Disable Electronic Trailer Sway Control when Using a Sway Control Hitch

I’m driving our new 25’ travel trailer home today with our 2019 Tundra and I’m a using a EAZ-Lift ReCurve R3 1000 lbs. Weight Distribution Hitch that I just bought. Around the ball was a red tag with a warning to disable electronic sway control when using a weight distribution hitch with built in sway control.

Do any of you disable your Trailer Sway Control system when using a sway control hitch?

Why would this be necessary?

What would happen if I don’t disable it?

When looking at the manual, the only way I found to turn off the Trailer Sway Control system was to stop the vehicle and press the button with the icon that looks like a swerving car for at least 3 seconds. This also turns off TRAC and VSC.

Is there any way to only turn off the Trailer Sway Control and not the rest of the safety systems?

Which makes me wonder, which is safer, to disable everything or drive with it on?

 

I dont disable - I leave it on...

 

My research indicates the TSC is an integral part of TCS, and is not connected in any way with the integrated brake controller. TSC is supposed to sense, even anticipate, asymmetric loading on the truck's rear suspension. TSC applies the truck's brakes and cuts power to damp those forces. It could be a life-saver for the uninformed, but I suspect having your tow vehicle apply brakes and cut power in the middle of semi passing might become a little puckering.

The hitch manufacturer placed the tag to avoid two separate and independent damping forces being applied simultaneously and possibly out of phase. Not a good thing when considering dynamic systems like vehicle suspensions. Further, the hitch sway control is designed to do the job alone; additional damping force might result in over-correction. OTOH, if the hitch does such a good job damping sway forces below the TSC threshold, you may never see it actuate while towing.

I can't advise you on what action to take, but I know what I would do in your place.

 

Sounds like you would disable the whole TCS, right?

When we were driving over the mountains to the RV dealer, we noticed some patches that looked a little icy. So there might be that to deal with as well when we cross back over. Would that change your answer?

 

I don't know the science behind the system, but my experience towing with the Tundra has led me to believe that the TSC system is smarter than I am. I've never turned off the trailer sway control while towing my Travel Trailer. I've never had an issue with it. Never experienced a situation where the tsc intervened (that I could tell) or had the truck apply brakes to the trailer's electric brake system without me. As far as I can tell, the sway control on my weight distribution hitch does its job and the tsc on the Tundra performs it's job, but my only proof is that I have not felt excessive sway or lost control due to trailer sway.

 

Called Toyota, they couldn't really tell me anything other than you can't just turn off the TSC . Said to call the hitch manufacturer. I called them and they said that you definitely should turn off the TSC when using their hitch, as the two systems would fight against each other and that would be bad.

 

My decision would depend on the extent of the icy patches; i.e. if more than one axle will be on ice at any time.

Back before ABS and traction control, people drove on icy highways without incident, but they were wiser. I spent some time driving in icy conditions in the Midwest and NY state decades before all the new safety systems. For ice, I found there were two essential rules: (1) Do not change speed, and (2) Do not change direction.

If you come to a fully iced curve in the road, you are required to change direction by definition. Before my reeducation, I was in that situation on a rural two-lane with an uphill curve to the right. My brand new Impala with street tires continued in a straight line directly across to the opposite shoulder. Luckily there was no one else crazy enough to be out in that.

 

Well, I made it home just fine. It was quite a bit warmer that day and most the ice was gone. I did go ahead and disable the TSC and noticed that it also seems to disable the pre-collision system as well.


The tag on the hitch made it sound generic like you should disable electronic sway control anytime you use a hitch with built in sway, but I wondering if it’s just something about this hitch in particular that requires it.


Have you guys seen this warning on other sway control hitches?


I would think that if it was a universal thing your not supposed to do and its dangerous, that Toyota would mention something about it in their manual. They definitely mention that I sway control hitch is required for a trailer over a certain weight, but no where they say you should disable the electronica sway control if using one.

 

Safety warnings/rules/standards are almost always due to someone having a really bad experience. Engineers can anticipate a lot of problems, but they can't foresee everything. If you think about it, product limitation or deficiency is not something a manufacturer will admit on the basis of anecdotal evidence. Deficiency would have to be demonstrated to them beyond a reasonable doubt.

You can believe someone had a really bad accident or near-miss due to hitch sway control and vehicle stability system getting cross ways. Otherwise, they wouldn't be going to the extra expense and trouble to attach that warning tag. It may have been a beginner using a Ford to pull too much trailer, but I would bet that it has happened and the hitch manufacturer took some legal heat.

As I said before, if the hitch does it's job controlling sway, maybe your Tundra won't ever sense it needs TSC intervention. OTOH, if the hitch doesn't get the job done, having the TSC/TCS enabled could provide a means of last resort. I don't know. Make sure the hitch is setup and calibrated properly. Try them out for awhile, and you decide. Couple of other guys above leave their TCS enabled while towing.

 

I am going to watch this thread. I did e-mail a question to my WDH manufacturer (Equalizer) and asked what they thought - they said "it's complicated" and to check with Toyota. I think what we are hearing is the lawyers talking. I hate it when they get in the way of a straight forward technical discussion....In the absence of definitive direction, I intend to keep the TSC active. I suspect that in 99.9% of situations, there is no conflict between the two systems. Sometimes you just have to fall back on common sense....

Buckaroo

 

It's hard for me to imagine how the two systems would work against each other. The hitch is just providing increased rotational friction, where as the TSC is controlling the sway with braking the wheels and engine. Seems like the two system would help each other rather than hurt each other.

 

I tow a 2019 Coachmen Apex 265RBSS, using the Husky Centerline W/D hitch. Haven't seen or heard of turning off any of the nannies while towing. I put it in D and push the Tow/Haul button.

-Jason

 

FYI....Equalizer Customer Service did confirm back to me via e-mail that there should be no conflict between the Equalizer WDH and the electronic anti-sway on the Tundra. Glad that they stated what most of us thought was obvious.

Buckaroo

 

I tow a 32' travel trailer that when loaded weighs 7500-8000 lbs. We have the Equalizer hitch with 1000 lb. bars. I have never turned off the sway control in my truck and have never had any issues.

 

I just spoke to BLue Ox, Equalizer and Toyota. Toyota and Equalizer said no problem using both together. Blue Ox said they aren't compatible and could fight each other. If Toyota and Equalizer are correct, doesn't make sense that Blue Ox is so different to be an issue. I have asked the customer support personat Blue Ox I spoke to to have their technical person explain why problem for them but not with their competitors.Waiting to hear back.

 

I know, it's all very confusing... I have a Husky Center Line TS now and the manual didn't say anything about it, so I'm just going for it with the sway control on.

 

Curious if anyone has any further insight on this. I just bought an EAZ-Lift that includes a sway control bar and the below warning tag on the hitch ball. Do I really have to choose between the manual sway control bar and the Tundra’s electronic TSC?

 

I run an Equalizer hitch for our camper and have never disabled the truck's sway control. I have never had an issue.

 

Anybody have ideas on if the new body type will change sway and wdh issues with the 2022? Truck lands in my driveway end of Feb. and wanted to know. Getting pimped out model. Will be hauling 25 ft travel trailer 7500# max.