OK guys, I need some expert advice although not necessarily "6-oh" related:
I've been towing with pick ups for 25 years & never had a problem solving a sway issue.....until now.
I have a 2003 F250 FX4 Crew Cab short bed. No lift kit. 305/70R16 Goodyear A/T's. I used to pull a 24' travel trailer with extremely minor sway; added a anti sway bar (the friction type) and stopped the sway completely.
I traded that trailer in on a 31 footer. It has approx. 700# tongue weight and sways BADLY! I Installed the anti-sway bar, but it still swayed BAD! On the suggestion of my local trailer parts store, I installed a Reese load distributing hitch (even though my truck wasn't "squatting" with the load) and a "Dual Cam Sway Control".....It's tremendously better, but it still sways dangerously when I pass a tractor trailer or even if a small car passes me at a high rate of speed. I figured I'd re-install the (friction) anti sway bar plus add another one to the opposite side (even thought the literature with the Reese components says it's not needed). Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions?

 

I pull a 28' Toy hauler and find if I do not put enough weight on the tongue, it will sway a lot. If it is not squatting your truck, is the trailer level? You will get way more sway if the trailer is pointed nose up.

 

What's the overall weight of the 31' trailer? 700# might be a little light on the tongue weight.

 

Helwig rear sway bar on the truck and air bags...will take most of that out....check my gallery. I also ran my tires at the max all the time. Most of your sway, after the bags and bar, will be coming from side wall flex, five pounds of air can and will make a huge difference....email me if you want to talk on the phone.
I had the same problem with my X .....

 

Just my opinion now.

Hitch "pull type" trailers over 26' need a leveling system. This actually ties the unit togeather as one and adds weight to the front steering of the truck. Most people think or assume a weight distributing hitch is not needed just add springs. If set right you will not ever notice your pulling a trailer. 32' long you should change to a fifth wheel type trailer just for turning radius being one advantage.

A longer truck will be more stable. Duel wheels are the best. Bars for the leveling system come in diff spring rates.

Single rear wheels. Could be the tires making the sway, check air pressures. Pay attention to how your trailer is manufactured and where the weight is located, distributed more over the axle and towards the front along with center of gravity height. I know some RV manufactures have a high center of gravity that causes problems due the type of axles used.

You see many trailers pulled down the highway nose diving or jacked in the air and not setting level when loaded.
Hope this may help in the future.....

 

Thanks for all the tips guys. FYI; the trailer is level BUT, it does sit a lot higher than my old one. I think that may be coming into play. Also, I hadn't considered the psi in my truck tires, that may be the trouble; they call for a max of 50 & I usually run 'em @ about 38-40. I'll make sure I check them nxt time. What about speed? I'm sure that's a factor...everytime it's gone crazy it's been at speeds above 70mph. Do I just need to grow up a little & slow down?

 

on a 3/4 truck tire max is 80 psi with the right tire (d or e range )

 

I have a 04 PSD F250 I pull a 30' Weekend Warrior Toy Hauler. I also have had same sway issues. I have put more tongue weight on it , then set the distribution bars gave the friction bar a extra turn or 2 on it. That did help a little. That was when I was on stock tires and height on the truck. Now I lifted the truck 4-1/2" and running 325/60/20 tires at 65psi..The sway is pretty much gone now. I think it maybe the tire contact to the road being "wider" kinda like a dually would be?? Hope this helps I know what you are talking about when semi's go around you or you go around them. I saw thewhole side of my 30'er on a trip to the sand dunes last year. I almost had to change my shorts after that!!!

 

Go back over your hitch instructions and maybe upgrade on tires. Speed is probably increasing an already existing problem.

Your leveling system builds a bridge from the rear axle to the front axle. someone close to you that knows this system could set this up for you if you wish. Note the Airstream trailers how they are built....center of gravity can make a long day towing.

 

Your tires are a major issue....psmith338

 

I tow a 32' travel trailer (GTW 9,400 lb, with tongue weight of 1,300 lb) with my '03 Excursion--shorter wheelbase than you have. Have conquered sway, but it took a bit of work.

The Dual Cam is a tremendous improvement over conventional hitches. You also need to:

1) Make sure that tongue weight is at least 12 - 15% of GTW (gross trailer weight).
2) Adjust weight distribution spring bars until you move some of trailer tongue weight to front axle of truck. Use a tape measure on level ground to bottom of wheel arches. You may need to use a public scale to make these adjustments. When all is adjusted, both truck and trailer should be almost level. The truck should squat in rear about 1", and should not rise in the front.
3) Make sure you have "E" load range tires. Do not tow with "D" load range. Read the tire sidewall and inflate to near maximum pressure (esp. rear axle). If "E", I think you can increase to 80 psig. I use 70 psig.
4) Reduce "polar moment of inertia" of trailer (about an imaginary vertical axis through center of trailer between axles). This means to get the mass of trailer closer to the trailer axles. Don't hang a motorcycle on the back, for example. If you add weight, do it in front of but close to trailer axles. Water in a rearward tank can be really bad as it "sloshes".
5) Consider adding a Hellwig anti-sway bar to rear axle. Should be bigger than stock.
6) Consider adding air bags to rear axle.
7) Consider using a Hensley Arrow. This $3000 addition will absolutely conquer sway and make towing much more relaxed. Depends upon your situation and how much you intend to tow. I have taken ours all over the western U.S. and have come to be a "believer".
8) Ignore people who say you should have a Fifth Wheel. Yes, they are definitely shorter and are inherently stable. For less money (e.g. Hensley), however, you can have a stable towing travel trailer and still have room in the bed of truck for "toys" (bikes, generators, etc.) you may want to take along.