Preparing to Tow - Caravan Sway Control

Fit a Hayman Reese friction sway control to your caravanHayman Reese Friction Sway Control

Hayman Reese Friction Sway Control

Friction Sway Control

Swaying of the Caravan is a horrible experience that will lead to great anxiety during a trip or worse, a serious accident.
The most likely causes of sway are:

  • Inadequate Level Rides causing the car to be unstable and not able to keep the caravan under control
  • Poor Caravan design or loading. If the towball weight is less than 10% of the overall weight of the van then the excessive weight behind the axle can create sway from a “pendulum” effect and lead to sway. For example bike racks or storage containers on the back of a caravan are common causes of such instability.
  • A caravan as heavy, or heavier than the tow vehicle exerting its weight advantage over the motor car.
  • And the common one: Turbulence from a passing Road Train or Coach creates a vacuum that wants to move the caravan from its line behind the car. See Below.

Caravan Sway Control Diagram

Do I need a Sway Control?

If any of these circumstances apply to you then a sway control will materially improve “the feel” of your rig, increase your safety margin, reduce driver fatigue and increase your holiday enjoyment. All rigs 15’ and over will feel a difference after a sway control has been fitted. Our consistent and positive customer feedback continually reinforces our strong promotion of the benefits of the friction sway control.

How Does It Work?

The Sway Control acts a dampener creating resistance against the caravan moving out of line with the car. Of course the car can still turn corners normally but the van is discouraged from pivoting on the tow ball unless the car initiates the movement. Hence the van tracks tightly behind the vehicle in all circumstances.

What is involved in the installation?

We fit an adaptor lug to the heavy-duty level ride ballmount head and a bracket on the A-Frame of the caravan. The sway control quickly attaches between the two fittings and is held in place with “R” clips whilst travelling. The installation requires the car and caravan and takes around an hour.

< Back to Preparing to Tow Index