I have a 2011 F150 3.73 5.0L. Last year I replaced my Ez-Lift hitch with a Equalizer 4pt. This upgrade made a world of difference in the handling of my rig. Pulled with this setup all last season about 5000 miles, the trailer never swayed not even once.This past weekend we went on our first trip of this season. I noticed the trailer was not as stable as I remembered from last season. I also notice the rear of the truck was sagging a more than last year. Also had a crosswind on the way home, and the trailer swayed horriblyNothing has changed on the truck or trailer within the past year.Anyone experience anything like this? Is this typical on a new vehicle as it gets "broken in". Does the hitch need to be readjusted from time to time as the vehicle gets older?

Shouldn't need much adjusting unless you changed something. Did you put any more weight in the tt or move it around? Water in the tanks? Weight changes or the position of the weight will make a difference but otherwise you shouldn't need to adjust the hitch if it was set good before. The truck sagging more makes it sound like the tongue weight has increased. If this is the case you would then need to adjust the hitch or move the weight.

The only thing that has changed, would be the kids weigh a few extra pounds. This was a local weekend trip and was not fully loaded.Also, I know to use the the tongue jack to lift the rear of the truck to assist in putting on the bars, but does the amount of lift have anything to do with the WD? I also understood the lifting of the truck was to assist in installing the bars.

Perhaps you got some grease or something on the bars or the a-frame brackets. I could see that taking away some of the friction.

Tire pressure! Did you check the truck and trailer tire pressure? Can make a huge difference

What about the bolt under the hitch head that snugs it up. Maybe loose and the head tilts down when you add the bars?Or the bolts that need to be torqued to rotate the bars into position. I check those every trip as they become loose too.

Confused | Good Sam Community

jiveturkey69200
Explorer
Mar 12, 2013
Have you put different tires on your truck? Different tires can act different.
mpfireman
Explorer
Mar 12, 2013
Usually trailer sway is a direct result of to little weight on the hitch. Loading trailers with to much weight to the rear might be one of your problems, along with not setting the hitch bars correctly.
lbrjet
Explorer
Mar 12, 2013
bdhoun wrote:
What about the bolt under the hitch head that snugs it up. Maybe loose and the head tilts down when you add the bars?
Or the bolts that need to be torqued to rotate the bars into position. I check those every trip as they become loose too.

x2 Read the manual. You are supposed to check that little bolt every time you tow. You should also check the socket bolts every other trip or so as well as your link plates now and then. The sockets provide most of the sway control so keep them torqued to spec.

I would also check the tire pressure on the truck and trailer.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Mar 12, 2013
The amount of lift has EVERYTHING to do with the weight distribution. More lift generally equates to more pressure on the bars. More pressure is more weight distribution and more sway control.

There is such a thing as too much lift, and you end up bending the bars or something on the truck or trailer.

Did you find that putting the bars on was any easier or more difficult than it was last year?

The truck sagging more indicates more weight or less weight distribution. If you didn't inadvertently add a bunch of weight, and you can verify that, then your WD hitch is out of adjustment.

You probably justforgot how it went together over the winter, and are off by a hole or link or whatever somewhere.
bdhoun
Explorer
Mar 12, 2013
What about the bolt under the hitch head that snugs it up. Maybe loose and the head tilts down when you add the bars?
Or the bolts that need to be torqued to rotate the bars into position. I check those every trip as they become loose too.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Mar 12, 2013
Tire pressure! Did you check the truck and trailer tire pressure? Can make a huge difference
Brisk
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2013
Perhaps you got some grease or something on the bars or the a-frame brackets. I could see that taking away some of the friction.
BayouBoys
Explorer
Mar 12, 2013
The only thing that has changed, would be the kids weigh a few extra pounds. This was a local weekend trip and was not fully loaded.

Also, I know to use the the tongue jack to lift the rear of the truck to assist in putting on the bars, but does the amount of lift have anything to do with the WD? I also understood the lifting of the truck was to assist in installing the bars.
camp-n-family
Explorer
Mar 12, 2013
Shouldn't need much adjusting unless you changed something. Did you put any more weight in the tt or move it around? Water in the tanks? Weight changes or the position of the weight will make a difference but otherwise you shouldn't need to adjust the hitch if it was set good before. The truck sagging more makes it sound like the tongue weight has increased. If this is the case you would then need to adjust the hitch or move the weight.

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