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Slojoe72's avatar
Slojoe72
Explorer
Sep 21, 2015

Towing with Class A diesel pusher

So I recently aquired a 1999 - 40' Holiday Rambler and Im currently using to tow my 32' race car trailer (10-11k lbs) to the track. Does great and I may be expecting to much out of the 78' ride but it has a little sway to her when trucks go by and worse around 65-70mph. I did recently replace all 10 rear suspension bushings, due to panhard bar bushing being gone. I also had an alignment just before the bushings. The hitch has load leveler bars but not with the sway control. Pervious tow vehicle Crew cab dually needed nothing for sway and was great. With the dually the trailer tounge was a little lower then with motorhome (level). I did try to put a little more tounge weight with the MH moving a 1000lbs golf cart up about 2 feet, and a 2500lbs car about 18" forward. It really didn't change the sway feeling. The chassis is an 8 airbag suspension.

just looking for suggestion on what to make it better... thinking
shocks?
installing aftermarket swaybars?
adding a sway control to current hitch?

if you have a suggestion, please include brands and why.
thanks in advance.
Class A

39 Replies

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  • Executive45's avatar
    Executive45
    Explorer III
    Sep 22, 2015
    Have you checked the hitch itself. It's only rated at 10,000#. Make sure it's sound with no cracks in any of the welds. Is it a bolt on or welded?..just thinking out loud..then again, maybe your just too long. With the size of the coach AND the trailer, that's a lot of solid side for the wind to push....Dennis
  • Slojoe72's avatar
    Slojoe72
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2015
    new tires... Tire shop had them at 110. I tried there, and let down to 100 with no real change
  • Slojoe72's avatar
    Slojoe72
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2015
    When using the dually the front of trailer is lower the the rear, with motorhome the trailer is perfectly level front to rear.
  • Slojoe72's avatar
    Slojoe72
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2015
    I hook the trailer to the dually same load .... Tows fine.... 0 sway. Same trailer, load, position inside trailer everything same with no problems. Only difference with the dually is the tongue is a little lower due to the ride height diff of the 2 vehicles. I can't lower the hitch any more on the MH to match the dually.
  • Big_Katuna's avatar
    Big_Katuna
    Explorer II
    Sep 22, 2015
    So many variables. Trailer axle alignment. I think sway bars help a lot. Tire pressure. Is the trailer perfectly level. I agree with increasing the tongue weight but is it 10% of the towed weight?
  • creeper's avatar
    creeper
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2015
    At 78 feet you're illegal in all states, except south dakota. You're looking at some steep fines and towing fees. Might be just too long. You'll never remove all sway. It's just physics. But, start with rear track bar.
  • hanko's avatar
    hanko
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2015
    did you think of maybe towing the trailer empty and see how it goes? may be you just have a bad towing trailer.
  • Jamboree89's avatar
    Jamboree89
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2015
    My suggestion is to also replace the 10 bushings in the front suspension. Then weigh the rig with trailer and make sure you have enough weight on the front axle. I think the aftermarket sway bars would be a waste of money.

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