Need advice on toy hauler swaying on freeway

Jerrybo66 wrote:
Pulling it with your Dad's 3/4 ton with no problem has to be your first clue. You can't expect a japaneese shopping cart to do the job of a truck... IMO..

I could not have put that better.

But my guess is the weight distribution hitch might be set a little to tight.

I was going to say put more weight forward, it usually helps with sway issues. Putting the harley behind the rear axle will certainally make it totally unstable, if it was difficult before, might even be a challenge for the 3/4 ton Dodge.

The recomendation is to have at least 10% and more like 12% or 15% on the hitch to make it settle down and tow right. So with a 4,000 pound trailer, at least 400 pounds on the hitch, 600 would be much better. The factory seems to have set it up right - in the brochure. But a trip to the scales might find that the brochure is way off. Take it across the scales the first time with the WD bars hooked up, then with them off, get the weight again. Unhitch, and check the truck weight by itself. (don't unhitch on the scale, unless you are using a private scale and work for the company that owns it, you will get in huge trouble making any adjustments on a CAT scale, it messes with the calibration. )

By taking the truck weight without the trailer and subtract from the total weight of both truck and trailer, you can get the trailer weight.

Without the WD bars connected, you can tell how much the trailer hitch weight is by subtracting the unloaded truck weight from the loaded truck weight.

With the WD bars attached, the trailer axle weight will be slightly higher, say 75 to 150 pounds. Also the front axle will be higher - again by about 75 to 150 pounds because the weight distribution bars are distributing the weight from the rear axle to the front tires and trailer tires. There is a extensive post on this subject, look for the sticky at the top of the travel trailer page, on how a weight distribution system works.

If the bars are set to tight, then perhaps over 150 pounds is being moved to each axle, and the truck is acting like a spring is in the middle, and loosen it by one chain notch, it will act much better.

Did they give you a hint on how best to hitch up - that is raise the jack up really high, and then it is easier to attach the bars, and they are much less likely to spring out of your hands when unhitching?

I hope you get it figured out.

THe Harley needs to be at least over the rear axle, but at least keep as much weight forward as possible. At this point, filling the fresh water tank if it is forward of the axle is advisable, drain it if behind the axle. You might also want to consider filling the gas tank (if it has one ) if it is forward of the axles, just to put more weight up there. Or install a 50 pound toolbox, and see if it is hitch light, and will be more stable with more weight forward.

Stop by the Dodge dealer for a larger truck would not be a bad idea either.

Fred.