sway bar
 

Is it necessary to have a sway bar on a 2002 Hilo?

It's not "necessary", but I highly recommend you use a Weight Distributing Hitch with sway control. If you don't have sway control, you can experience an almost uncontrollable sway from a trailer right when you don't want it, such as when passing an 18-wheeler at highway speeds. Even if you don't have that life-threatening experience, you will be much more tired after an all-day drive if you're constantly fighting to keep your vehicle moving in its own lane.

Some modern trucks, such as Fords, include sway control with their trailer towing packages. Mine has this, but my WDH also has sway control.

I've pulled a trailer without sway control, and it was no fun.

- Jack

Thank you, again Jack! Goes on tomorrow.

What's the length of this 2002 Hi-Lo?

sway bar
 

23or 24 ft

I do not have a sway control on mine. I have one to install but have never found it an issue. Maybe the double axle and tongue weight and my set up is just right. I do have wdh , though. Of course I have never seen me from behind but people who have followed me say they don't notice any. Mine is 22 ft.

Rick

Rick, the combination of your truck's size, the HiLo's low profile and your trailer weight set up (just right) keeps you from having trailer sway. If you had it, you WOULD KNOW IT! When it happens, it's like a giant hand grabbing your truck and pushing it left and right on the road.

I should have probably been less "pro" anti-sway control in my first post, since HiLos are more resistant to sway due to their low towing height, but they still CAN sway, and you don't want it to happen at the wrong time.

I see no disadvantage to having more sway control than is actually needed.

- Jack

Jack

Actually I was a little surprised it was an issue with you given your trailer size and that the f150 is a similar tv to my Titan I.e half ton etc. on the other hand, I have a buddy with a 16ft Casita he pulls behind a Chevy 300o size van and he seems to need it. That said, I guess I always figured the shorter length, less weight, and single axle were contributing factors. In that case, it makes sense to me that you may have more issues than I. Also, those double axles of mine are still set pretty far back and it makes sense to me that an asymmetrical set-up like that would be prone to less sway in that it will resist pivoting more-so. No engineering knowledge here, just my experience n canoes and kayaks . I've survived some pretty nasty cross winds in it, however. I've always felt that I should mount mine, though, before the next major cross country trip. I Do notice it if I set the hitch one link higher.

Rick

Rick, I didn't mean to mislead anyone regarding sway I've experienced. I've never had sway problems with my HiLo, pulled first with a Nissan Frontier, then with an F150 King Ranch and now with an F150 Platinum. But, it's always had the Equal-i-zer hitch too, that has built-in sway control.

The sway I've experienced was with an entirely different tow vehicle and "trailer", back when I was in the Air Force. It was a scary thing when it happened. I never want anything like it on the highway, so I always advocate more sway control than is probably needed.

I'm a bit surprised your friend has sway problems with the Casita. That's a very aerodynamically designed trailer that I think would tow almost as easily as a HiLo.

- Jack

Just my experience
 

Shortly when we got our HiLo25ft. I was following behind DH in my car. With our 12ft. F2fo and 25ft. trailer there was some sway. Our HiLo dealer let us know that sway was now available for our hitch. It wasn't available when we had the hitch installed. Wouldn't be without it.

Sway that is something that can happen unexpectedly and suddenly be it from crosswinds or an emergency maneuver. Anything you can do to help eliminate that is a good thing.