Backing up with a sway bar

[TimeOutside]

I'm not finding the answer. What is the issue with backing up while a sway bar is connected? Same question regarding slippery weather.

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[AMTRV]

You don’t…..it’ll ruin the sway control.
Take the sway control off and then backup.
Which WDH do you have?

 

[TimeOutside]

I don't have a weight distribution hitch.

But I'm wondering how it would ruin the sway bar. I don't see the forces upon it being any different than going forward.

 

[AMTRV]

What swaybar do you have?

 

[TimeOutside]

Curt 17200

 

[AMTRV]

Yep, it's always been that you don't turn and back up with those type sway controls.
I've seen them bend.
(I've been a RV dealer for 40 years)
Go ahead and test it if you like......but it will bend it.

 

[TimeOutside]

Yep, it's always been that you don't turn and back up with those type sway controls.
I've seen them bend.
(I've been a RV dealer for 40 years)
Go ahead and test it if you like......but it will bend it.

Interesting. I trust your experience, but my mind cannot wrap around the why that would happen.

 

[AMTRV]

When you back up with a trailer, and turn as you are backing, it will put the sway control in a bind.....bending it.

 

[TimeOutside]

When you back up with a trailer, and turn as you are backing, it will put the sway control in a bind.....bending it.

Okay. I can picture that in my mind.

 

[RideSolo]

When you back up with a trailer, and turn as you are backing, it will put the sway control in a bind.....bending it.

For what it's worth, it bears mentioning that it's the same with a vehicle being towed w/ a tow bar, like a tow'd behind a motor home; if you try and back up you WILL bend the tow equipment and possibly damage one or both of the vehicles.

 

[Dad]

For what it's worth, it bears mentioning that it's the same with a vehicle being towed w/ a tow bar, like a tow'd behind a motor home; if you try and back up you WILL bend the tow equipment and possibly damage one or both of the vehicles.

Very true. This is the cardinal rule of what not to do of flat towing. Thanks for reminding folks.

 

[AMTRV]

If you need to be reminded of this you have no business flat towing anything.

 

[RideSolo]

If you need to be reminded of this you have no business flat towing anything.

(don't mean to hijack the thread but...) I know a guy who did it, damaged the Cadillac tow'd AND the motor home pretty severely, all because he was just too lazy to get out of the driver's seat and do what he knew he was supposed to do. Eventually his lack of ambition and poor attention to basic maintenance caused a fire in the engine compartment that burned up the motor home and the tow'd.

 

[Hybrid25XLTAWD]

I'm not an engineer, but here's my thoughts on the "why"..and for years, i carted around travel trailers with sway bars..always disconnecting the sway bars before backing, so never had issues...but, as I said, my thoughts...

when attached to the truck, the bars themselves form somewhat of a triangle, with the "point" being closest to the truck
during normal operation, you have a single point (yeah, I know it's not the exact same point, but definitely closer together than the bars are on the trailer) pulling on 2 wider points.
when backing, you've now reversed those forces and are pushing 2 wide points from a single point
lever/fulcrum effect is what's ocming to my feeble mind, but again, i never had issues as I always disconnected

 

[Dave O]

I'm not an engineer, but here's my thoughts on the "why"..and for years, i carted around travel trailers with sway bars..always disconnecting the sway bars before backing, so never had issues...but, as I said, my thoughts...

when attached to the truck, the bars themselves form somewhat of a triangle, with the "point" being closest to the truck
during normal operation, you have a single point (yeah, I know it's not the exact same point, but definitely closer together than the bars are on the trailer) pulling on 2 wider points.
when backing, you've now reversed those forces and are pushing 2 wide points from a single point
lever/fulcrum effect is what's ocming to my feeble mind, but again, i never had issues as I always disconnected

I concur - accurate and well stated

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