Trailer Sway
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Virginia
Trailer Sway
This weekend I pulled my 24' car trailer 550 miles round trip. This was the first trip I have made with it. Everything went extremely well. Surprisingly. Except for one thing.
When I am being passed by a tractor trailer the wind gusts really push the truck and trailer around. It never feels uncontrollable, but it really requires steady steering.
Will a sway control help this? I am pulling a 24' tandem axle enclosed car trailer with a '78 F250 reg cab long bed truck. The approximate weight of the loaded trailer is 8000 lbs. I am using a WD hitch.
Otherwise I was very happy with this setup. But in the future will avoid interstates if I cannot improve upon this. I followed a dually pulling a camper for a while on the interstate and he seemed to be having the same thing occuring when being passed. So I guess this is common.
Any recommendations?
When I am being passed by a tractor trailer the wind gusts really push the truck and trailer around. It never feels uncontrollable, but it really requires steady steering.
Will a sway control help this? I am pulling a 24' tandem axle enclosed car trailer with a '78 F250 reg cab long bed truck. The approximate weight of the loaded trailer is 8000 lbs. I am using a WD hitch.
Otherwise I was very happy with this setup. But in the future will avoid interstates if I cannot improve upon this. I followed a dually pulling a camper for a while on the interstate and he seemed to be having the same thing occuring when being passed. So I guess this is common.
Any recommendations?
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
A sway control arm with help bring it in easier but the sheer wind factor involved you will not be able to over come. Best thing to do when being passed is to allow more space for air between you and the passing vehicle if possible. Then it won't create as much pressure on your rig resulting in less sway.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 181
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From: Michigan
You are really talking about two different things. Sway control is to prevent a whipping motion of the trailer. The air push you are experiencing is very common from the big rigs-I feel it with my 5er also. Like cangim said, just move over a little bit and you should not feel it as much. It does give you a little white knuckles for a while doesn't it?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
I tow a 30 foot slab sided travel trailer with WD and sway control. The sway control does help since it helps to minimize the amount of "angled" push to the side you get. You still will get pushed put the trailer will be less likely to get off to an angle from the truck. The sway actually makes the truck and trailer feel like one solid long rig at highway speed versus something with a swivel in the middle. This is one reason you don't use the sway in slippery conditions, least that is what the manual says.
It is all the small improvements in handling that lead up to a more relaxed drive. Plus you are less likely to get squirrely if you are travelling faster than you like because trucks are crawling up your rear.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
It is all the small improvements in handling that lead up to a more relaxed drive. Plus you are less likely to get squirrely if you are travelling faster than you like because trucks are crawling up your rear.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 158
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I notice you make no mention of tongue weight - do you have enough ?
Not loading the car with the engine to the rear, are you ?
My camper is quite stable in fast trafic with TT units, might be a weight distribution issue.
Not loading the car with the engine to the rear, are you ?
My camper is quite stable in fast trafic with TT units, might be a weight distribution issue.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Virginia
Thanks for the replies!
I have plenty tongue weight. Well, let me re-phrase. I estimate I have plenty tongue weight. I have the car loaded nose-first. More to the front of the trailer. The car is a '71 LTD.
The trailer never "fishtailed" uncontrollably or anything. I noticed some RV's in front of me experiencing the push when being passed.
I just wanted to make sure that the push I was feeling was normal. I did notice as cangim said that leaving more of an air gap does help. I learned a lot this weekend! After the first 10 or so big rigs passing I felt more comfortable. But it was quite surprising at first. I think there is a permanent impression from my fingers on the steering wheel now.
Otherwise I was quite impressed with the ole girl. Didn't even break a sweat, but did get a bit thirsty. Got around 8mpg.
Maybe i'll try a sway control before hitting the interstate again. Thanks again!
I have plenty tongue weight. Well, let me re-phrase. I estimate I have plenty tongue weight. I have the car loaded nose-first. More to the front of the trailer. The car is a '71 LTD.
The trailer never "fishtailed" uncontrollably or anything. I noticed some RV's in front of me experiencing the push when being passed.
I just wanted to make sure that the push I was feeling was normal. I did notice as cangim said that leaving more of an air gap does help. I learned a lot this weekend! After the first 10 or so big rigs passing I felt more comfortable. But it was quite surprising at first. I think there is a permanent impression from my fingers on the steering wheel now.
Otherwise I was quite impressed with the ole girl. Didn't even break a sweat, but did get a bit thirsty. Got around 8mpg.
Maybe i'll try a sway control before hitting the interstate again. Thanks again!
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Virginia
By the way? Which type sway control are you all using? I have seen the friction type and the cam type. Any preferences?
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
You might want to look at an equalizer brand hitch. 4 way sway control versus 2 way of Reese or like devices. They have a good web site.
If you are upgradeing your hitch, be sure sure to install properly and check your weights with the car loaded with the front jack on the scale. You might think the weight is forward, but its better to measure and then match that when loading. I was surprises loading my RV how little tongue weight I was ACTUALLY getting.
Also, like suggested, drive down the right line, keeping the trailer and truck as far away from traffic to prevent the wave of air hitting your trailer as hard. If you watch close, you will see the rigs ride the line as well.
If you are upgradeing your hitch, be sure sure to install properly and check your weights with the car loaded with the front jack on the scale. You might think the weight is forward, but its better to measure and then match that when loading. I was surprises loading my RV how little tongue weight I was ACTUALLY getting.
Also, like suggested, drive down the right line, keeping the trailer and truck as far away from traffic to prevent the wave of air hitting your trailer as hard. If you watch close, you will see the rigs ride the line as well.
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