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Flapper's avatar
Flapper
Explorer
May 19, 2017

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 be felt and visible in the mirrors), that goes away when I slightly reduce speed. Some "suck" by semi's passing. Wind gusts (15-25 mph) require constant two handed steering. 60 mph in the wind was top speed, before I started gripping the wheel harder, or backed off due to the rare small sway events.

Prior towing: 20ft boat, Jayco 30 ft. fifth. Both of which were solid when being towed.

Truck: F-150, SCrew, Eco, Max Tow, HD Payload, LT "E" tires.
Travel Trailer: Grand Design Imagine 2670MK, 32ft.
Hitch: Andersen "No Sway" WDH

Loaded trailer weights: 7,640, 805 tongue with 15 gal water. Tank is midway between tongue and TT wheels.
On return trip, I filled tank completely (30 gal more), so guessing TT was at 7,895 and 930 tongue. Only slightly better.

In the first instance, was able to crank the Andersen to a point where front fenders of truck were back to unloaded height. On second, was able to get them a bit over 50%, which is Ford spec for WDH.

By my math, was at 10.5% tongue originally, increased to 11.8% the second time. Not much to do to further increase the %, unless I start shopping for several big batteries.

With a payload of 2,166, and GVW of 8,200, the truck is better than some F-250's, and already has a pretty good wheelbase - so not thinking it is a truck problem.

So, opinions please - ditch the hitch, and get a ProPride? Buy more batteries for tongue weight? Both? Or suck it up and accept that this is why people say 5th's tow better than TT's?

40 Replies

  • Flapper wrote:
    Snip...

    ProPride/Hensley users - is the hitch a solution for this situation, where the trailer is a bit light on the tongue?

    Although you should not use a hitch like the Hensley to correct an unsafe condition, the answer is Yes, it would solve the swaying issues you are having.
    Barney
  • Picture a travel trailer with the wheels at the very rear of the trailer and the load just in front of the axles. That would be ideal and would induce no sway. Try to get as close to that as possible. Even with proper tongue weight, a long heavy overhand out back will try to induce sway. Wife gets what she wants but I draw the line at a rear kitchen anymore. Our rear kitchen 32' 5th wheel used to sway. Could barely feel it in the truck but I could see it in the mirrors. Groceries and kitchen stuff add up real quick. With our 32.5' TT, she can load all she wants into it as long as it's in front of the axles. If your trailer were mine, I'd increase tongue weight by reducing weight aft of the axles. Just my preference but I would employ a Reese HP Dual Cam as well.
  • You can't expect a half tongue truck to tow amazing over 7k lbs. Some will but most won't. I'm not saying it won't safely tow that amount, just that you are going to feel it more than a bigger truck. That being said some tongue weight would help a noticeable amount.
  • Flapper wrote:
    Well, I'm leaning toward the problem being still too light on the tongue. Of our stuff, 360 lbs is in the trailer, and 415 is in the front pass through or on the very front (battery, propane), so not much to move around. With the Andersen tightened as much as I can get it, fender rise is still within Ford spec (they don't mention actual measured weight transfer), with full water. but, any more weight added and for sure the Andersen will not be able to transfer.

    ProPride/Hensley users - is the hitch a solution for this situation, where the trailer is a bit light on the tongue?


    Jealous of your substantial payload. Maybe find a scale here: http://www.publicscaleslocator.com

    Yep, they're scarce in rural MN.

    I actually restored 72% of the weight lifted from the front. Even with P-metric tires, the only time I get a noticeable oscillation is when a big truck passes. Even then, it's only one wiggle. Taking it across the scales is an eye opener. I just have the cheap, simple EAZ Lift Elite WDH.

  • Well, I'm leaning toward the problem being still too light on the tongue. Of our stuff, 360 lbs is in the trailer, and 415 is in the front pass through or on the very front (battery, propane), so not much to move around. With the Andersen tightened as much as I can get it, fender rise is still within Ford spec (they don't mention actual measured weight transfer), with full water. but, any more weight added and for sure the Andersen will not be able to transfer.

    ProPride/Hensley users - is the hitch a solution for this situation, where the trailer is a bit light on the tongue?
  • Your numbers show you are a bit light on tongue weight. The Anderson hitches are known to have difficulty transferring heavier tongue weights as well. Half full water tanks can slosh around and cause some sway feeling too. You may want to redistribute the weight in the tt, keep the tanks full and try a different hitch.
  • Just replaced the OEM Goodrich tires (worn out) with Michelin Defender LTX's. Running 55 lb front, 60 back.
    OEM Westlake tires on the trailer - running 80 lbs.

    Nearest scale is a long ways away, so I literally weighed everything added to the camper, including full propane and battery. Total "stuff" came in at 775 lbs +/- 20. Added that to the "as shipped" weight, plus the 15 gal of water I added. Used the beam and scale method for finding the 805 tongue weight from that base. Estimated the higher tongue weight, because the water tank is at halfway between tongue and trailer wheels, so assumed half the weight of the 30 gal added water went on the tongue.
  • Flapper wrote:


    Truck: F-150, SCrew, Eco, Max Tow, HD Payload, LT "E" tires.
    Travel Trailer: Grand Design Imagine 2670MK, 32ft.
    Hitch: Andersen "No Sway" WDH


    So, opinions please - ditch the hitch, and get a ProPride? Buy more batteries for tongue weight? Both? Or suck it up and accept that this is why people say 5th's tow better than TT's?


    Hi,

    I looked up your camper. Nice camper! https://www.granddesignrv.com/showroom/2018/travel-trailer/imagine/floorplans/2670mk

    I also notice GD starts with a dry tongue weight in the 9.7% area. The rear kitchen can be heavy and that is only offset by weight up front.

    Your loaded TW's in the 10.5% and 11.8% are lower then ideal in a TT setting, but I do not think that is all of your issue. Are those GVW weights and TW's from actual scale tickets or estimates?

    Please tell us what brand/type of truck tires you have and what pressure you run the front and rear tires at when towing. I see you have listed load range E, but need more info. And tell us what tire pressure the camper is running at too. (and what is the max cold side wall pressure on the camper tires)

    I do not want to point at your WD hitch just yet as tires can make or break a tow rig regardless of the style of friction based WD hitch. Even the Reese DC can have issue with tires.

    What you are describing is not normal in my opinion and points to something that needs to be found and corrected.

    Good for you trying to sort this out.

    Hope this helps

    John
  • What tires and at what pressure? If OEM'S you might want to look at 'E's and run at max pressure.

    Most people forget that sidewalls flex and allow the truck to "wiggle".
  • I was in the same boat as you. If you can't upgrade the truck go with the pro pride. I think they still have a money back guarantee. The hitch really is as good as people say. I upgraded to a 2500 last year and still use it and they setup tows well.