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How To 3/4/2018

How I fixed the play in my Curt 17200 Sway Control Kit

So your trailer has a sway problem in the wind or when large vehicles pass you. You purchase the Curt 17200 Sway Control Kit. When your installing it, you notice that there is play in the sockets on each hitch ball. There is some sway improvement after installing the sway bar kit, but what if it didn't have the 0.110" play/slack on each hitch ball? Well, I made mine adjustable so it fits with only about .010" - 0.02" play. That's 15 times less sway than the way it was delivered.

Receiver End Left   Receiver End Right
Receiver End Left   Receiver End Right


0.110" play/slack on each ball?

Translation - 0.110" play times two for the two hitch balls is 0.220" play. The sway hitch ball centerline is about 5 inches from the centerline of the 2-5/16" hitch ball. So, on a 36' trailer, 36 feet / .4166(5 inches) equals 84.41 times the play/slack/movement. The .220" play * 84.41 equals 18.5 inches of sway at the back end of the trailer before the play/slack in the hitch balls is taken up, and the friction bar starts working.
Adjustment bolt and nut installed on receiver end   Adjustment bolt and nut installed on tongue end



0.015" average play/slack on each ball?

Solution - 0.015" average play times two for the two hitch balls is 0.030" play. So, 0.030" play * 84.41(Same 36' trailer) equals 2.5 inches of sway at the back end of the trailer before the play/slack in the hitch balls is taken up, and the friction bar starts working. That's pretty good.
Adjustment bolt and nut installed on both ends of Curt 17200 Sway Bar



Final Thought - Not sure why the Curt Sway Control Kit is made with this much play or slack. I thought maybe it was to keep the trailer from being forced into dog tracking, but I haven't noticed any dog tracking with it modified.


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