ProPride Blog | Expert Trailer Sway Control & Towing Tips

Pivot Point Projection™ Explained

Written by ProPride | Dec 18, 2025 3:30:20 PM

How the ProPride 3P® Hitch Eliminates Trailer Sway

Trailer sway is one of the most misunderstood — and most dangerous — aspects of towing. Many drivers assume sway is caused by improper loading, insufficient weight distribution, or not having a large enough tow vehicle. While those factors can contribute, they are not the root cause.

The real issue is where your trailer pivots.

That’s exactly what Pivot Point Projection™ solves — and why the ProPride 3P® Hitch delivers true trailer sway elimination, not just sway reduction.

What Causes Trailer Sway in the First Place

Trailer sway occurs when lateral forces push the trailer side to side, causing it to oscillate behind the tow vehicle. These forces are unavoidable in real-world towing and include:

  • Crosswinds and gusts
  • Passing trucks and buses
  • Road crown and uneven pavement
  • Sudden steering inputs
  • Emergency braking or evasive maneuvers

The key takeaway: even a perfectly loaded trailer can sway.

Why? Because with a traditional hitch, the trailer pivots at a point that creates leverage.

Why Traditional Ball Hitches Allow Sway to Develop

With a standard trailer hitch, the pivot point is the hitch ball — located behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle.

This positioning creates a mechanical disadvantage:

  • Side forces act on the trailer
  • The trailer pivots freely on the ball
  • Oscillation begins
  • Each swing builds momentum

Weight distribution may help balance the load vertically, but it does nothing to change the pivot geometry. Friction-based anti-sway hitches attempt to slow the movement — but they still allow sway to begin.

Once sway starts, the driver is already reacting instead of controlling.

What Is Pivot Point Projection™?

Pivot Point Projection™ is a patented towing geometry that changes where the trailer pivots relative to the tow vehicle.

Instead of allowing the trailer to pivot on the hitch ball, the ProPride 3P® Hitch projects the pivot point forward, close to the rear axle of the tow vehicle.

Why This Matters

  • Side forces no longer create leverage
  • Oscillation cannot build momentum
  • The trailer naturally follows the tow vehicle’s path

This is the same reason fifth-wheel trailers are inherently stable — the pivot point is over or near the axle. Pivot Point Projection™ delivers that same physics without a fifth-wheel setup.

How the ProPride 3P® Hitch Achieves Trailer Sway Elimination

The ProPride 3P® Hitch uses a combination of engineered components to enforce Pivot Point Projection™ at all times:

Patented Converging Link System

Massive, solid steel links physically control the trailer’s motion and prevent side-to-side pivoting on the ball.

Rigid Yoke Design

The yoke locks the hitch ball in place, eliminating the free movement that allows sway to initiate.

Forward-Projected Pivot Geometry

By projecting the pivot point forward, the trailer behaves as if it is attached closer to the tow vehicle’s center of control.

The result is true trailer sway elimination, not conditional or friction-dependent control.

Why Pivot Point Projection™ Works in All Conditions

Unlike friction-based anti-sway hitches, Pivot Point Projection™ is not affected by environment or wear.

Consistent Performance Regardless of:

  • Rain or wet roads
  • Dust and road debris
  • Temperature changes
  • Long-term component wear

There is no friction to fade, glaze, or lose effectiveness. The geometry itself prevents sway from occurring — even during panic stops or sudden evasive maneuvers.

Real-World Benefits Drivers Immediately Notice

Drivers who switch to the ProPride 3P® Hitch consistently report:

  • Dramatically reduced steering correction
  • Increased confidence at highway speeds
  • Elimination of “push-pull” feeling
  • Less driver fatigue on long trips
  • Predictable handling in crosswinds

This isn’t about comfort alone — it’s about control and safety.

Pivot Point Projection™ vs Friction-Based Anti-Sway Systems

 
Feature Friction-Based Anti-Sway Pivot Point Projection™
Stops sway from starting ❌ No ✅ Yes
Consistent in all conditions ❌ No ✅ Yes
Reacts or prevents Reacts Prevents
Relies on wear surfaces Yes No
Geometry-based control No Yes

This difference is why many experienced RV owners upgrade after years of struggling with friction systems.

Why Pivot Point Projection™ Is the Future of Safe Towing

Trailer sway is not a loading problem.
It is not a truck-size problem.
It is not a friction problem.

It is a pivot point problem.

The ProPride 3P® Hitch solves it at the source by changing the physics of towing. When the trailer can no longer pivot in a way that allows sway, the danger disappears.

Final Thoughts: Control the Pivot, Control the Trailer

If you want true trailer sway elimination, you must address the pivot point — not fight its symptoms.

Pivot Point Projection™ is why the ProPride 3P® Hitch delivers a calm, controlled, and confident towing experience that conventional anti-sway hitches simply cannot match.

Once you tow with the pivot point under control, there’s no going back.