Sway Control - Who Saved the Day?

4bamayoungs wrote:
Hello, folks. Been an RV'er for a little over two years, and had an experience about seven months ago that prompted me to join this forum just to get your thoughts on it. I grew up towing EVERYTHING on farms and spent a career in the military driving heavy equipment, so when it came time for a new family adventure I salivated at the thought of cruising around the country towing a small house! I needed something that would pull the TT well, but also have room for two teenagers and a set of 2 year-old twins. After much research I outfitted the crew with a 2012 Suburban with full towing package, a Tekonsha P2 brake controller, and a 32' Coachmen Freedom Express. Two years down the road and I love, love, love all three. I am pretty good at operating this size rig, but like any bonehead that has developed a level of skill I got a little over-confident on a long trip, and we set out with full water tanks a little heavier than normal. We were going to boondock at a Wal-Mart the first night, and I wanted a shower the next morning. (Stupid. Now I know.) About 20 miles down the road, I had to move left in the lane to avoid a recap in the road and it started a sway that despite all my concentration kept amplifying and within a few seconds it became obvious that I was in trouble. The sway got worse and worse until it was more like a whiplash effect and I was already starting to decide which side of the interstate I wanted to go off. Suddenly there was a loud groaning noise and the trailer snatched the Suburban back straight. The noise went away and I was driving serenely along my merry way again. After the shakes went away and I finished my thanksgiving prayers, I evaluated all the sensations I felt and it was pretty obvious that the trailer brakes had activated to stop the sway. After some limited research however, I have not been able to figure out if this was a safety feature of the brake controller or the Suburban. Can anyone shed a little light for me?

I had a similar incident on the Florida Turnpike enroute to Fort Wilderness 2 years ago. For me, it was the carcass of a blown truck tire that rolled into my lane. Without warning and at 65 mph, I instinctively swerved left as I was already in the right lane and the shredded tire was moving towards the right shoulder. This avoidance maneuver set me up for a another obstacle in the left lane, a passenger car. I corrected immediately (for obvious reasons) all the while my 35 foot travel trailer followed behind my truck as if it was riding on the same rails. Not a foot on either pedal or a hand on the brake controller. Divine intervention, maybe. Hensley Arrow, most definitely.

Sway is one of the leading factors into why RVers move away from travel trailers. With sway "elimination" hitches, trips are safer and the drive is completely relaxed. One can only really appreciate the value of a Hensley or PP if they've used one before. I say my prayers before each trip for the safety of my family and for the investment in my Hensley. Amazing engineering.