wmoses
Houston, Texas, USA
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Fishy Old Man wrote:Do you take off sway bars when backing up?
Will this make it easier to back into a tight spot?
Thanks.
Fishy
Depends on the backing up. If only small angles are involved then I don't remove the sway bar, otherwise it comes off. If you look at the range of extension or compression of the sway bar, you can see why it makes sense to remove it if angles greater than say 45 degrees are likely.
Regards,
Wayne
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Chromag
Florida
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fla-gypsy wrote:It is amazing how difficult that some are having understanding the question. None of the "integrated" systems require you to remove anything, but they don't have sway bars either. The question is obviously referring to a friction type sway bar and all (that I have ever used) clearly stated to remove it before backing up. WD bars on the other hand do not have any such requirement.
I've had my TT for a month and this is my first time towing. Just adding my 2 cents. Guess next time I'll rethink that.
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usmc616
Orange County, New York
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When we used a friction type sway bar I never removed it when backing, never had a problem either. Now that I know you should remove it I believe I was just plain lucky.
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RandACampin
Kathleen, Georgia
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Never have...never had a problem.
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93Cobra2771
East Tennessee
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I always took mine off - my truck has enough clearance to turn a full 90ยบ and it made me nervous. So to be safe, I went ahead and pulled it when I got out to do my site inspection.
A lot quieter that way too.
Richard White
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Chromag wrote:fla-gypsy wrote:It is amazing how difficult that some are having understanding the question. None of the "integrated" systems require you to remove anything, but they don't have sway bars either. The question is obviously referring to a friction type sway bar and all (that I have ever used) clearly stated to remove it before backing up. WD bars on the other hand do not have any such requirement.
I've had my TT for a month and this is my first time towing. Just adding my 2 cents. Guess next time I'll rethink that.
No offense intended, there are plenty of folks here with experience that will not take the time to read the question and answer it. Let me encourage you as a newbie to towing to educate yourself thoroughly on the components, how they work, and why they are needed. Understanding the principles behind them are key to towing safely.
* This post was
edited 04/05/12 12:34pm by fla-gypsy *
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Normondgo
Western Canada
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wmoses wrote:Fishy Old Man wrote:Do you take off sway bars when backing up?
Will this make it easier to back into a tight spot?
Thanks.
Fishy
Depends on the backing up. If only small angles are involved then I don't remove the sway bar, otherwise it comes off. If you look at the range of extension or compression of the sway bar, you can see why it makes sense to remove it if angles greater than say 45 degrees are likely.
Exactly.
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shenandoahvalley
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
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Normondgo wrote:wmoses wrote:Fishy Old Man wrote:Do you take off sway bars when backing up?
Will this make it easier to back into a tight spot?
Thanks.
Fishy
Depends on the backing up. If only small angles are involved then I don't remove the sway bar, otherwise it comes off. If you look at the range of extension or compression of the sway bar, you can see why it makes sense to remove it if angles greater than say 45 degrees are likely.
Exactly.
Common sense should prevail. I have removed the friction bar on a few occasions where we had to back at a severe angle but most of the time it stays in place until I unhook.
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BossCamper
Southwestern Ontario, Canada
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I don't see the problem. Once I reach the campground, I remove them while signing in. Not a big deal at all, and no noise for the other campers. At home, I always sit for a bit on the side of the road waiting for any traffic to clear, and it's real easy to pop them off and put in the back of the TV.
In both cases I'm through with needing them, and they have to come off to unhitch anyway, so I just take them off before backing in. Does it really matter that I might be able to back in without removing them?
I don't subscribe to the attitude that "if it's possible, then I'm darn well gonna do it!"
Experience is that which you gain immediately after you actually needed it.
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wmoses
Houston, Texas, USA
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Well put.
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