Sway Control That Allows Reverse for Pop-Up?
Hi! We just bought a 2012 Flagstaff 246D pop-up (with slide), to pull behind our 2015 Toyota Highlander. Well within weight limits, etc. However, in bringing it home, it does begin to sway when I g...
Forum Discussion
I'm overwhelmed by the great response to my question -- thanks to all of you!!
To address some of the points that have been raised:
01. I am NEW to all of this. This is my first camper. It is a high-end pop-up (http://www.forestriverinc.com/popupcampers/flagstafftent/default.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=94) with kitchen, cooktop, refrig, sink, toilet, heat & AC, slide-out, etc. I've never towed anything more than our utility trailer, so am neither experienced at this nor all too comfortable. We have a new brake control system installed (I'm not sure how to set that yet, either, as it wasn't in place when I towed it home, but I do have a manual!).
02. Some of you have suggested weighing the entire trailer, then weighing it at the ball. Where/how do I do that?
03. I'm not even sure at what height the ball should be relative to the ground. On the current ball, the trailer "looks" like it is a bit low at the hitch.
04. TerryAllan asked if the tongue weight is under/over 500lbs. If that is the same as "hitch weight", the specs say that the dry hitch weight is 249lbs. Is that what you wanted to know?
05. TerryAllen also suggested that I need to get it to not sway at all under "normal driving" (before adding anything). The sway I had driving it home was on a highway, no one passing me, as I hit about 62mph -- that is the first point at which I could tell I was pulling something -- just a gentle side-to-side. It's not clear to me how I fix this without adding something -- is there a guide online to the things to check?
06. A couple of you suggested the "Anderson No-Sway Weight-Distributing Hitch", and one suggested the "Equal-i-zer". If I missed any others, I'll re-check. But, it sounds as if I need to figure out how to check other things *first* (e.g. tongue/ball weight).
Thanks again to everyone for their time assisting a newbe ... perhaps I'll see you somewhere at a camp site!
Craig
To address some of the points that have been raised:
01. I am NEW to all of this. This is my first camper. It is a high-end pop-up (http://www.forestriverinc.com/popupcampers/flagstafftent/default.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=94) with kitchen, cooktop, refrig, sink, toilet, heat & AC, slide-out, etc. I've never towed anything more than our utility trailer, so am neither experienced at this nor all too comfortable. We have a new brake control system installed (I'm not sure how to set that yet, either, as it wasn't in place when I towed it home, but I do have a manual!).
02. Some of you have suggested weighing the entire trailer, then weighing it at the ball. Where/how do I do that?
03. I'm not even sure at what height the ball should be relative to the ground. On the current ball, the trailer "looks" like it is a bit low at the hitch.
04. TerryAllan asked if the tongue weight is under/over 500lbs. If that is the same as "hitch weight", the specs say that the dry hitch weight is 249lbs. Is that what you wanted to know?
05. TerryAllen also suggested that I need to get it to not sway at all under "normal driving" (before adding anything). The sway I had driving it home was on a highway, no one passing me, as I hit about 62mph -- that is the first point at which I could tell I was pulling something -- just a gentle side-to-side. It's not clear to me how I fix this without adding something -- is there a guide online to the things to check?
06. A couple of you suggested the "Anderson No-Sway Weight-Distributing Hitch", and one suggested the "Equal-i-zer". If I missed any others, I'll re-check. But, it sounds as if I need to figure out how to check other things *first* (e.g. tongue/ball weight).
Thanks again to everyone for their time assisting a newbe ... perhaps I'll see you somewhere at a camp site!
Craig
