THE FRONT BOOT
DIY ANTI-SWAY SYSTEM
A NEW CARAVAN SWAY CONTROL SYSTEM IS HERE. AND YOU CAN FIT IT YOURSELF.
WORDS: MAX TAYLOR
Caravan sway control. Of all the technical
innovations released over the last five or so
years, none has advanced the RV lifestyle quite
like it. It’s probably no exaggeration to say it’s
saved lives.
Until now, there were two main players in the
Australian sway control market. But the Sway
Master system is about to shake things up.
First, it’s immensely easy to install – anyone
who knows how you to use a cordless drill can
do it. Second, it’s entirely plug and play. The
Sway Master system sits inline, between the
van’s seven or 12-pin plug and the plug on the
tow vehicle.
To fit the system, simply choose the best
location for it on the drawbar, mark the position
of the four tek screws that will secure the Sway
Master to the drawbar, pre-drill, and then drive
the screws home. Then plug it in. Easy. I fitted it
to my Goldstream RV camper and can attest to
how straightforward the process is.
The Sway Master uses a solid state
gyroscrope to detect sway and GPS to
determine speed. It will only activate if sway is
detected when travelling at 60km/h and above.
Not being a certified rally driver, I didn’t want
to induce a major sway in order to test the unit;
however, travelling at 80-90km/h – and only
because I am a) intimately familiar with how
my rig handles in all conditions and b) already
confident towing caravans, having towed all
shapes and sizes around the country – I gave
the steering wheel a flick left and right, curious
to see what would happen.
The van swayed slightly and after a very brief
hesitation, the brakes on both wheels activated
independently of the brake controller. The
experience was much the same as when I’ve
used the brake controller’s override button to
stop the van from swaying. My van’s sway was
stopped in its tracks.
While the Sway Master is billed as ‘plug
and play’, there are a couple of caveats. It is
compatible with 12-pin plugs, but you’ll need
to use a (supplied) adaptor. Also, particularly if
your van has an AES fridge, some re-wiring at
your vehicle’s trailer plug might be necessary.
That aside, the Sway Master is bound to deliver
crucial peace of mind, particularly to drivers who
lack the confidence for towing duties.
MORE INFO
SWAY MASTER
RRP: $895
www.swaymaster.com.au
gorv.com.au
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