The Complete Buyers Guide To Caravan Sway Controllers

1. Why Caravans Sway (and Why It Matters)

Sway is the side-to-side fishtailing that can take hold of a caravan at speed. It starts small, a gentle wag triggered by a passing truck, a gust of crosswind, a dip in the road or a steering correction, and if nothing damps it, each swing feeds the next until the van is whipping the back of your tow vehicle around. At highway speeds it’s one of the genuinely dangerous things that can happen while towing, and it’s claimed plenty of rigs on Australian roads.

The underlying cause is usually a combination of speed, weight distribution and a van that’s a bit tail-heavy or under-loaded on the ball. Getting your loading and tow ball weight right is the first line of defence, and a weight distribution hitch helps too. But once sway starts, you want something actively working to kill it. That’s what a sway controller does.

2. The Three Ways to Control Sway

There are three approaches, and they’re not mutually exclusive. Plenty of well-set-up vans run a friction bar or WDH-integrated control as well as an electronic system.

Friction Sway Bars

The cheapest and simplest option. A friction bar clamps between your tow hitch and the van’s A-frame and adds resistance to the pivot point, damping sway before it builds. They’re manual (you set the friction, and you remove or release them before reversing) and they only handle mild sway, but at well under $150 they’re a sensible add-on for lighter vans and camper trailers. They’re designed to work alongside a weight distribution hitch.

Weight Distribution Hitches With Built-In Sway Control

Many weight distribution hitches include cam or friction sway control as part of the system. If you’re already shopping for a WDH, this is often the most efficient way to get both jobs done in one purchase. We cover those in detail in the WDH guide below rather than repeating them here.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

The most advanced option. An electronic system mounts under the van, continuously monitors for sway, and when it detects a dangerous wobble it automatically applies the van’s electric brakes, often independently left and right, to pull the rig straight. No driver input needed. This is the gold-standard safety net for heavier touring vans, and it’s what we’d prioritise for the big lap. Note that some brake controllers now build sway control in too, like the Elecbrakes EB2, which we cover in the brake controllers guide.

3. What to Look For When Buying

What matters depends on which approach you’re taking, but here are the things worth weighing up:

4. Our Top Picks for 2026

We’ve split these into the two electronic systems worth your money, then the friction bars for those who want a simple, affordable add-on.

1

Best Electronic

~$1,250

BMPro SwayControl

Set-and-forget electronic stability control

A proactive electronic stability system that bolts under the van’s chassis and continuously monitors for sway. When it detects a dangerous wobble it applies the left and right van brakes independently to pull the rig straight, with no driver input at all. It tells safe manoeuvring apart from genuine sway, automatically disables in off-road conditions, works on single to four-axle vans, and integrates with BMPro’s Trailsafe breakaway system. Fully sealed and waterproof. It’s the priciest option here, but also the most hands-off safety net you can fit.

Type

Electronic ESC

Braking

Independent L/R

Axles

1 to 4

Warranty

2 years

✓ Pros

• Fully automatic, no driver input
• Independent left/right braking
• Auto-disables off-road
• Integrates with Trailsafe breakaway

✗ Cons

• Most expensive option here
• Needs professional installation
• Requires electric van brakes

Our verdict: The most capable sway safety net if the budget stretches to it.

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2

Best Value Electronic

~$799

LCI Sway Command 1.5 AUS Kit

Smart electronic sway control at a friendlier price

Lippert’s Sway Command detects sway and applies the van’s brakes to shut it down before it escalates. Its clever bit is using both an accelerometer and a gyroscope, where most rivals rely on an accelerometer alone, so it can tell side-to-side sway apart from up-and-down bumps and is far less prone to false triggers, which really matters off-road. A small light pod on the front of the van confirms it’s armed and working. CIL even offers a 10 percent caravan insurance discount on vans fitted with one. It works with any tow vehicle running an approved brake controller.

Type

Electronic ESC

Sensors

Accelerometer + gyro

Mounting

Under chassis

Bonus

Insurance discount

✓ Pros

• Accel + gyro means fewer false triggers
• Genuinely good off-road
• Cheaper than BMPro
• Qualifies for an insurance discount

✗ Cons

• Still needs professional installation
• Requires a compatible brake controller
• Adds a light pod to the front of the van

Our verdict: The smart-money electronic pick for most touring vans.

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3

Best Friction Bar

~$85

Hayman Reese Friction Sway Control (Bolt-On Kit)

The classic friction bar, no drilling required

A mechanical friction bar that clamps between your tow hitch and the A-frame, adding resistance that damps sway before it builds. This bolt-on version straddles 3 to 6 inch A-frames so you don’t have to drill, and it pops off in seconds for reversing. Trusted Aussie brand, cheap, and effective for the mild sway that crosswinds and truck buffeting throw up. Designed to be run alongside a weight distribution hitch.

Type

Friction bar

Fits

3 to 6″ A-frame

✓ Pros

• Cheap and proven
• No drilling, bolts on
• Removes in seconds for reversing

✗ Cons

• Manual, not automatic
• Only damps mild sway
• Best paired with a WDH

Our verdict: The best-value mechanical option if you’d rather skip the electronics.

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4

Budget Pick

~$90

Pro Series Friction Sway Control

No-frills friction control for the price-conscious

A straightforward friction sway bar that does the same core job as the Hayman Reese: it adds friction at the hitch to resist sway. Affordable and reliable, it’s a sensible entry point for lighter vans and camper trailers that get the occasional wobble. Like all friction bars, it works best paired with a weight distribution hitch and needs releasing before you reverse.

Type

Friction bar

Install

DIY, bracket-mount

✓ Pros

• Cheapest way to add sway resistance
• Simple and reliable
• Easy DIY fit

✗ Cons

• Manual operation
• Mild sway only
• Release before reversing

Our verdict: A fine budget choice for lighter setups.

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5

All-In-One Kit

~$120

Curt Sway Control Kit

Complete friction kit with the hardware included

Curt’s friction sway control comes as a complete kit with the ball and mounting hardware, so there’s less to source separately. It works on the same friction principle, applying a clamping force at the hitch to settle sway. A tidy all-in-one option if you’re setting up from scratch rather than adding to an existing hitch.

Type

Friction bar

Includes

Ball + hardware

✓ Pros

• Complete kit, less to buy separately
• Reputable towing brand
• Straightforward to fit

✗ Cons

• Manual operation
• Mild sway only
• Release before reversing

Our verdict: Good pick if you want everything in one box.

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6

Scalable Option

~$85

Eaz-Lift Screw-On Sway Control

Run one, or add a second for heavier vans

Eaz-Lift’s screw-on friction control mounts to one side (this is the passenger-side, left-hand unit). For lighter vans a single unit is enough, while heavier or longer vans can run one each side for balanced control. Same friction principle, easy to fit and remove. Worth noting it isn’t cross-compatible with Hayman Reese systems, so commit to one brand’s ecosystem rather than mixing them.

Type

Friction bar (single side)

Mounting

Screw-on

✓ Pros

• Affordable
• Run one or two as needed
• Simple to fit

✗ Cons

• One side only (buy two for heavy vans)
• Manual operation
• Release before reversing

Our verdict: Flexible if you want to scale up for a bigger van.

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5. Quick Comparison Table

Here’s how the picks stack up side by side:

6. Friction or Electronic: Which Should You Buy?

It comes down to your van, your budget and where you travel.

If you’re towing a heavy touring van long distances across the country, an electronic stability system is the one to get. It works automatically, it reacts faster than any human can, and it’s the difference between a heart-stopping wobble that settles itself and one that ends in the gravel. The LCI Sway Command is the value sweet spot for most people, with the BMPro a step up if you want the most capable system going. Many travellers report a noticeable drop in driver fatigue once they’re not constantly bracing for the next gust.

If you’re towing a lighter van or camper trailer, travel shorter distances, or you’re working to a tight budget, a friction bar is a perfectly reasonable choice, especially as a complement to a properly set up weight distribution hitch. Just know its limits: it damps mild sway, it’s manual, and you have to remember to release it before reversing.

Whatever you choose, none of it replaces good loading and the right tow ball weight. Sort the basics first, then add the safety net.