Question for you engineers and/or physics minded persons. Can a higher receiver position cause unwanted sway issues. Just got a 2013 Suburban 1500 with 8100lb tow package and I now have sway issues. Previous TVs include 04 Tahoe & 05 Suburban 1500 (26' TT, 6000lbs fully loaded) I did not have sway issues with 2 prior TVs. Setup has been the same with all 3 TVs. Been to the scales and all is well with about 11% tongue weight now. Only difference I can come up with is the factory receiver on the 2013 Burb is mounted on the end of the frame. Hence, about 7-8 inches higher than the others. I had to get an extended drop for my Equalizer to keep the trailer level. Just wondering if the leverage from that height could possibly contribute to sway issues? Wind and passing trucks are the primary problem.

Yes, it can. You want the attitude of the trailer level or slightly nose low.Mine was ever so slightly nose high and I could induce a bit of sway at high speed.

I'm going to follow this as well as I am a little worried about that generation as a towing platform.I had a 2003 2500 Burb that I used to tow my 6500 pound boat. It had a little bit of trailer sway, but it wasn't terrible. I now have a 2011 Yukon Denali XL, and in my opinion, it is a very inadequate tow vehicle for my boat.I have tried going from a 2" drop to a 6" drop, and I my situation is not very much improved. From other reports, I think that there is a possibility that the OEM tires are possibly too stiff, but I am not yet willing to spend the $$$ on changing tires when I am not convinced that will solve the problem.

ScottG wrote:Yes, it can. You want the attitude of the trailer level or slightly nose low.Mine was ever so slightly nose high and I could induce a bit of sway at high speed.OP was talking about the receiver itself, not the hitch. He's using a larger drop drawbar to compensate.If the ball is at the same height as before, there should be no difference. The force effectively acts at the same point against the tow vehicle.There's something else causing your issues.

wnjj wrote:ScottG wrote:Yes, it can. You want the attitude of the trailer level or slightly nose low.Mine was ever so slightly nose high and I could induce a bit of sway at high speed.OP was talking about the receiver itself, not the hitch. He's using a larger drop drawbar to compensate.If the ball is at the same height as before, there should be no difference. The force effectively acts at the same point against the tow vehicle.There's something else causing your issues.x2. Sounds like ball height is the same (or close to the same), since you mention needing a hitch with more drop.

trail-explorer wrote:wnjj wrote:ScottG wrote:Yes, it can. You want the attitude of the trailer level or slightly nose low.Mine was ever so slightly nose high and I could induce a bit of sway at high speed.OP was talking about the receiver itself, not the hitch. He's using a larger drop drawbar to compensate.If the ball is at the same height as before, there should be no difference. The force effectively acts at the same point against the tow vehicle.There's something else causing your issues.x2. Sounds like ball height is the same (or close to the same), since you mention needing a hitch with more drop.X 3I would be looking at that slightly low 11 percent tongue weight as a possible culprit.

Can a higher receiver cause sway? | Good Sam Community

Wishin
Explorer
Sep 11, 2016
Here is another thread where someone upgraded the hitch on a newer Suburban, not quite bolt on, but didn't look like too terrible of a job. He went the extra mile and had extra steel plates welded in due to his trailer having a higher tongue weight.

RV.net thread showing upgrade of hitch on 2013 2500 Suburban.
L_and_J__Waters
Explorer
Sep 04, 2016
Thanks for the info on the newer designed Suburban. Although I am not pleased, it may just be the nature of the vehicle. If I get a chance I may bolt-on another hitch to the frame as a test. At least that may answer the question of "why the sway" with this vehicle. The TT is only 6000lbs fully loaded. Been to the scales and all weights are well within the limits. Thanks.
BenK
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
Could also be that the previous owner over loaded the receiver, as it
is limited to 1,000 lbs because it is integrated into the bumper (more
so than the GMT800)

Therefore it now has crash crumple zone duties in addition to towing

They had to design in stress raisers for that section of the frame to
crumple during a crash to the rear end

Even at a Maximum 1,000 lb rating...think, IMHO, that it will NOT last
as long as any traditional design receiver

Here is the link to one of the original threads ID'ing this and the picture
just made showing where and how it is a crumple zone and stress raiser

SuburbanReceiver GMT900SuburbanReceiver GMT900SubReceiver

GMT900 Suburban Receiver Stress Raiser
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
From what I have found, it is very difficult (or possibly impossible) to upgrade the oem hitch on a post 2007 Suburban.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
If the factory receiver hitch is flexing, that could be a problem. A flexy receiver, together with a long drop ball mount and a heavy tongue weight could do some weird things with the weight distribution, as the hitch head tilts back and forth with the flexing of the hitch, changing the spring bar tension.

On the tires, you could start out by changing only the rear tires first. The rears are what's taking most of the weight.
L_and_J__Waters
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
Thanks for the clarification on the "P" tires. That's what I suspected. Not so sure tires are in the budget right now. Just recently put the Bilsteins on and that seemed to help some. No long trips planned anytime soon. It seems as though it's going to be a combination of things. Obviously a 3/4 ton would have solved everything, but DW wanted a Suburban and I couldn't find a low mileage 3/4 ton. I'll continue to work on the individual components and reach satisfaction at some point. I have located a bolt-on hitch from an 04 that seems like it will bolt on to the frame. I may try it, just to see. The factory receiver "cross-member" is made lighter material than a regular hitch. I would not expect that to be a problem, but I'm looking for something that is different from the other 2 vehicles.
BenK
Explorer
Sep 01, 2016
Also...how that trailer behaves has to do with what the attributes are of each
TV that has towed it well...

Again, it is a system(s) and all components/sub-systems matter/play-or-not

Too many just take a single component/sub-system as if it applies to everything...it
depends...
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
Yet, he towed fine with two other vehicles with 11 percent tongue weight.

One other factor not yet considered is TIRES. The new tow vehicle has different tires from the previous tow vehicle, with more flexible sidewalls, and they may not be well suited to towing.

OK, but what was OK with the other 2 trucks may not work with the new one!

Yes, because something's different on the TRUCK, not the trailer!

Sorry, I meant to quote the OP not you. We both are saying basically the same thing! :)
mkirsch
Nomad II
Sep 01, 2016
dodge guy wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
Yet, he towed fine with two other vehicles with 11 percent tongue weight.

One other factor not yet considered is TIRES. The new tow vehicle has different tires from the previous tow vehicle, with more flexible sidewalls, and they may not be well suited to towing.

OK, but what was OK with the other 2 trucks may not work with the new one!

Yes, because something's different on the TRUCK, not the trailer!
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
Yet, he towed fine with two other vehicles with 11 percent tongue weight.

One other factor not yet considered is TIRES. The new tow vehicle has different tires from the previous tow vehicle, with more flexible sidewalls, and they may not be well suited to towing.

OK, but what was OK with the other 2 trucks may not work with the new one!