Image Credit: Elecbrakes
Trailer sway – something anybody in the towing world always keeps a very close eye out for. It can start off slowly – a gust of wind hits your setup, or you hit an unexpectedly big bump. The sway sets in, and before long you’ve got a dangerous fishtail action happening.
The outcomes can be serious – jackknifed trailers, rollovers, collisions. Trailer sway is definitely something you want to avoid, with a few solutions developed over the years to deal with it. They’ve mostly been mechanical devices or standalone systems.
Now, the innovative crew over at Elecbrakes has brought us something completely different – meet SwayControl. This is a smart trailer sway control system that is built right into their EB2 and VM1 brake controllers.
No extra hardware or complicated installation.
Let’s take a closer look at this new safety feature. We proudly stock and install ElecBrakes at Speedy Towbars, so if you have any questions, just reach out at any time!
What Is SwayControl?
If you have an Elecbrakes EB2 or VM1 brake controller on your towing setup, you’ll be able to enjoy the safety benefits of SwayControl. It’s a software driven feature that is built into all the latest units, and can be added to older ones via a firmware upgrade.
What SwayControl does is monitor your trailers movements while you’re towing. If you enter a situation where sway starts to build up, it’ll apply a braking response. This will be proportional to the sway and will bring the trailer back into line.
This is a simple solution that doesn’t require add on devices or sway bars. Whatever you’re towing with electric brakes, it’ll be keeping watch in the background ready to act if there is trailer sway.
How Sway Control Works
SwayControl constantly analyses lateral movement using the sensors inside the Elecbrakes unit. Two key features of its response are:
- Early Detection
Your Elecbrakes unit will identity sway before you notice it. The motion is corrected early, before fishtailing begins or a human over-reaction causes further problems.
- Proportional Braking
This is where this system shows real smarts. It doesn’t slam on the brakes when sway is detected – it applies the correct amount of braking pressure. Small sway? A gentle correction. More forceful sway? A stronger response. Your trailer gets realigned and your vehicle continues travelling as it was.
Inside the Elecbrakes app there’s a new Trailer Stability Gauge and lateral movement indicators giving real time readings. These help you understand what is happening behind you, so you can adjust your driving. You can also fine tune the sensitivity of the system through the app – matching it to highway driving or off-road four wheel driving.
SwayControl Benefits
One of the standout features of SwayControl is its seamless integration with existing Elecbrake controllers. There’s no mechanical setup or extra wiring to worry about and waste time on.
If you have an Elebrakes EB2 or VM1 unit attached, you can enjoy these big benefits:
- Less equipment: no sway bars or add-on gadgets cluttering your setup.
- Automatic operation: once activated, SwayControl works silently in the background every time you tow.
- Universal use: it works with any tow vehicle and any electronically-braked trailer fitted with an EB2 or VM1 unit.
- Australia ready: they have been tried and tested on our roads.
- Future-proof: existing EB2 and VM1 owners can access SwayControl through a simple app update, while new units come with it built in.
Upgrade to Elecbrakes with Speedy Towbars
When you tow, you want to be as safe as possible. And with SwayControl built into Elecbrakes units, you get a smarter towing setup that reacts faster than human drivers can.
We’re big on towing safety at Speedy Towbars, and have always been a fan of the Elecbrakes units. If you’d like to get one installed on your setup, get in touch. The new ones all have SwayControl installed. We’re also happy to guide you through how to update your existing Elecbrakes controller to have SwayControl.
Contact our team today and let’s get you upgraded.
Image Credit: Elecbrakes
FAQs
Will SwayControl affect normal braking?
No. It only activates when it detects sway beyond the set threshold. Braking under normal conditions isn’t affected.
Does it work with all types of trailers?
Yes. SwayControl works with any trailer using an EB2 or VM1 brake controller.
Can I adjust SwayControl sensitivity?
Yes, you can adjust it through the Elecbrakes app.
Do I need to install anything extra?
No. Everything is built into the Elecbrakes unit.
What if I already have mechanical sway bars?
You can keep using them if you prefer. SwayControl won’t interfere with them.
Jordan is the co-owner of Speedy Towbars and a trusted source of towbar knowledge for Queensland drivers. When he's not installing towbars, he treasures time with his family and hitting the road for caravanning adventures!