Stability, hitch and tongue weight....
Concerned over handling of my combo - but I'm inexperienced as to what "good" travel trailer towing should be like. Problem: Occasional small sway (measured in a couple of inches each way, but can ...
Forum Discussion
You shouldn't need an expensive Hensley or ProPride hitch. Although they are nice, they will only help to cover up an underlying problem. Those hitches may stop sway at the pivot point between the tv and tt but it will only transfer it to the next weakest point, the tires.
I use a Hensley hitch, which works great but I have on occasion still experienced some instability. My old tv was a Tundra which was maxed towing my current 34' 8k trailer. I had 33" AT load range C tires on the truck. The trailer is a bunkhouse with a big open room in the rear, great for storing stuff (aka weight). One trip I had loaded our bikes in the back room, a dining tent, bbq, 2 cases of water and 2 cases of pop. Once on the highway it didn't feel as stable as usual. Trailer wasn't swaying but the truck felt loose. I pulled over and moved the heavy tent, bbq, water, and pop (about 200lbs) to the front bedroom. This made a noticeable difference in towing.
Removing 200lbs from the rear and adding it to the front helped with the tt stability. It increased the tongue weight, even if only slightly, but also reduced the pendulum effect of the weight at the rear. I don't doubt that the tt would have been swaying without the Hensley but even with it the instability was felt through the soft C range tires.(were aired to max)
I use a Hensley hitch, which works great but I have on occasion still experienced some instability. My old tv was a Tundra which was maxed towing my current 34' 8k trailer. I had 33" AT load range C tires on the truck. The trailer is a bunkhouse with a big open room in the rear, great for storing stuff (aka weight). One trip I had loaded our bikes in the back room, a dining tent, bbq, 2 cases of water and 2 cases of pop. Once on the highway it didn't feel as stable as usual. Trailer wasn't swaying but the truck felt loose. I pulled over and moved the heavy tent, bbq, water, and pop (about 200lbs) to the front bedroom. This made a noticeable difference in towing.
Removing 200lbs from the rear and adding it to the front helped with the tt stability. It increased the tongue weight, even if only slightly, but also reduced the pendulum effect of the weight at the rear. I don't doubt that the tt would have been swaying without the Hensley but even with it the instability was felt through the soft C range tires.(were aired to max)
