Utility trailer sways when pulling
#16
04-01-2018, 04:08 PM
#17
04-01-2018, 05:47 PM
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#18
04-01-2018, 06:17 PM
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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.
#20
04-01-2018, 09:56 PM
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.
#22
05-08-2018, 03:01 PM
#23
05-09-2018, 07:38 AM
Lead Driver
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; 05-09-2018 at 07:43 AM. Reason: add link
#24
05-09-2018, 07:52 AM
Fleet Mechanic
#25
05-09-2018, 10:18 AM
Lead Driver
#26
05-09-2018, 10:25 AM
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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
#27
05-09-2018, 10:41 AM
Lead Driver
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
#28
05-09-2018, 10:54 AM
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#29
07-17-2018, 07:38 PM
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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