Utility trailer sways when pulling
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Central Massachusetts
It sounds like its loaded fairly well...if the 1400lbs is 4ft from the front of the trailer and the 900 is at the back.
What are you pulling the trailer with? And is everything level as far as the hitch heights?
Also...Are both pieces centered width wise?
Sounds like a WDH will help.
What are you pulling the trailer with? And is everything level as far as the hitch heights?
Also...Are both pieces centered width wise?
Sounds like a WDH will help.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
Thanks for the input guys. I’ve pulled it both with my f150 and my f250. Same result with both. The tow height mever changed as far as the trailer being level, the problem started once I added the extra 1000# piece of equipment and moved everything around. Guess I’ll try leveling it out with an adjustable hitch and if that doesn’t work, illl pick up a ldh with sway controll.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 412
From: Washington Coast
First things first;
1. What are you towing with?
2. Need axle weights of the towing vehicle without the trailer.
3. Before hooking up the trailer, measure from the top of the wheel well to the top of the tire both front and rear.
4 Connect the trailer and measure the tire to wheel well front and rear again. If you come up an inch or more you are unloading the front axle, causes a tremendous amount of sway due to less traction, I had a travel trailer I towed behind an F-100 like that, scariest thing I ever drove. Gotta shift weight if this happens back to the front axle so a distribution hitch is needed. Also make sure that you are not overloading the rear springs. Scarry sight is a truck that's been lifted with enough weight that on the rear that the rear is 4" lower than the front. Due to pulling heavy for work I put air bags on my truck.
5 Gross weight for all individual axle weights of the truck and the trailer together. can be hard to get individual weights on the trailer axles so weigh these together. MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT OVER YOUR AXLE WEIGHTS!!!!
6. Set the tongue up on the trailer as level as you can get it, install the appropriate drop or rise bar. This will make the trailer handle so much better.
These are the items I learned over the past 40 years driving tool trailers and a wide variety of different travel trailers from the east to the west coast and from Alberta Canada to Houston.
1. What are you towing with?
2. Need axle weights of the towing vehicle without the trailer.
3. Before hooking up the trailer, measure from the top of the wheel well to the top of the tire both front and rear.
4 Connect the trailer and measure the tire to wheel well front and rear again. If you come up an inch or more you are unloading the front axle, causes a tremendous amount of sway due to less traction, I had a travel trailer I towed behind an F-100 like that, scariest thing I ever drove. Gotta shift weight if this happens back to the front axle so a distribution hitch is needed. Also make sure that you are not overloading the rear springs. Scarry sight is a truck that's been lifted with enough weight that on the rear that the rear is 4" lower than the front. Due to pulling heavy for work I put air bags on my truck.
5 Gross weight for all individual axle weights of the truck and the trailer together. can be hard to get individual weights on the trailer axles so weigh these together. MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT OVER YOUR AXLE WEIGHTS!!!!
6. Set the tongue up on the trailer as level as you can get it, install the appropriate drop or rise bar. This will make the trailer handle so much better.
These are the items I learned over the past 40 years driving tool trailers and a wide variety of different travel trailers from the east to the west coast and from Alberta Canada to Houston.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,175
Likes: 8,047
From: Texas
Thanks for the input guys. I’ve pulled it both with my f150 and my f250. Same result with both. The tow height mever changed as far as the trailer being level, the problem started once I added the extra 1000# piece of equipment and moved everything around. Guess I’ll try leveling it out with an adjustable hitch and if that doesn’t work, illl pick up a ldh with sway controll.
Last edited by Desert Don; May 9, 2018 at 07:43 AM. Reason: add link
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,175
Likes: 8,047
From: Texas
Doesnt matter. By adding the weight rearward, he took weight off the tongue. If he doesnt KNOW his tongue weight, Then he is *** U MEing that he has enough. And we know how that works, correct?
And I will wager a case of beer on this.
And I will wager a case of beer on this.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I resolved the issue weeks ago. I had way too much tongue weight causing my problem. I moved things toward the rear a little balancing the trailer out better and problem resolved.
But now I’m gonna have to add in another 1000 pounds which is probably gonna really throw everything off because the only place to fit this new 1000# is.........yup, in the front for more tongue weight lol
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,175
Likes: 8,047
From: Texas
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I resolved the issue weeks ago. I had way too much tongue weight causing my problem. I moved things toward the rear a little balancing the trailer out better and problem resolved.
But now I’m gonna have to add in another 1000 pounds which is probably gonna really throw everything off bescause the only place to fit this new 1000# is.........yup, in the front for more tongue weight lol
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 62
This would be interesting to study. Years back we (several FTE members) did some hauling tests of different trucks and set ups up "buffalo hill". That would be neat to put the same kind of effort in with scales, adjustable loads, different hitch set ups, and different trucks to see what happens.
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