itself may find themselves in desperate need of this durable metal framework.
The tension and external factors that campers encounter are immense. It is possible for them to wobble while traveling along the highway at high speeds. If the driver is unable to keep the camper and tow vehicle under control, the camper and tow vehicle may collide and overturn.
Clearly, this is a very risky scenario that has the potential to be fatal. It is possible to experience swaying when driving as a result of many distinct circumstances.
Wind
In terms of causing trailer wobble, the wind is one of the most significant contributors. The majority of travel trailers are bigger than automobiles and contain a great amount of flat surface space to accommodate passengers. Even if the wind doesn’t blow directly at the structure, it will be difficult to keep it from moving. Getting a sway bar for your camper is essential since wind speeds may become much more extreme while traveling at highway speeds.
Roads that are difficult to travel on.
For those who choose to camp off-grid, you’ll most likely have to contend with some really tough terrain. The majority of vehicles, especially trucks that are capable of hauling trailers, are capable of dealing with these conditions. Most travel trailers, on the other hand, do not have the same level of suspension strength.
During harsh weather, they may become imbalanced and twist or slide forward toward the towing vehicle, causing damage. A sway bar is very necessary in these situations! It aids in keeping the trailer firmly in position and preventing undesired movement from taking place.
Turns that are difficult to complete
During tight bends, a similar scenario might occur. In addition to being difficult to navigate, driving a travel trailer may be challenging while making maneuvers. As a result of the centrifugal force of turning (particularly while traveling at highway speeds), the camper may be put under excessive pressure.
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There is a very real danger of their flipping since they are huge and top-heavy. Semi-trucks and other big vehicles face hazards that are comparable to those faced by small cars and motorcycles.
The safest course of action, in this case, is to proceed with caution. Preserve as much time as possible and make the transition as gradually as feasible. People in your immediate vicinity may get irritated, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off since you’re making everyone safer over the long term.
Vehicles that are passing.
Any driver who has passed (or been passed by) a semi-truck on the highway has undoubtedly experienced a feeling of unsteadiness in their lane of travel. As a result, your car becomes entangled in the slipstream of other vehicles passing by.
Your car and camper may swing as a result of the wind’s pressure and momentum. Sway bars will help to reduce this movement and assist you in recovering from any unsteadiness that you may have while driving.
The intensity of the load
In the final analysis, weight distribution between campers and their tow vehicles is improved by using sway bars. A lot of current sway bars are integrated into weight distribution hitches, as I described before. They work together to make the whole arrangement safer and more secure.
Because of the tremendous weight of the trailer behind it, your tow vehicle would be unbalanced if it did not have a correct hitch. The weight would be distributed more evenly between the front wheels, while the rear wheels would get overloaded and break.
It is also possible for the trailer to tip forward, making the rear end more susceptible to back and forth movement. The use of a sway bar in conjunction with weight-distribution hitch streamlines and balances the overall configuration.
What are the greatest aftermarket sway bars on the market right now?
Most newer campers are equipped with sway bars that are already fitted. Their importance as a safety feature has been recognized by the automotive industry, which has made them standard equipment on the majority of vehicles.
If your hitch is worn out or you have a condition that needs more strength, there are a few locations you might seek to buy a nice sway bar for your camper. Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive about each of these products, which are all reasonably priced.
Trailer Anti-Sway Bar Control Kit, Model 17200 (CURT 17200).
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Designed to work with a range of trailer designs, this sway bar makes use of a brake-pad material to help keep movement to a minimum. Despite the fact that it is somewhat more costly than the next alternative, it is quite popular with its clients. The price is around $53 on Amazon.com.
Product Number: 35-946204 Ultra-Fab Products The Control of Extreme Sway
This sway bar is covered by a 3-year manufacturer guarantee, so you can rest confident that it will not fail on you any time in the near future. Aside from that, it’s one of the most reasonably priced sway bars available. Amazon has a similar product for around $41.
Value Friction Sway Control (Pro Series 83660)
It has received rave feedback from clients who have purchased it. It has a sturdy construction and is simple to put in and take out. Customers often purchase two of these devices for the added security. They may be mounted on the right, left, or center of the vehicle. (Amazon price: $66.00)
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