3 Best Sway Control Hitches for Travel Trailers

Safety on the road can be an afterthought if you’ve never gotten into an accident.

However, it’s one of those things you regret not taking the right precautions for until it’s too late.

One aspect of RV safety is having sway control of some kind on your trailer, either by way of weight distribution hitches with sway control or a sway bar. Without it, your trailer can sway while traveling, potentially leading to it falling over and causing an accident that risks the lives of your loved ones and creates a massive financial headache. 

Not to mention, your plans being entirely derailed.

Below, we break down not only several reliable sway bar brands but frequently asked questions to handle trailer sway and get a smoother ride. 

Including:

• Should you use sway bars on your trailer?
• And can you back up a trailer with sway bars?

Let’s start with our recommendations for the best trailer hitches with built-in sway control.

3 Best Sway Control Hitches for Travel Trailers

Below are our top three picks for the best sway bars for travel trailers.

Keep in mind that there are several trusted brands out there, these are simply the ones we found to be the best, not only the highest rated in general but specifically trusted by RVers. 

Also, keep in mind that there isn’t just one way to get sway control on your trailer. There are trailers with it built in as well as different types of kits you can add to your trailers. 

Some kits will work better for certain trailers vs. others, and how you solve the task of adding sway control to your trailer is ultimately up to you.

With that said, here are the best sway bars for travel trailers:

1. Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch

The Equal-i-zer hitch system with sway control is one of the most trusted anti-sway hitch brands among RVers, having been around for over 75 years. 

Their sway control and weight distribution hitch (or WDH) is both easy to set up and use and well constructed, offering everything you’d want in a hitch.

It uses Equal-i-zer’s “4-Point Sway Control” system that offers great stability for towing in any condition and comes with a lifetime warranty.

2. Hensley Arrow Anti-Sway Trailer Hitch

Another long-trusted brand in the RV space, Hensley’s Arrow is an anti-sway trailer hitch with a unique design and high-quality parts.

It uses Hensley’s custom Hensley Arrow design, which utilizes a “converging linkage” system for increased stability and– according to the brand– better lateral movement, which Hensley claims is even more effective than the traditional weight distribution hitch for sway control.

3. Fastway e2 Weight Distribution Hitch

The final option on our list is the Fastway e2 weight distribution hitch with sway control, the latest in the Fastway e series of weight distribution systems, and another brand that countless full-time RV owners swear by. 

The e2 is known for being extremely durable, holding up with minimal sway in even the most high winds and other weather conditions. If you’re looking for a durable hitch with sway control, this is a great option to consider. 

A Note On Our Top Picks: Buyer Caution

We review a lot of RV-related products on the blog, but some product recommendations will vary wildly depending on the RV that you have. This is one of those products.

Depending on the type of RV you have and its size, the kits above might not work for you (you might even need two kits if your trailer is longer than 27 feet).

We chose our top picks for the best sway control hitches for travel trailers based on a general recommendation, as it’s impossible to make a recommendation for each and every travel trailer on the market.

We suggest starting with them, however, as they’re highly rated and referred by many full-time RVers as dependable and well-constructed. 

If you find out that your model isn’t a fit for any, however, it’s not the end of the world!

There are lots of great sway bar kits and brands out there, so it’s important to do your own research to find out which fits your model and trailer design. 

How Weight Distribution Hitches Work

A weight distribution hitch uses spring bars to reduce pivoting at the hitch ball. The result is a connection between the truck (or other tow vehicle) and trailer that balances the amount of weight between them both. Some hitches have friction sway control systems to reduce sway. 

To connect a hitch to your tow vehicle, you typically use a tongue jack to adjust the trailer level and secure the trailer before attaching it. 

How to Distribute Weight Throughout Your Trailer to Minimize Swaying

The job of reducing swaying actually starts inside your RV, not outside. 

How you distribute your trailer’s weight can and will make it more or less likely to sway while on the road.

Here are a few tips for reducing the chance of swaying while traveling:

Stay under maximum weight

Know your trailer’s maximum weight and test whether you’re near that maximum any time you load something new (heavy) onto it to ensure you’re staying below your maximum. 

60/40 weight distribution

Keep around 60% of your total trailer weight around the front axle with the other 40% near the back axle. Try not to keep anything really heavy at the back of the trailer

Related: Learn how and where to place the level on a travel trailer when you pull into camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should You Use Sway Bars on a Travel Trailer?

Yes, you should have some sort of sway control– whether that be a sway bar kit add-on or weight distribution hitch with sway control– on your travel trailer. 

Trailers are at real risk of tipping over and that risk shouldn’t be taken lightly. If your trailer were to tip over it can cause heavy damage to the trailer itself and your tow vehicle and poses a safety risk for you and your family. 

Can You Back Up a Travel Trailer with Sway Bars?

You should remove your sway bar before backing up your travel trailer, as reversing with your sway bar secured can cause it or your hitch to crack especially if turning at a sharp angle. 

What Is the Best Type of Weight Distribution System?

There are several types of sway control systems, from hitch systems with sway control to sway bars. Which will work best for you is hard to know in advance. Ask around in popular RV forums to find others who have the same model of trailer and had a good experience with a particular brand, then test yourself and tweak as necessary. 

Learn More About Important RV and Trailer Weight Terms

Getting a good weight distribution hitch with sway control (or sway bar) is just the beginning. It’s important to stay within your RV’s maximum weight range as well as the maximum weight your vehicle can tow.

To learn more about the various trailer weight-related terms that get thrown around in the RV space so you can navigate these discussions better, such as:

• Trailer tongue weight
• Dry weight
• Hitch weight
• and more

Check out our guide: How Much Does an RV Weigh? (Every RV Class + Important Terms)