Fishtailing Adventures . . .
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
acheda gives some pretty good practical advice there. I've never actually weighed the tongue weight on any of my trailers, but guess by how much the rear bumper drops too. I don't think there really is such a thing as too much tongue weight as far as handling is concerned - as long as it's not too much for your truck. I totally agree with his advice about applying the trailer brake to correct a swaying trailer, but I believe turns can be as much of a factor in initiating the sway as speed. My first experience with an improperly loaded trailer starting to sway was brought on by a turn; it's a hairy feeling when the tail tries to wag the dog ! I eased off the truck's braking until after the turn, then came out of it ok.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 958
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
There is a lot of good info here, as usual.
I want to add my 02 worth of what happened to me recently.
I have a 22' Travel Trailer, weighing loaded at 5200#. I pull with my 06 F-150 short bed scab. It tows well except in a cross wind. I have a WD hitch with sway control. In a hard cross wind my rig would buffet and dance like crazy. Not really sway. I had a friend point out why. He went up to my truck and pushed hard on the rear bed. There it was plain as day. Jelly like P-metric car tires on my truck! They were on my truck because FORD sold it that way.
As far as I m concerned P-metric car tires on a truck is just wrong, and even dangerous. Misleading at best.
All trucks should be out fitted with light truck tires. After all if it is a half ton truck or better, it is a truck.
Towing, or hauling with p-metric tires could be dangerous.
I for one will spend the 1200 bucks to keep my family safe.
Shame on Ford, Chevy, Nissan, Toyota, Dodge. They ALL do this.
It is un safe!
I an going to send my unsafe tires to Ford corporate, with a note to place these inferior tires where light don't shine!
I want to add my 02 worth of what happened to me recently.
I have a 22' Travel Trailer, weighing loaded at 5200#. I pull with my 06 F-150 short bed scab. It tows well except in a cross wind. I have a WD hitch with sway control. In a hard cross wind my rig would buffet and dance like crazy. Not really sway. I had a friend point out why. He went up to my truck and pushed hard on the rear bed. There it was plain as day. Jelly like P-metric car tires on my truck! They were on my truck because FORD sold it that way.
As far as I m concerned P-metric car tires on a truck is just wrong, and even dangerous. Misleading at best.
All trucks should be out fitted with light truck tires. After all if it is a half ton truck or better, it is a truck.
Towing, or hauling with p-metric tires could be dangerous.
I for one will spend the 1200 bucks to keep my family safe.
Shame on Ford, Chevy, Nissan, Toyota, Dodge. They ALL do this.
It is un safe!
I an going to send my unsafe tires to Ford corporate, with a note to place these inferior tires where light don't shine!
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 909
Likes: 9
From: San Luis Obispo, CA
Tires are an important part of the equation. A number of things add up to give the tow vehicle good lateral stability. In my case I had 65 psi in load range E LT radials, but the vehicle suspension was soft laterally, plus it had a big overhang. Now I have DRW's with my F-350 and it has twice as many sidewalls resisting lateral movement.
A short-bed truck gains by having less overhang, but loses by having a short wheelbase. My guess is that the wheelbase factor is more important.
A short-bed truck gains by having less overhang, but loses by having a short wheelbase. My guess is that the wheelbase factor is more important.
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