Sway Bar For My 2021 T@B 400

Sydmargo

What type of sway bars are you using? Do I have to disconnect it to back up? I do not want to use WD Hitch.

Binghi

I don’t use a sway bar or WD hitch on my 400 BD. It pulls with no problem.

kottum

We use this one on our Tab 320s BD: 

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-17200-Sway-Control-Kit/dp/B000HLO7QA/ref=asc_df_B000HLO7QA/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312128189269&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9265626497342223229&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9020178&hvtargid=pla-449712355360&psc=1

I like it very much for the reasons mentioned on the page.  If I had a Tab 400 I would use a weight distribution hitch instead, mostly to help with the gear loaded in the back of our Honda Ridgeline.  That plus the hitch weight of a loaded Tab 400 would put more weight than I like on our truck's rear axle while lightening the steering axle.  Not to mention our headlights blinding oncoming traffic at night because they would be too high.
 
Doug

kottum

Oh, yes disconnect the sway bar when backing unless more/less backing straight back.  Very easy to do, just pull the two small hitch pins and it's in your hand.  If you turn when backing you could jackknife the sway bar.

Doug

DenisP

I use a friction type sway bar while towing my 400 with a Tundra. On occasion when I forgot to set the friction, I have noticed slight movement with side winds and pulled into next rest area, set the friction and continued on. I have traveled a lot of miles with this setup and it is very comfortable to tow. 

Gherzig

I tow a 2021 400 with a Ford Ranger.  I did not consider the need for a sway bar as the trailer rode so well.  Then came this past week - I was on an interstate with the wind gusting to 20mph at times.  I passed a truck towing a long (and decrepit) RV trailer and while I was passing, I felt sway beginning (not a good feeling).  Before I could react, the Ford electronic Sway Control kicked in and immediately put us under control by applying brakes selectively to one wheel at a time and lowering engine output.   My thoughts after this experience:
-Electronic Sway Control really does work
-Sway can happen with a T@b and a truck rated for 7500lb tow capacity
-For the first time I had been using the Jack-It tongue bike rack with two bikes on it - perhaps adding 100# to the tongue weight
-Next time I use the Jack-It, should I fill the fresh water tank to provide more weight over the axle?
-I am rethinking using a sway bar

Sharon_is_SAM

At what speed did this occur?

rh5555

@Gherzig, what is the length of your tow hitch?  How many inches from retaining pin to center of 2" ball.  Keeping this value small is the best simple way to increase stability.  You tried increasing the tongue weight (which is commonly presented as a cure), and that didn't help. I think filling the fresh water tank will make little difference.

We towed our 400 using a Jeep Cherokee - it was somewhat underpowered but never unstable when using a 6" pin-to-ball hitch.

Gherzig

@rh5555, thank you.  I never gave the hitch length much thought.  Turns out I am using a hitch ball mount with a 10.5" spacing.  The shortest I can find is 7.5".  Did you drill out the 6" on your own?  Even 7.5" seems worth a try.
@Sharon_is_SAM, I was around 65mph while passing a slower moving large trailer. I surmise that the wind was bouncing off the walls of the larger trailer.   

kottum

The longer ball mount will increase the leverage any sway tendencies have on the rear of the tow vehicle.  This is transmitted to the steering axle making the whole setup less stable.  The closer the pivot point (ball coupler) is to the tow vehicle's rear axle, the better.  This is especially important with vehicles that already have a long overhang from rear axle to the back bumper.  

Independent rear suspension vehicles are also more stable than solid axle vehicles because they have a much wider stance, due to the farther outboard connection points of the suspension to the frame/unibody (think of standing with your feet spaced farther apart, and someone pushing you sideways).

You may be able re-drill your present ball mount to shorten this ball-to-axle if you have the equipment.  Or take it to a machine shop or hitch shop and have them do it.  You will need to be sure you have clearance for the bumper and any sway bar used, then mark a spot where the new hitch pin hole should be drilled.  If the ball mount is too long and sticks out the front of the receiver too much, have them cut off the excess.

There is a trade-off here.  The shorter ball mount will put the trailer closer to the back of the tow vehicle (that's good for stability and safety when towing), but a little less room before jack-knifing into the trailer when backing into a parking spot (that's bad if you don't have a spotter helping you back up).

Doug

Horigan

What's the wheelbase length on the tow vehicle?  A shorter wheel base will be less stable.

From the interweb, "As a general rule of thumb, the first 110 inches of wheelbase allow for a 20-foot trailer. For each additional four inches of wheelbase length, you get one foot more in trailer length."

kottum

Yes, knowing the tow vehicle would make it easier to offer advice.

True, a longer wheelbase tow vehicle may be more stable when towing, as a general rule.  However this is still dependent on the ratio of rear overhang of the tow vehicle (distance of hitch coupler to tow vehicle rear axle).  A longer wheelbase stability may be defeated by a longer rear overhang, because the leverage of any sway is amplified.  A longer ball mount adds to the problem, and works on the same principle.

This is why a fifth wheel trailer or semi trailer which is coupled right over the rear axle is so resistance to sway.  It is also why a shorter wheelbase Chevy Tahoe may be as stable as a Suburban when towing a trailer.

Doug