Weight Distribution & Sway Control
The Best Weight Distribution Hitches With Sway Control Built In
Every hitch on this page resists sway without a separate bar you have to remember to remove. That one difference is worth more to a new owner than any capacity figure.
By Mike M. ·
How this page is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we rank first. Prices come from Amazon and are read automatically — each one shows the date it was read. Full disclosure.
Quick picks
Same rubric as the main roundup, filtered to hitches where sway resistance is part of the head or bracket geometry. Nothing here uses a bolt-on friction bar.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Equal-i-zer 4-Point Sway Control Hitch, 90-00-1001 Four-point sway control built into the head, so there is no friction bar to unclip before you back into a site — the single biggest quality-of-life difference for a first-timer. Top pick | Most half-ton trucks pulling a 5,000-10,000 lb trailer | 7.9/ 10 | |
| 2 |  CURT TruTrack 4P Weight Distribution Hitch, 17500 CURT's answer to the four-point Equal-i-zer, with a 10,000 lb rating and an adjustable sway bias — generally a couple of hundred dollars under the hitch it is aimed at. Best value | Four-point sway control at a mid-range price | 7.9/ 10 | |
| 3 |  Fastway e2 2-Point Sway Control Trunnion Hitch, 92-00-1200 The trunnion version sits the bars higher than round bars do, which matters on a steep driveway, and this one includes the shank. | 8,000-12,000 lb trailers where ground clearance matters | 7.7/ 10 | |
| 4 |  Blue Ox SwayPro BXW1000-S Weight Distributing Hitch Chain-tensioned spring bars that run under the A-frame rather than clamping onto it — quieter than a bracket hitch, and the hookup is a latch rather than a lift. | Owners who want a quiet, under-slung bar setup | 7.5/ 10 | |
| 5 |  Andersen No-Sway Weight Distribution Hitch Chains and a urethane cone instead of steel spring bars, so it is the quietest and the lightest of the mainstream kits — and the only one most people can lift with one hand. Quietest | Owners who care most about weight, noise and a short hookup | 7.5/ 10 | Check price on Amazon No buyable offer at the last price check. |
| 6 |  Reese Steadi-Flex Trunnion Weight-Distributing Hitch Kit, 66560 Reese's integrated-sway trunnion kit, shipped with its shank. The selling point is that the friction surfaces are enclosed, so grit does less to them over a season. | Owners who want a sealed, low-maintenance friction system | 7.6/ 10 | |
| 7 |  Camco Eaz-Lift ReCurve R3 Weight Distribution Hitch, 48771 An 800 lb-max kit with adjustable sway control and the ball included. Sized for the small trailer most first-time buyers actually own, rather than the one they imagine. Best for light trailers | Light trailers under about 800 lb of tongue weight | 6.4/ 10 |
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. Prices come from Amazon and are read automatically — see each product below for the date.
The short answer
“With sway control” is a phrase that gets used two completely different ways in product listings, and the distinction is the entire point of this page.
Some hitches are sold “with sway control” because a friction bar is in the box. You bolt a second ball to the shank, clamp a bracket to the A-frame, and clip an arm between them. It resists sway at one point, and you have to unclip it before any tight turn. That is a real product and it is cheap, but it is not what this page is about.
The hitches here resist sway because of how the hitch itself is built. There is nothing to remove and nothing to forget.
The four ways a hitch resists sway without a bar
Four-point friction (Equal-i-zer, CURT TruTrack). The spring bars seat into brackets with friction pads at the bracket and friction surfaces where the bar enters the head. Four sliding interfaces, all loaded, all resisting rotation. This is the strongest passive sway resistance available in a bumper-pull hitch, and it is also the loudest.
Two-point friction (Fastway e2). The same idea with friction at the head only. Noticeably cheaper, works less hard in a sustained crosswind, and behaves identically when backing. For a lot of trailers this is enough.
Under-slung spring-bar tension (Blue Ox SwayPro). The bars run under the A-frame on chains and latch into brackets. Sway resistance comes from the bars being held in tension in a fixed geometry rather than from friction pads. There are no rubbing surfaces, which is why it is quiet, and nothing to disconnect.
Friction cone (Andersen). A urethane cone around the ball, loaded by the chain tension. The cone resists the coupler rotating. It is quiet, it is light, and the cone wears and gets replaced.
The full comparison of sway control types puts numbers and failure modes against each one.
Adjustable bias: who it is for
The CURT TruTrack and the Reese Steadi-Flex both let you adjust how hard the sway resistance works. This sounds like a minor convenience and is actually quite useful: maximum friction is not always what you want. Heavy sway resistance on a short, light trailer makes the rig feel wooden and transmits every bump through the coupler. On a long trailer in open crosswind country you want all of it.
Fixed-bias hitches like the Equal-i-zer are set by the bracket height you choose at installation, which is a coarser control. If you tow the same trailer on the same roads, fixed is fine. If you have two trailers or you travel between very different conditions, adjustable earns its place.
The noise trade-off, stated plainly
| Method | Sway resistance | Noise | Backing up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four-point friction | Strongest | Loud creaking in turns | Normal |
| Two-point friction | Good | Loud creaking in turns | Normal |
| Under-slung spring bar | Good | Quiet | Normal |
| Friction cone | Moderate | Quietest | Normal |
| Bolt-on friction bar | Weakest | Moderate squeal | Must unclip |
The honest summary: the quieter designs give up some outright sway resistance, and the loudest designs give the most. If you tow a 35 ft trailer through Wyoming in spring, take the noise. If you tow a 24 ft trailer two hours to a lake, the quiet option costs you nothing you will notice.
If your trailer is light, this is the important paragraph
Most of the attention in this category goes to 1,000 lb and 1,200 lb bars, because that is what a 30 ft trailer behind a half-ton needs. If your loaded tongue weight is 500–700 lb, buying a 1,000 lb kit is the most common and most consequential mistake in this whole section.
The Eaz-Lift ReCurve R3 is on this list specifically because it is rated to 800 lb maximum tongue weight with adjustable sway control and the ball included. For a genuinely light trailer it will ride better than a bigger kit, and the 5,000 lb trailer page works through the band arithmetic.
The common mistake
The verdict
The Equal-i-zer is the default for a reason: four friction points, nothing to unclip, and a decade of owner reports describing exactly the same noise and exactly the same reliability. The TruTrack is the value alternative with a genuinely useful bias adjustment. The Andersen is the right answer if you will handle the hitch often or if the creaking would drive you out of your mind. And if your trailer is light, the small-bar option is not a compromise — it is the correct purchase.
The picks in full
Equal-i-zer 4-Point Sway Control Hitch, 90-00-1001
Equal-i-zer · Best for most half-ton trucks pulling a 5,000-10,000 lb trailer
Four-point sway control built into the head, so there is no friction bar to unclip before you back into a site — the single biggest quality-of-life difference for a first-timer.
Key specifications
- Trailer weight rating
- 10,000 lb
- Tongue weight rating
- 1,000 lb
- Sway control
- 4-point, integral to the head
- Included
- Weight distribution kit; shank and ball sold separately
Capacity figures read from Equal-i-zer product specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)9
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)9
- Setup effort (15%)7
- Quietness (10%)5
- Price for capability (10%)7
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Sway control is always on — nothing to remember, nothing to remove
- Back up and turn sharply without unhooking anything
- Bracket height is adjustable in the field with a wrench, not a shop visit
What it is bad at
- It creaks and groans in tight turns; owners report this consistently and it is normal, not a fault
- Needs a shank and ball bought separately, which catches people out on price
- Heavier to lift onto the coupler than a friction-bar setup
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
CURT TruTrack 4P Weight Distribution Hitch, 17500
CURT · Best for four-point sway control at a mid-range price
CURT's answer to the four-point Equal-i-zer, with a 10,000 lb rating and an adjustable sway bias — generally a couple of hundred dollars under the hitch it is aimed at.
Key specifications
- Gross trailer weight
- 10,000 lb
- Sway control
- 4-point, integral
- Adjustment
- Sway-control bias adjustable
- Included
- Weight distribution kit with sway control
Capacity figures read from CURT TruTrack specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)9
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)9
- Setup effort (15%)6
- Quietness (10%)5
- Price for capability (10%)8
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Four points of sway control for less than the obvious four-point alternative
- Bias adjustment lets you dial sway resistance to the trailer
- No bar to unclip before backing
What it is bad at
- More parts to understand on first setup than a two-point kit
- Less owner experience published than the market leaders, so fewer reports to read
- Friction surfaces mean friction noise
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Fastway e2 2-Point Sway Control Trunnion Hitch, 92-00-1200
Fastway · Best for 8,000-12,000 lb trailers where ground clearance matters
The trunnion version sits the bars higher than round bars do, which matters on a steep driveway, and this one includes the shank.
Key specifications
- Trailer weight rating
- 12,000 lb
- Tongue weight rating
- 1,200 lb
- Sway control
- 2-point, integral
- Included
- Standard hitch shank included; ball sold separately
Capacity figures read from Fastway e2 product specifications (Equal-i-zer / Progress Mfg), October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)7
- Tongue-weight range (20%)9
- Backing up (20%)9
- Setup effort (15%)7
- Quietness (10%)5
- Price for capability (10%)8
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Trunnion bars give more clearance than round bars at the same rating
- Shank included
- Good match for a loaded 30-33 ft trailer behind a half-ton
What it is bad at
- Trunnion heads are slightly fussier to index correctly on first setup
- Two-point sway control only
- Noisy in tight turns
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Blue Ox SwayPro BXW1000-S Weight Distributing Hitch
Blue Ox · Best for owners who want a quiet, under-slung bar setup
Chain-tensioned spring bars that run under the A-frame rather than clamping onto it — quieter than a bracket hitch, and the hookup is a latch rather than a lift.
Key specifications
- Tongue weight
- 1,000 lb
- Towing capacity
- 10,000 lb
- Shank
- 9-hole, 2 in receiver
- Sway control
- Spring-bar tension, always engaged
Capacity figures read from Blue Ox SwayPro specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)8
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)8
- Setup effort (15%)6
- Quietness (10%)9
- Price for capability (10%)5
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Notably quieter than bracket-style friction hitches
- Clamp-on latches make hooking up quick once set
- Bars stay under tension through a turn, so backing is normal
What it is bad at
- Most expensive option in this range
- Initial setup is the fussiest here — chain link count has to be right
- Shank included, ball is not
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Andersen No-Sway Weight Distribution Hitch
Andersen Hitches · Best for owners who care most about weight, noise and a short hookup
Chains and a urethane cone instead of steel spring bars, so it is the quietest and the lightest of the mainstream kits — and the only one most people can lift with one hand.
Key specifications
- Gross trailer weight rating
- 14,000 lb
- Shank
- 2 in shank, 4 in drop
- Ball
- 2-5/16 in included
- Sway control
- Friction cone, always engaged
Capacity figures read from Andersen Hitches weight distribution specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)7
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)8
- Setup effort (15%)6
- Quietness (10%)10
- Price for capability (10%)6
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Quiet — the complaint that defines steel-bar hitches mostly goes away
- Much lighter than a bar-and-bracket kit, so hookup is a one-person job
- Ball and shank are included, which is rarer than it should be
What it is bad at
- Chain tension is set by feel and a wrench, which is fiddlier to get right the first time
- The urethane cone is a wear part you will eventually replace
- Price sits at the top of the range
Reese Steadi-Flex Trunnion Weight-Distributing Hitch Kit, 66560
Reese · Best for owners who want a sealed, low-maintenance friction system
Reese's integrated-sway trunnion kit, shipped with its shank. The selling point is that the friction surfaces are enclosed, so grit does less to them over a season.
Key specifications
- Gross trailer weight
- 12,000 lb
- Bars
- Trunnion
- Included
- Shank included
- Sway control
- Integrated
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)8
- Tongue-weight range (20%)8
- Backing up (20%)8
- Setup effort (15%)7
- Quietness (10%)7
- Price for capability (10%)6
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Integrated sway control with no separate bar
- Enclosed friction surfaces shrug off road grit
- Shank in the box
What it is bad at
- Priced near the premium kits without the premium name recognition
- Heavy
- 12,000 lb bars are too stiff for a light trailer
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Camco Eaz-Lift ReCurve R3 Weight Distribution Hitch, 48771
Camco Eaz-Lift · Best for light trailers under about 800 lb of tongue weight
An 800 lb-max kit with adjustable sway control and the ball included. Sized for the small trailer most first-time buyers actually own, rather than the one they imagine.
Key specifications
- Max tongue weight
- 800 lb
- Ball
- 2 in ball included, 8,000 lb max rating
- Sway control
- Adjustable
- Rating
- 600 lb nominal / 800 lb maximum tongue weight
Capacity figures read from Camco Eaz-Lift specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Sway control (25%)7
- Tongue-weight range (20%)5
- Backing up (20%)7
- Setup effort (15%)7
- Quietness (10%)7
- Price for capability (10%)5
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Correctly sprung for a genuinely light trailer
- Ball included and rated to match
- Sway resistance is adjustable rather than fixed
What it is bad at
- No headroom whatsoever above 800 lb of tongue weight
- Priced like a heavier kit
- Sway adjustment is by feel, with no scale to repeat a setting
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Common questions
Four loaded friction interfaces: each spring bar in its A-frame bracket, and each bar where it enters the head. Strongest passive sway resistance on a bumper-pull hitch, with nothing to remove before backing.
Yes — a bolt-on friction kit adds a second ball to the shank and a bracket to the A-frame. One friction point, must be disconnected before tight turns, and weaker than an integral four-point design. Better than nothing.
Because steel friction surfaces are sliding under several hundred pounds of load. On four-point friction hitches it is normal and expected. Greasing the friction pads is not the fix — that friction is the sway control.
Sources
- Equal-i-zer published hitch specifications and bar ratings — read October 2026
- Blue Ox SwayPro published specifications — read October 2026
- CURT published weight distribution specifications — read October 2026
- Andersen Hitches weight distribution hitch specifications — read October 2026
- SAE J684 — trailer couplings, hitches and safety chains — read October 2026
- 49 CFR 393.70 — coupling devices and towing methods — read October 2026