Trailer Sway Control questions

[tominwi]

New to Travel Trailer towing so am learning all I can ahead of pulling our new 24' trailer in the spring. I've studied-up on weight distribution and will have a WDH installed, know all about levelling and placing cargo in the trailer etc. but now have watched a video about trailer sway and the RV tech said "if your trailer starts to sway, act fast to apply the TRAILER BRAKES not those of your tow vehicle". OK makes sense to me so I goto my Owner Manual and it says I have "Trailer Sway Control" built-in, but doesn't really explain how it works, and only that it becomes available on start-up, and can be switched OFF until the next start. Two questions:

1. WHAT and WHERE do I find the "stability control lamp"? Manual states on p363

"If the trailer begins to sway, the stability
control lamp flashes and the message
Trailer Sway Reduce Speed appears in
the information display."

2. Is there any way for me to manually apply my TT's electric brakes from the driver's seat?

 

[Fasttimes]

That's a bunch of info that may not be really what you want to do.

Get a WDH with anti-sway features. I have the Equalizer WDH with anti-sway, it works very well.

All you should need to do is get your WDH installed and set up correctly and then set the gain up on the truck for the brakes correctly. WDH set up is key and will take some time and multiple adjustments most likely. Took me a solid year to get it just right and mulitple trips to the CAT scales. You'll want the tongue weight on the hitch to be what the trailer placard says it should be from the factory. Then factor in weight on top of that for batteries, stuff, etc. Just be close to that number as you can.

There will be a knob in your Timberline for the HD tow that will allow you to set the gain (the amount of brakes to apply to the trailer). You'll want to go about 10-15 mph and turn the brake knob manually to where it locks up the trailer brakes. Then reduce the gain a bit back from that. You'll get a hang of it of feeling if the brakes are too much or not enough. You don't want to feel the trailer pulling your truck to a stop.

All that other stuff they mention is "in case of emergency", not really day to day driving. Applying the brakes on a properly set up trailer, WDH, and balanced right tongue should be just fine.

 

[tominwi]

While I do very much appreciate your thoughtful reply Fasttimes, that is information I already knew. At least, yes I know about how to get everything set-up properly, including the road test part(s).

But I still am curious to know the answers to my questions, even if they are 1. "there is no such thing" and 2. "No there is not".

And if anyone knows how "Trailer Sway Control" works, or has a link, I would like to know that too.

 

[JasonH]

The manual trailer brake control is the squeeze switch next to the trailer brake gain button.

 

[tominwi]

The manual trailer brake control is the squeeze switch next to the trailer brake gain button.

Aha, so it is that simple. Many thanks Jason. Now that I know what it is, I can follow the written description much better and understand how I will accomplish the gain settings.

I see too now what Fasttimes was implying re: "emergency only" i.e. the owner guide states "only use the manual control lever for proper adjustment of gain..." especially as I've now found a good description of Sway control works (next).

 

[tominwi]

I should have thought to try AI first. THe below is from perplexity.ai. I've not yet looked at all the references but this is basically what I was looking for w/my Q2:

Where can I find an explanation of how the Ford Expedition's "Trailer Sway Control" functions?

Answer
Ford's Trailer Sway Control is an electronic system that helps stabilize your vehicle when towing a trailer. It works in conjunction with the AdvanceTrac® system with Roll Stability Control™ (RSC®). Here's how it functions:

1. The system uses sensors to measure yaw motion and detect if the trailer is swaying.
2. If sway is detected, the stability control light will flash, and a "trailer sway reduce speed" message will appear in the information display

• The system then applies precise braking to individual wheels and may reduce engine torque to help stabilize both the vehicle and trailer.
• Drivers may feel a pulsing sensation on the brake pedal when the system is active.
• The feature automatically turns on each time you start your vehicle

It's important to note that if trailer sway occurs, it's likely due to improper loading or excessive speed. In such cases, you should slow down, pull over, and ensure your trailer is connected correctly and the load is properly distributed

 

[tominwi]

Re my "stability control lamp", I was looking for an outboard LED and it appears to be a dash indicator.

Where is the "stability control lamp" referenced in the Ford's owner guide?

Answer
The stability control lamp is located on the dashboard of your Ford vehicle. This lamp serves as both a warning and an indicator light, depending on its behavior:

1. When flashing: The stability control system is actively working to maintain vehicle stability.
2. When continuously illuminated: This indicates a system error in the stability control system.
3. When not illuminated during ignition: If the lamp doesn't light up when you turn on the ignition, this could also indicate a system malfunction.

If the stability control lamp remains illuminated or fails to illuminate when you switch on the ignition, it's recommended to have the system checked by a Ford dealer immediately1. The stability control system is an important safety feature, and any malfunctions should be addressed promptly to ensure proper vehicle operation and safety."

No doubt this one, which I observe to be lower-left on the main display:


I'm happy. Thanks you guys.

 

[ccssid]

Fwiw: I have this unit. Used for several years with explorer. Now with expedition. I use the lighter spring bars (600-800), as my trailers maxes out at #4500. NEVER any issues.

https://www.amazon.com/Husky-32218-Center-Line-Spring/dp/B00W919FL8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=Q0BTKK2KN0SY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k8r-TNuhS0c1D-s_OZ4xDuZXsWfHYxnemBjdWHaQukrzT1-p5IBtFvcvilsdDz4sxq0jYorLAPzhABVd04QG5P4l-AdY6bCOosq7Q0pzdo4jEgdfaeCypiaBY9n3hk0z7SneU6GjAr3sTuv0gTrD0r8mWxOVRMjX2qP4u5nVDkpAY5IkPDud3uC6WvjYVxJccLaKzj4GtbWicAHpZH_lqQ.sFtaQjRCvvKb4Jz98whKYtr-FgaKm5UxlxDaVvEtJeA&dib_tag=se&keywords=husky+weight+distribution+hitch&qid=1740151291&sprefix=husky+we%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1

 

[tominwi]

My dealer will deliver the trailer with a Blue Ox TrackPro installed. I expect it will be the 800# model as our TT is similar weight to your own.

It purports to do both weight distribution and sway control. As a rank amateur to the world of TTs I am more-than-fine with the dealer doing this vs trying to set one up myself.

 

[ccssid]

My dealer will deliver the trailer with a Blue Ox TrackPro installed. I expect it will be the 800# model as our TT is similar weight to your own.

It purports to do both weight distribution and sway control. As a rank amateur to the world of TTs I am more-than-fine with the dealer doing this vs trying to set one up myself.

View attachment 83726

I had the dealer originally set my weight distribution hitch on my explorer. Same reason as you stated. The dealer could not have done a worse job. Ultimately, I read the instructions made a call to the factory support line.....and in about an hour I had re-set the hitch. A couple of trips to the scales and some minor adjustments is all it took. It was not difficult at all. Hitch has since been adjusted to work with my expedition. Enjoy
.

 

[tominwi]

The dealer could not have done a worse job.

That's awful. I guess I need you to confirm--was it your Ford dealer or your RV dealer that installed yr WDH?

I would hope my RV dealer would know how to not only install the thing but to install it according to my specific trailer characteristics.

Thankfully I have CAT scales nearby so I look forward to learning all about this stuff.

 

[ccssid]

That's awful. I guess I need you to confirm--was it your Ford dealer or your RV dealer that installed yr WDH?

I would hope my RV dealer would know how to not only install the thing but to install it according to my specific trailer characteristics.

Thankfully I have CAT scales nearby so I look forward to learning all about this stuff.

It was the rv dealer. The rv dealer, manager, sales people were all wonderful. The service tech left much to be desired. My wife and I drove 200 miles home with the trailer hooked up . It pulled fine actually, probably because we didn't know any different. But, trailer rode much better after the wdh was tweaked. When fully loaded up ( all critical weights were almost maxed out) the explorer ( Platinum...with 3.5 Ecoboost) handled extremely well. Pulling the same trailer/load with expedition.....we don't even know we're pulling a trailer.

 

[tominwi]

Yikes to the service tech. Not good. The shop at our dealer looked like it had all the right stuff but of course you never know re: personnel and they might give an "easy" WDH to their newest person I suppose. Our first drive home will be (in April) a relatively straight shot on two-lane less travelled back roads so hopefully we will be OK regardless of service tech or (in my case) inexperienced tow-er.

Glad to know your Explorer pulled yr TT fine b4 the Expy--Wife has a Honda Passport right now but when buying the Expedition we lusted after the Explorer for her when she tires of the PP.

 

[tominwi]

BTW today I looked at my 15" display and noted the little 'i'nfo icon next to the Sway Control on/off switch. Shows a cool animation of a trailer swinging back/forth behind the Expy but otherwise doesn't give the detailed description that I found via AI.

 

[Pawpaw]

All I can say are the dealers are worried about making a sale. Service departments have kids doing work they know very little about either. Dealer messed up the setting on my Equalizer hitch. Had too much weight on the hitch and drove home with 25 mph sidewinds that had me dropping speed down to 50-55 mph. Son in law who's familiar with travel trailers added a washer to the hitch head to throw more weight to the front axle. He also aired up my 10 ply tires to 65psi. Took it out on the highway close to my house and got it up to the 70mph speed limit and it did great. Realized the independent rear suspension causes some sway when windy or heavy tongue weight. Bought a Shurline scale and hitch came in over 1100 lbs. Loaded as much cargo over the trailer axles and lighter things in the rear of the camper. Our camper can gross out at 8800 lbs but we load lightly and keep it close to 8K pounds. I think hitch weight should be limited to 900lbs and camper weight loaded at 7K pounds with the max towing package. Not having factory towing mirrors can be dangerous also. Solved my towing problems when I bought a 2017 F250 diesel mostly for towing.

 

[JasonH]

I would hope my RV dealer would know how to not only install the thing but to install it according to my specific trailer characteristics.

Thankfully I have CAT scales nearby so I look forward to learning all about this stuff.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, trust your RV dealer to configure the hitch correctly. During the pandemic when camper sales were going gangbusters, I can't even begin to convey how often there were posts about white knuckle drives and whether a 3/4-ton tow vehicle was needed. Part of that was dealers selling campers too large for the tow vehicle. But a substantial part was also improperly configured hitches. None of those posters had any clue whether their hitch was configured properly.

The hitch setup is not that difficult, and your family's life is riding on making sure it's done properly. At a minimum, watch some videos so you understand what it does and why. Then find a scale and plan to visit it after initial setup. Part of the challenge with the hitch setup is that without visiting a scale, you don't know the true weight of the camper, so there's some guesswork involved. In addition, the weight of the camper will change as you use it, because you'll purchase additional items that will be placed inside. Heavier mattresses, TVs, furniture, etc. will affect the total weight and distribution of that weight, necessitating adjustments to the hitch setup.

There are extensive discussions of hitch setup and axle weight ratings, tongue weight, etc. on this forum. I suggest reading through some of those threads. I think the biggest fail I've seen most frequently is not knowing the tongue weight, and not moving enough weight to the front axle. It comes up all the time in the context of sag.

 

[tominwi]

Yup I've done the homework and am confident I can "get it right" and despite that I have a CAT Scales nearby I am thinking to get the tongue scale mentioned by PawPaw.

My own trailer is 4200# dry so is well within the capabilities of my Expy; hopefully going from the Theorietical to the Actual (crosswinds! full tanks! cargo loading!) will not be troublesome for us.

Hey question for you guys; I don't understand the two "Max Tongue" columns here. Do they mean "if you have a WDH you can go to 930lbs"?

 

[chuck s]

Dry weight is meaningless. For planning purposes use the trailer's GVWR -- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. With a WDH the vehicle listed can tow 9300 pounds. Happy towing will want 2000 pounds more towing capacity than the trailer's GVWR.

Ford dealer won't touch a WDH or set your sway control, trust me on this!

RV dealer is the place to start but... Back in 2005 I bought a 24', maybe 5000 pound, travel trailer and the trailer dealer installed and "set up" the Equalizer (tm) WDH (that's a recommendation) for my (then) Explorer. Equalizer sway control dampens sway mechanically via friction. Setup was great when the trailer was empty...

Took me about 2 hours to set it when the trailer was loaded. Same trailer and same WDH have now been on two Expeditions both needing only minor adjustments as it was setup correctly (by me) 20 years ago.

Getting enough weight back on the front (steering) axle is critical. These are almost always set too light even when following the instructions. Once the WDH is set up Ford sway control seems to take care of itself. Only run under 2000 pound boat and a couple of UHaul trailers and noticed no sway (but I did weigh the trailer tongue each time).

-- Chuck

 

[JasonH]

Hey question for you guys; I don't understand the two "Max Tongue" columns here. Do they mean "if you have a WDH you can go to 930lbs"?

View attachment 83759

Yes.

 

[tominwi]

Thanks I will invest in a Sherline scale; gonna get the 1,000 capacity one as my trailer is <5,000 lbs.