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Old 07-12-2020, 11:06 AM   #1
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Turn off anti-sway in 2019 Ford F-150?

I have a 2017 Ford F-150 FX4 3.5 Ecoboost and use an Andersen "No-Sway" Weight Distribution Hitch to pull a 2019 Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 248RBS. The manual for the Andersen hitch says a should turn off the electronic anti-sway in my truck if it uses vehicle brakes as part of an electronic anti-sway system. The manual for the Ford F-150 says it applies vehicle brakes at individual wheels and, if necessary, reduces engine power.

Additionally, the Ford manual states "Ford does not recommend disabling this feature except in situations where speed reduction may be detrimental (such as hill climbing), the driver has significant trailer towing experience, and can control trailer sway and maintain safe operation."

I am brand new at owning a camper and the only towing I've done has been light trailers in the past. Should I disable the anti-sway in the Ford F-150?
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Old 07-12-2020, 12:18 PM   #2
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I have a '19 F150 pulling a 28' TT I leave the sway control on. If sway starts getting large enough that the hitch won't control it I'll take all the help the vehicle can offer. My 4pt Equalizer is silent in the instructions about disabling any vehicle safety controls.
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Old 07-12-2020, 08:20 PM   #3
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I tow with a F-150 EcoBoost also have equalizer 4-point called the company they recommend turn off anti-sway on my Ford
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Old 07-12-2020, 09:45 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by Mike134 View Post
I have a '19 F150 pulling a 28' TT I leave the sway control on. If sway starts getting large enough that the hitch won't control it I'll take all the help the vehicle can offer. My 4pt Equalizer is silent in the instructions about disabling any vehicle safety controls.
Usually the only braking you want in a big sway event is on the trailer itself. That's why the manual lever on the controller.

If sway starts, foot off brake and manually brake trailer.

The tow vehicle's anti-sway controll can just make things worse.

Don't you think the manufacture might have tested this at their facilities before making this recommendation?

Last fall I put a rather large "hickey" in my seat cover when i saw my trailer sides alternately showing full on in my right and left rear view mirrors. I had the presence of mind to just grab the lever and problem ended as quick as it began.

Eventually the seat cover went back to smooth. [emoji15]
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Old 07-12-2020, 09:56 PM   #5
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Yes turn it off and remember every time you turn the truck off you will have to turn off again.
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Old 07-13-2020, 06:39 AM   #6
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Usually the only braking you want in a big sway event is on the trailer itself. That's why the manual lever on the controller.

If sway starts, foot off brake and manually brake trailer.

The tow vehicle's anti-sway controll can just make things worse.

Don't you think the manufacture might have tested this at their facilities before making this recommendation?


Last fall I put a rather large "hickey" in my seat cover when i saw my trailer sides alternately showing full on in my right and left rear view mirrors. I had the presence of mind to just grab the lever and problem ended as quick as it began.

Eventually the seat cover went back to smooth. [emoji15]

I have yet to see it in writing from Equalizer, just internet urban legends. On the same note don't you think Ford has also tested the trucks sway control and it's abilities before installing and promoting it for use with trailers?
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Old 07-13-2020, 06:56 AM   #7
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If your WDH has sway conrtol then it is probably a good idea to turn it off. It will fight a vehicle DSC and can make the situation worse in the event of sway.
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On the same note don't you think Ford has also tested the trucks sway control and it's abilities before installing and promoting it for use with trailers?
Can't speak to Equalizer in particular but most WDH with built in sway control indicate disabling the sway control. There are a lot of trailers that do not utilize a WDH with built in sway control- horse, cargo, landscape, boat and car. Just to name a few. I turn sway control off with the TH but leave it on for all others.
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Old 07-13-2020, 07:05 AM   #8
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Having just been through an avoidance event which put both the truck and trailer (w/ Reese sc hitch) in a b**** of a skid event, I wouldn't turn off the truck sway control on a bet.


Kudos to all of you who have the time and presence of mind to be able to reach the brake override and expertly apply it while trying to keep the tires on the pavement; I believe the vehicle computer can react better and faster than I in such situations.
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Old 07-13-2020, 07:43 AM   #9
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I had a trailer that would start to sway once in a while, The Ford anti sway system applied the trailer brakes and released the throttle before I could start to react. It is a good system and I think disabling it while towing is a mistake.
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Old 07-13-2020, 08:02 AM   #10
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My experience has been that the computer in the truck (F-150 3.5 EB) thinks much faster than I can.
On two occasions sudden wind gusts created a serious sway condition. The truck cut the throttle and applied trlr brakes in the blink of an eye. Problem solved.
I no longer own the F-150, but I'm not sure the electronic sway control can be deactivated.
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Old 07-13-2020, 08:14 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by Underthedog View Post
Having just been through an avoidance event which put both the truck and trailer (w/ Reese sc hitch) in a b**** of a skid event, I wouldn't turn off the truck sway control on a bet.


Kudos to all of you who have the time and presence of mind to be able to reach the brake override and expertly apply it while trying to keep the tires on the pavement; I believe the vehicle computer can react better and faster than I in such situations.

I agree with you, unless you often have sway events so your well trained, your brain needs time to process what's happening and remembering the correct action to take. I'd guess a good 2 seconds, while the truck knows what to do and reacts in milliseconds.
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Old 07-13-2020, 08:22 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by Mike134 View Post
On the same note don't you think Ford has also tested the trucks sway control and it's abilities before installing and promoting it for use with trailers?
I like that point. It would be nice if Ford put a statement to that effect in the manual.
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Old 07-13-2020, 12:19 PM   #13
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I have a Blue Ox WDH with a 16 F150 and it too states to turn of the sway control. I leave mine on and it too kicked in once and it reacted way faster than I could could. It was under control before I could say oh _hit.
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Old 07-13-2020, 12:54 PM   #14
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We use the sway bar on our eaz-lift (camco) WDH and it doesn't say anything about shutting off the truck's anti-sway. I wouldn't shut it off if it did. The WDH anti-sway bar is friction to prevent sway. The truck's anti-sway is active and intended to correct sway. They work in tandem, in my opinion.
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Old 07-13-2020, 01:18 PM   #15
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I have a 2011 F 150 with the anti sway system and NEVER turn it off. I have been in a couple of rough situations and the combination anti sway system of the truck and the hitch have saved my life.
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Old 07-13-2020, 01:25 PM   #16
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I have an E4. The vehicle's electronic sway control is going to stay on. I trust the engineers that designed the anti sway more than the guys that weld together a hitch. And speaking of that, if that was really their advice, you would think it would be in their manual which it isn't.
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Old 07-13-2020, 08:59 PM   #17
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I turn off the F-150 sway. I tow with a Propride and am confident it will not let the trailer sway - been in enough situations where wind, semi's, etc should have caused something. All I've ever gotten is minor twitching. However, I've been in 3 situations where I needed to make a planned steering change - get into another lane quickly, chicane in a construction zone, etc. In these 3 cases the truck interpreted the forces as sway and cut power, applied brakes, and almost got me hit by a tailgating vehicle.

Ford may have tested trailers without good sway control, I seriously doubt they tested with a Hensley design hitch.
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Old 07-13-2020, 09:02 PM   #18
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Ford may have tested trailers without good sway control, I seriously doubt they tested with a Hensley design hitch.
So...what makes you think having the Ford anti sway on wouldn't still improve the sway avoidance?
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Old 07-13-2020, 09:56 PM   #19
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I have yet to see it in writing from Equalizer, just internet urban legends. On the same note don't you think Ford has also tested the trucks sway control and it's abilities before installing and promoting it for use with trailers?
Here's the number to the customer service of Equalizer hitch 1-800 478-5578 customer service call them they'll tell you the same thing they told me to turn off your sway control on your F-150
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Old 07-13-2020, 10:07 PM   #20
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Here's the number to the customer service of Equalizer hitch 1-800 478-5578 customer service call them they'll tell you the same thing they told me to turn off your sway control on your F-150

Thank you,


I emailed Equalizer this morning asking about disabling the trucks sway control. Will update when I get their written response.
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