Sway control
CURT 17200 sway control kit review
A friction sway bar damps an oscillation that has already started rather than preventing one from starting, and it is never a substitute for correct tongue weight. The CURT 17200 is the standard version of that add-on part, sold to be bolted onto a weight distribution hitch that has no sway control of its own.
This review works through what comes in the box, what it takes to mount, and where a single add-on bar costs you compared to an integrated head or a second bar on a heavier trailer.
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What is the CURT 17200, and what does it actually come with?
The 17200 is a single friction bar that runs from the hitch head or a mounted tab to a ball welded onto the trailer frame. The kit includes a weld-on sway tab for hitches without one, a spacer plate to keep the trailer-side ball aligned, and an adjustment bolt for tuning how much friction resists lateral movement. On many kits the trailer-side ball, the CURT 17201, is a separate part number, and buyers who order only the 17200 sometimes find they have nothing to bolt it to.
How does the 17200 compare to three other add-on friction kits?
Every kit in this class does the same basic job: a friction bar that can be tightened or loosened and unclipped for backing. The differences are in adjustment method, included parts and price.
| Published rating | CURT 17200 Trailer Sway Control Kit for Weight Distribution Hitches | Husky Towing 34715 Right Handed Adjustable Sway Control Kit | Ultra-Fab Ultra Sway Control | Shocker Sway Control Friction Arm Bar and Ball Kit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $64.99 | $69.98 | $44.78 | $92.92 |
Every figure here is the manufacturer's own published rating. A blank is a figure the maker does not publish, and we leave it blank rather than estimating it. The rating stamped on the part you actually receive is what governs.
What does each kit include out of the box?
Only some add-on sway kits include both balls needed for a complete install, and a missing trailer-side ball is a common ordering mistake.
Published standard A published, traceable figure: a standards body, a federal regulation or a manufacturer specification states it.
| Kit | Adjustment method | Trailer-side ball included |
|---|---|---|
| CURT 17200 | Adjustment bolt | Sold separately as the CURT 17201 |
| Husky 34715 | Dual friction pad, adjustable | Included |
| Ultra-Fab Ultra Sway Control | E-Z quick release lever | Not published |
| Shocker sway arm kit | Adjustable friction | Included |
Confirm what is in your specific kit against the listing before ordering, since part numbers in this category change which pieces ship together.
What is the drawback of relying on the 17200 alone?
A single friction bar is one point of resistance, which is less sway control than a 2 or 4-point integrated hitch head provides from the moment it is hitched, and it must be manually disconnected before backing sharply or reversing on a wet or icy surface, a step an integrated head does not require. On a tall trailer that catches significant crosswind, a single bar may not be enough resistance, and CURT own catalog sells a second bar for exactly that case. The other real cost with this specific kit is that the trailer-side ball, the 17201, ships separately on many listings, so a buyer who orders only the 17200 can be missing the part it bolts to.
What are the alternatives if you want fewer parts to track down?
The Shocker sway arm kit and the Husky 34715 both ship with the trailer-side ball included, which removes the ordering mistake the 17200 is prone to. A reader who wants sway control built into the hitch head instead of any add-on bar should look at an integrated design like the CURT TruTrack 2P, which never needs a second friction bar for a taller trailer.
How we chose
We did not test this hardware in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets, published towing standards, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real gross trailer weight rating, a real tongue or pin weight rating, a real receiver size or a real load index rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its published capability actually belongs. We rejected the unbranded flood that dominates the search results in several of these categories, because a weight distribution hitch, a brake controller, a trailer tire and a set of safety chains are all parts whose failure puts a loose trailer on a public road. Where a figure is towing convention rather than a published standard we label it that way, and where a manufacturer does not publish a figure we leave it out instead of estimating it.
Sources
- CURT published specifications for the 17200 sway control kit
- CURT published specifications for the 17201 trailer-mounted sway control ball
Frequently asked questions
Does the CURT 17200 include the trailer-side ball?
Not always. On many listings the trailer-mounted ball, the CURT 17201, is a separate part number. Check your specific listing carefully before ordering, because buying only the 17200 can leave you with a friction bar and nothing on the trailer frame to attach it to.
Does a sway control kit prevent trailer sway from starting?
No. A friction sway bar damps an oscillation that has already begun, it does not prevent one from starting. Correct tongue weight, in the 10 to 15 percent band for a conventional trailer, is what actually prevents sway from beginning in the first place.
Can the CURT 17200 be used on any weight distribution hitch?
CURT lists it as fitting most weight distribution hitches, and includes a weld-on sway tab for hitches that do not already have a mounting point. It cannot be added to an integrated hitch head that has its own built-in sway control, since there is nowhere on those heads for an add-on bar to attach.
Why do some trailers need two sway control bars instead of one?
A single friction bar provides one point of resistance to yaw. A tall, slab-sided trailer that catches significant crosswind or gets buffeted by passing trucks may need a second bar on the opposite side of the A-frame, or a switch to an integrated 4-point hitch head, for adequate resistance.
Do I need to disconnect the CURT 17200 before backing up?
Yes. Any add-on friction sway bar should be unclipped before backing sharply or reversing on a wet or icy surface. The friction that resists sway while driving forward can fight the trailer and make backing harder if left connected.
Is the CURT 17200 adjustable?
Yes. It has an adjustment bolt that changes how much friction resists lateral movement, letting an owner tune the resistance for a given trailer and road condition rather than accepting a single fixed setting. Turning it up helps on windy highway runs, and backing it off can smooth out slow, tight parking lot maneuvering where too much friction feels heavy on the wheel.
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Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published standards, manufacturer towing guides and product specifications, and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Figures described as a rule of thumb are towing convention rather than published standards, and they are labelled that way wherever they appear. Nothing here overrides your own ratings. Work your payload sum before your tow rating, because payload is the limit that actually binds on most half ton trucks and nearly every SUV. Load a conventional trailer to 10 to 15 percent tongue weight and a fifth wheel to 15 to 25 percent pin weight, and never lighter: a tail heavy trailer is what starts sway. Weigh the rig loaded rather than trusting a brochure dry weight. A weight distribution hitch and a set of air bags both restore ride height and control, and neither one raises a single rating. Trailer brakes are required by state law above a threshold that varies by state, and a breakaway battery that has quietly gone flat is the normal condition of most trailers on the road.