6 Best Sway Bar Kits For Towing A Large Travel Trailer Experts Trust
For large trailers, a quality sway bar is crucial. We detail 6 expert-trusted kits that deliver superior stability and control for a safer towing experience.
That white-knuckle feeling when a passing semi-truck pushes your entire rig sideways is something you never forget. One minute you’re cruising comfortably, the next you’re fighting to keep a 10,000-pound trailer from steering your truck. This is trailer sway, and for anyone towing a large travel trailer, it’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when and how prepared you are. Choosing the right sway control hitch isn’t just about a smoother ride; it’s one of the most critical safety decisions you’ll make.
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Understanding Sway Control for Large Trailers
Let’s be clear: we’re not talking about the cheap, add-on friction bar you see on small utility trailers. For a large travel trailer—anything over about 25 feet or 6,000 pounds—you need an integrated system called a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) with built-in sway control. These systems do two jobs. They redistribute the trailer’s tongue weight off your truck’s rear axle and onto the front axle and trailer axles, leveling your rig. More importantly, they build in mechanisms to actively fight sway before it starts.
Sway is the "tail wagging the dog" phenomenon. It’s caused by lateral forces, most often a gust of wind from the side or the air pressure from a passing truck. A simple ball hitch acts like a single pivot point, allowing these forces to easily push the trailer out of line. An integrated WDH with sway control uses friction or cam-based systems to create immense resistance against this side-to-side movement.
Think of it this way: a basic hitch just lets sway happen and hopes you can correct it. A proper sway control hitch is designed to make it physically difficult for the sway to even begin. While proper trailer loading and correct tongue weight (10-15% of total trailer weight) are your first line of defense, they aren’t enough on their own. For a large travel trailer, a high-quality sway control WDH is non-negotiable.
Equal-i-zer 4-Point: The Industry Standard
Control trailer sway and distribute weight with the Equal-i-zer hitch. This system accommodates up to 12,000 lbs and includes a standard shank (ball not included).
If you’ve spent any time in a campground, you’ve seen an Equal-i-zer hitch. Its distinct L-brackets and square spring bars are everywhere, and for good reason. This system has been the gold standard for decades because its design is brutally effective and mechanically simple. It gets its name from its 4-Point Sway Control, which uses friction to resist trailer movement.
The magic happens in two places. First, the sockets in the hitch head that hold the spring bars create friction. Second, the spring bars rest on rigid "L-brackets" attached to the trailer’s A-frame, creating two more points of intense friction. As the trailer tries to sway, the bars scrape against these brackets, creating a massive force that dampens and resists the movement. This is a proactive system that works constantly to keep the trailer in line.
The primary tradeoff with the Equal-i-zer is noise. That metal-on-metal friction creates groans, pops, and creaks, especially in slow, tight turns. It’s the sound of safety, but it can be alarming for new users. The ride can also feel a bit stiffer than some other systems. However, for its raw effectiveness, durability, and proven track record, the Equal-i-zer remains one of the most trusted hitches on the road.
Blue Ox SwayPro: Quiet and User-Friendly Hitch
The Blue Ox SwayPro hitch improves towing safety and control by distributing weight evenly. It features a 1000lb tongue weight capacity and a 7-hole shank for 2" receivers.
The Blue Ox SwayPro is a direct and formidable competitor to the Equal-i-zer, but it tackles the sway problem with a different philosophy. Instead of relying on scraping friction, the SwayPro uses the tension of its spring bars to keep the trailer centered. The bars are pre-loaded and held in place by rotating latches on the trailer frame, which keeps them under constant pressure.
This design makes for a significantly quieter towing experience. You won’t get the loud groans and pops common with the Equal-i-zer. The SwayPro is also known for being exceptionally user-friendly. The rotating latches make it easy to hook up and release the spring bars without needing to jack the trailer tongue way up. You simply use the provided wrench to rotate the latch, which is much less physically demanding.
The performance is excellent, providing a stable and controlled ride. The only potential downside is that some users find the chains and latches a bit more cumbersome than the simple L-brackets of other systems. However, for those who prioritize a quiet ride and an easier hookup process without sacrificing performance, the Blue Ox SwayPro is an outstanding choice.
ProPride 3P: The Ultimate Sway Elimination
Eliminate trailer sway and evenly distribute weight with the ProPride 3P Jim Hensley Hitch. Designed for 2.0" receivers, this hitch provides weight distribution between 1000 and 1400 lbs.
When your goal is not just to control sway but to completely eliminate it, you enter the world of the ProPride 3P. This is not just a hitch; it’s a feat of engineering that fundamentally changes how your trailer connects to your truck. It’s the most expensive option on this list by a wide margin, but for those towing very long trailers in challenging conditions, many owners say the peace of mind is priceless.
The ProPride uses a technology called pivot point projection. Through a complex set of linkages, it projects the trailer’s pivot point from the hitch ball forward to a point near the truck’s rear axle. This effectively makes the truck and trailer behave like a single, solid unit, like a fifth wheel. A force on the side of the trailer can’t make it pivot; instead, the entire rig moves together. It becomes physically impossible for the trailer to sway.
The downside is threefold: cost, weight, and a learning curve. The ProPride is heavy and its initial installation is complex. Hitching up can also be tricky, as you have to align a "stinger" into a box, which requires precision and can be difficult on uneven ground. It is absolutely overkill for many setups, but if you have a 35-foot trailer, a half-ton truck, and live in a windy state, the ProPride 3P offers a level of safety and stability that no other hitch can match.
Andersen No-Sway: A Unique Friction Cone Design
Enjoy a smooth, quiet tow with the Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch. Its self-adjusting sway control and easy backup design offer superior performance, and the included 2-5/16" ball simplifies setup.
The Andersen No-Sway WDH breaks all the rules of traditional hitch design. It does away with heavy spring bars entirely, replacing them with a patented system that combines a ball mount, a friction cone, and a pair of chains. It’s remarkably lightweight, simple, and dead quiet, making it a favorite among many RVers.
Sway control and weight distribution are both handled by a single mechanism. A tapered ball housing fits over a brake-material-lined friction cone. The tension chains pull the A-frame of the trailer tight against this assembly, creating constant resistance to side-to-side movement. As the truck turns, the housing rotates against the cone, providing smooth, silent sway control.
The benefits are obvious: it’s the lightest system on this list, incredibly easy to hook and unhook, and completely silent. The ride is also smoother than bar-style hitches. The primary debate around the Andersen is its upper limit. While it performs exceptionally well on a wide range of trailers, some experts are hesitant to recommend it for the absolute heaviest and longest travel trailers (e.g., 35+ feet and over 10,000 lbs), where the sheer leverage of traditional spring bars provides a greater sense of security.
CURT TruTrack: A Reliable Integrated System
The CURT TruTrack 2P hitch precisely distributes trailer weight and integrates sway control for stable towing. Its adjustable shank and durable construction ensure reliable performance for trailers up to 10,000 lbs.
CURT is a massive name in the towing world, and their TruTrack WDH is a solid, well-designed system that competes directly with the top brands. It combines proven principles into one integrated package, offering a reliable solution that often comes in at a more competitive price point. The TruTrack is a workhorse designed for consistent, safe performance.
The system functions using heavy-duty spring bars for weight distribution, much like a Blue Ox or Reese. However, the sway control is handled by active, spring-loaded components inside the hitch head that are connected to brackets on the trailer frame. As the trailer starts to sway, these components engage to actively counteract the force and push the trailer back into line, providing continuous resistance.
The TruTrack is a great all-arounder. It’s not as revolutionary as a ProPride or as unique as an Andersen, but it’s a robust and effective system that gets the job done without fuss. It’s a fantastic choice for someone who wants a no-nonsense, integrated system from a reputable manufacturer that provides a secure and stable towing experience.
Reese Strait-Line: Proven Dual-Cam Performance
Distribute trailer weight evenly with this 1,200 lb trunnion-style kit, designed for tongue weights between 600-1,200 lbs and trailers up to 12,000 lbs. Its design avoids interference with A-frame mounted items.
Reese is one of the original pioneers in sway control, and their Strait-Line system with Dual-Cam technology is a time-tested design that remains highly effective. This system is known for being proactive, meaning it works to self-center the trailer rather than just dampening sway once it has started.
The heart of the system is the "cams"—curved metal plates that are bolted to the trailer’s A-frame. The bent ends of the spring bars rest in the saddle of these cams. When a side force pushes the trailer, the bar on that side is forced to ride up the curved surface of the cam. This action creates an opposing force that actively pushes the trailer back to the center. It’s a brilliant mechanical solution that has been proven over millions of towing miles.
Like the Equal-i-zer, the Strait-Line can be noisy as the metal bars move in the cams, which is a sign that it’s working. The initial setup requires careful measurement and placement of the cam arms to ensure they function correctly. For those who appreciate a purely mechanical, self-centering system with a long history of success, the Reese Strait-Line is a top-tier choice that has earned its place among the best.
Matching the Right Hitch to Your Tow Setup
There is no single "best" hitch for everyone. The right choice depends entirely on your specific truck, trailer, budget, and tolerance for things like noise and setup complexity. The most critical first step is to know your numbers. You must choose a hitch rated for your trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and, more importantly, your actual loaded tongue weight. A hitch that is underrated is dangerous, and one that is severely overrated will provide a harsh ride and won’t function properly.
Use this as a starting point for your decision:
- Ultimate Safety/Elimination: If your budget allows and you want the absolute most stable towing experience possible, especially with a very large trailer, the ProPride 3P is in a class of its own.
- Proven Workhorse: For a robust, highly effective, and time-tested system where a bit of noise isn’t a deal-breaker, the Equal-i-zer 4-Point is the industry standard.
- Quiet & User-Friendly: If you value a quieter ride and an easier hookup process without a major compromise in performance, the Blue Ox SwayPro is a fantastic option.
- Lightweight & Simple: For those who prioritize a lightweight, silent, and incredibly simple system for a moderately large trailer, the Andersen No-Sway is an innovative and compelling choice.
- Reliable & Proactive: For proven, self-centering performance from legacy brands, both the Reese Strait-Line and the CURT TruTrack offer excellent, integrated solutions that have earned the trust of towers for years.
No matter which hitch you choose, proper installation and setup are paramount. A great hitch that is poorly configured is no better than a cheap one. Take the time to dial in your setup according to the manufacturer’s instructions—or pay a professional to do it. Your safety on the road depends on it.
Ultimately, a quality sway control hitch is an investment in confidence. It transforms the towing experience from a stressful battle against the elements into a stable and controlled journey. By understanding the different technologies and matching the right system to your specific rig and priorities, you can ensure your travels are defined by the destination, not by the fight to get there.
