Trailer Sway Control

[beeser]

Beginning in 2009 the Ford F150 will have electronic trailer sway control available. Apparently this will help prevent trailer sway if equipped with an integrated brake controller. Will GMC be offering something similar to this in their 2009 Sierra 1500?

[Diabs]

Curious how that would work?

[alaska511]

That makes no sense. Sway control is mechanical.

 

I suppose it could be integrated with the Stabilitrak and pulse the trailer brakes to straighten out the trailer, but it will never replace my Valley sway control bar.

[Draenor]

DEARBORN, Mich., March 18, 2008 – Ford will bolster the 2009 Ford Explorer by including Trailer Sway Control. Trailer Sway Control joins an already impressive list of standard safety features, including industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control).

 

Highlights:

* 2009 Ford Explorer adds standard Trailer Sway Control to its class-leading suite of safety technologies

* Trailer Sway Control works with Advance Trac® with RSC® to add an extra layer of security for Explorer customers who tow with their vehicles

* NHTSA and IIHS have estimated that electronic stability control systems have the potential to significantly reduce the chances of crashes from occurring.

 

“When we first introduced AdvanceTrac with RSC on the Ford Explorer in 2004, we offered customers enhanced safety by including roll sensing,” said Steve Kozak, Ford’s chief safety engineer. “Now with Trailer Sway Control, we are helping our customers who tow trailers achieve an enhanced level of control of their load. Ford is committed to continuing to develop features and technologies that help make the driving experience easier and safer.”

 

Unlike competitors’ electronic stability control systems that only use yaw rate sensing, Advance Trac® with RSC® utilizes a roll-rate sensor to determine the vehicle’s body roll-rate and roll angle, along with yaw rate sensing.

If the unique roll-rate sensor detects a significant roll angle, the system applies additional countermeasures — such as applying brakes to one or more wheels or reducing engine power — to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle

 

Trailer Sway Control works in conjunction with AdvanceTrac with RSC to determine from the yaw motion of the vehicle if the trailer is swaying and take measures – such as applying precise braking or reduced engine torque – to help bring both vehicle and trailer under control.

 

In general, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) both agree stability control systems could save thousands of lives annually.

 

Ford Motor Company continues to advance its safety leadership. AdvanceTrac with RSC is currently standard equipment on most 2008 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury SUVs. By 2010, AdvanceTrac with RSC will be standard equipment on more than 5 million Ford and Lincoln Mercury trucks, crossovers, SUVs and vans.

 

........

 

About Ford Motor Company

 

More crap I wouldn't want, or more crap to malfunction.

[pwall]

I'll just put this out here and then be quiet................

<rant on>

if you need a computer to prevent your trailer from swaying, you may want to re-consider if you should be towing at all.

<rant off>

[zxcv]

I'll just put this out here and then be quiet................

<rant on>

if you need a computer to prevent your trailer from swaying, you may want to re-consider if you should be towing at all.

<rant off>

 

 

Well he is looking at Fords. That should say enough.

 

[csheatz]

dont put that crap on anything i own, i am perfeclty fine with the mehanical set up that everyone i know uses for the simple reason that it works! and if you have a issue you simply get out adjust it!

 

 

To work with what ford is saying wouldnt the trailer have to have some sort of TC?

 

IMO ford should stick to making what they are good at.....NOTHING!

 

 

FORD

[Outbacker]

I use a Dual Cam sway control. It is a mechnical sway control to address and correct sway, which someone mentioned is a mechanical result of the trailer fish tailing. I would not trust an electronic sway control, but then again I also do not like or trust F^&D's.

[blankey]

It doesn't really sound like it would work all that well. I'll agree with everyone else and would rather just stick with the mechanical sway bars, their simple and work well.

[gave20]

Maybe if the manufacturers wouldn't build 1/2ton trucks that "can" tow 12,000lbs owners wouldn't need sway control.

[2004GMC1500CC]

DEARBORN, Mich., March 18, 2008 – Ford will bolster the 2009 Ford Explorer by including Trailer Sway Control. Trailer Sway Control joins an already impressive list of standard safety features, including industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control).

 

Highlights:

* 2009 Ford Explorer adds standard Trailer Sway Control to its class-leading suite of safety technologies

* Trailer Sway Control works with Advance Trac® with RSC® to add an extra layer of security for Explorer customers who tow with their vehicles

* NHTSA and IIHS have estimated that electronic stability control systems have the potential to significantly reduce the chances of crashes from occurring.

 

“When we first introduced AdvanceTrac with RSC on the Ford Explorer in 2004, we offered customers enhanced safety by including roll sensing,” said Steve Kozak, Ford’s chief safety engineer. “Now with Trailer Sway Control, we are helping our customers who tow trailers achieve an enhanced level of control of their load. Ford is committed to continuing to develop features and technologies that help make the driving experience easier and safer.”

 

Unlike competitors’ electronic stability control systems that only use yaw rate sensing, Advance Trac® with RSC® utilizes a roll-rate sensor to determine the vehicle’s body roll-rate and roll angle, along with yaw rate sensing.

If the unique roll-rate sensor detects a significant roll angle, the system applies additional countermeasures — such as applying brakes to one or more wheels or reducing engine power — to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle

 

Trailer Sway Control works in conjunction with AdvanceTrac with RSC to determine from the yaw motion of the vehicle if the trailer is swaying and take measures – such as applying precise braking or reduced engine torque – to help bring both vehicle and trailer under control.

 

In general, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) both agree stability control systems could save thousands of lives annually.

 

Ford Motor Company continues to advance its safety leadership. AdvanceTrac with RSC is currently standard equipment on most 2008 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury SUVs. By 2010, AdvanceTrac with RSC will be standard equipment on more than 5 million Ford and Lincoln Mercury trucks, crossovers, SUVs and vans.

 

........

 

About Ford Motor Company

 

More crap I wouldn't want, or more crap to malfunction.

 

 

This article said Explorer, not F150.

[beeser]

This article said Explorer, not F150.

The same system is available on the F150. Here's a link to an animation.

 

 

I wouldn't be so quick to minimize the importance of the technology. Remember the detractors of ABS when it first came out. It's now a proven system. Electronic trailer sway control is nothing but an extension of ABS based on what I've read. Mechanical sway control devices have their merits but they can also do more harm than good under some circumstances.

 

Getting back to my original question. Will GMC be offering a similar system? They describe in some literature the marriage between an integrated brake controller and the stability control system but stop short in saying that it addresses potential trailer sway.

[Diabs]

That video did crap for explaining anything?....I understand what they want to do....but what happens when evaise action is needed...avoiding a deer or another Ford...

 

I thing this idea needs more RD. As for GM thinking of this....hell the way they are going there may not be a GM?....at least truck's for now....they closed the truck plant here in Canada.

[beeser]

That video did crap for explaining anything?....I understand what they want to do....but what happens when evaise action is needed...avoiding a deer or another Ford...

There is a brief written explanation at the beginning of the video. There are plenty of other resources on the web that further explain it if you really want to know more about.

[redvett]

Its a stability control that that there using already, the system is faster & smarter than a driver can ever react to a bad situation.