Trailer Sway Control (TSC) "fighting" Andersen WDH?

[rollinstone]

What? Turn TSC off when towing with an Andersen WDH? I’ll have to look into that. Never have and my towing experience is solid. 2014 with full tow package.

 

[ColoradoJon]

I have an E3 bar system and a 2019 limited without the added Max wheelbase length. My TT is a 27 ft dual axle weighing about 7300 lbs loaded and 700 lbs tongue weight. I have zero issues with sway and regularly drive faster than I should pulling. Only issue was in Wyoming with a strong crosswind, we were being pushed back and forth on the road but it was manageable, I should have just slowed down. The trailer was tight right behind without any sway. I asked my dad who was driving behind me if he could see us being jostled and he said it appeared extremely smooth. My dad has an old chain wdh and he always has a separate sway bar that he would put on and he was always under 4k lbs. His trailer was a utility single axle with elevated clearance and we have pulled it with several types of vehicles and never had sway issues.

 

[Squark]

I use my 2017 Exp Ltd for towing. We had a 17’ pop-up. I thought the single axel was my sway problem. Last Nov we bought a 27’ Jayco - dual axels. Still had the problem. Installed an e3. No help over 60mph. Was told by Ford the Exp rear end is factory set for comfort ride, not towing . Mine has HD Towing Pkg too! ABSOLUTELY nothing after-market to beef up the rear suspension. I was just told about the Hensley 3P-1400. $3400 but I might try it. Money Back Guarantee. Cheaper than buying a truck!

I have a ProPride hitch (same design as the Hensley) and have zero sway with our 33' trailer. The trailer is very stable, and the Expy and trailer move as one unit. However, I still get pushed around by wind and semis. We towed in 35mph gusts a few weeks ago and I was shoved all around the lane. There was no sway or continuous motion; it was just like the wind literally shoved the Expy and trailer sideways.

I have an E3 bar system and a 2019 limited without the added Max wheelbase length. My TT is a 27 ft dual axle weighing about 7300 lbs loaded and 700 lbs tongue weight. I have zero issues with sway and regularly drive faster than I should pulling. Only issue was in Wyoming with a strong crosswind, we were being pushed back and forth on the road but it was manageable, I should have just slowed down. The trailer was tight right behind without any sway. I asked my dad who was driving behind me if he could see us being jostled and he said it appeared extremely smooth. My dad has an old chain wdh and he always has a separate sway bar that he would put on and he was always under 4k lbs. His trailer was a utility single axle with elevated clearance and we have pulled it with several types of vehicles and never had sway issues.

We're looking to downsize to a 29' trailer, but this gives me some reservations. Crosswinds have been my biggest issue when towing.

 

[Roger Aulabaugh]

I tow a 7000 lbs loaded 28 foot travel trailer using an Andersen WDH with my 2021 Expy Max FX4 with max tow. I turn off the TSC as requested by Andersen every time time I start it, along with switching to tow/haul mode. If you don’t, you can feel the rig shudder as the 2 methods of TSC fight one another. I’ve just taken their recommendation at face value, and my towing experience is sublime using this setup.

 

[duneslider]

Anytime I have had sway its been a result of improper tongue weight. If you have sway I would pay the few dollars at the CAT scale and figure out what your real numbers are.

 

[GeoPaw]

Thank you. The Sumo folks told me not to waste my money. I'll try the rear tire upgrade. Just put new Michelin's on the front.
After reading so much here, sounds like I need to trade up to a 4th Generation or newer.

 

[ColoradoJon]

I have a ProPride hitch (same design as the Hensley) and have zero sway with our 33' trailer. The trailer is very stable, and the Expy and trailer move as one unit. However, I still get pushed around by wind and semis. We towed in 35mph gusts a few weeks ago and I was shoved all around the lane. There was no sway or continuous motion; it was just like the wind literally shoved the Expy and trailer sideways.


We're looking to downsize to a 29' trailer, but this gives me some reservations. Crosswinds have been my biggest issue when towing.

I towed 3-4 other times with zero issue on crosswind. I think Wyoming is the most windy place you can drive, regularly blows Semis on their side. It was manageable but I should have slowed down. I have a problem being ok driving slow, not a good combo as I understand when driving with a trailer. We got 5mpg on one stretch, I wasn't using premium and was averaging 70 mph. I know better now. I am impressed by my WDH and trailer though, I also can't imagine doing that with another tow vehicle. The Ecoboost is crazy strong but super thirsty in that scenario.

 

[timo482]

the way insurance is these days - turning off a safety feature is something id never put in writing and id be real wary that it might get listed to the black box.. just saying

 

[ryanpe]

I tow a 6200 GVW twin axle trailer w/750 lbs of tongue weight with my '21 Expo FX4 with max tow. I have a Fastway E2 10,000 lb friction bar style WDH and my towing experience is sublime other than the 10 -12 MPG I'm subjected to. I have never shut off TSC. I would really question a hitch manufacturer warning me to disable a very important and capable system due to their hitch design.

 

[ETC13]

I use an Anderson with this Expedition on two different trailers at this point and the setup has been rock solid. No sway including semi trailers passing, etc... Trailer is 6000lb+- loaded and towed 8000+ miles with this setup. I use to turn off the sway control and then learned about its notifications on the dash if it activates. I don't bother to turn it off anymore and it has never activated with this setup.

 

[Silver-Bullet-Bus]

2018 Expy Max Plat, Max Tow Pkg.

We tow 7,500# loaded, 900#tw, 35' TT, Ohio to FL & everywhere in between

I have never had the Ford TS System activate for trailer sway--not one time, and it's not off either.
I certainly would not turn it off.

We have been in some 40 mph nasty crosswinds, too, more times than I care to mention.
Just had to slow down a littl, but normally run around 65 with zero issue.

Really glad we got a Hensley Hitch to start out, because I would never in a million years tow much of anything with this platform, without a Hensley hitch.

Suspension mods: sumo-coils in all 4, because CCD system, cannot upgrade shocks, as of I know (yet)

My family is worth too much.

The blow-by is very, very predictable with this hitch.

Slight suck-in to the left as the trucks come up on your left rear, and a slight push away, as the trucks pass.

...but never, ever, one incident of fishy-tail, trailer sway.

It's just impossible, because of the physics of the design, and the fact that your ball is locked out, your tt is not rotating on the hitch ball, anymore.

No, I do not work for Hensley, and I paid full price for mine.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[mefly2]

We upgraded to KO2 tires all around for the stiffer sidewall when towing or off road. Watch tire pressures in both the TV and trailer ... softer pressures promote squishy / sway issues. Another inexpensive suggestion is buying a tongue weight scale - Sherline works well for us - to keep your trailer loaded to balance 10 but not more than 15 percent of trailer gross on the tongue. We are near max for cargo capacity on our std length 2020 Exp and have now bought a SD for heavily loaded trips.
Our previous TV was a 2014 Yukon SLT w/0 tow package ... fine in nice weather but horrible in inclement weather. Our Exp is great all around but the third German Shepherd puts us close to max. We use an Equalizer wdh hitch mostly for sway control on a 25' tandem axle trailer.

 

[Lou Hamilton]

Why are you using a WDH with an R-Pod? No need. Well, I guess it depends on what model.

With this setup my tongue weight is just under 600 pounds (estimated to be around 550-560). As you can see, there is literally no squat. I only use a Curt friction sway bar. Travel all up and down the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (DELMARVA) area and have never had any issues, even with heavy coastal winds along Route 1. I usually keep things between 55-65 depending on speed limit and weather conditions.

 

[Silver-Bullet-Bus]

just get a Hensley Hitch—I have never had the trailer sway light or warning system activate. 7,700# loaded & 1,000# TW, 35’ long