Forum Discussion

Awaldow's avatar
Awaldow
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015

Trailer Sway on Eclipse Evolution 25ft

Hi everyone. I've been dealing with my trailer swaying since taking it off the lot new. I have a 2013 eclipse evolution bunkhouse trailer 25 footer. I had the dealer set me up with a load transfer hitch and friction sway device. I started towing it with a 2010 F150 extended cab truck. It swayed uncontrollably day one driving off the lot. I took it back to the dealer multiple times for the sway issue and they finally said it was my truck. I then bought a new truck/suv (2008 Yukon Denali SLT). The swaying continued and I took it to a different dealer and they took a shot at setting-up the trailer and hitch height. Drove away and it still swayed uncontrollably at speeds above 45 mph. Finally took it back to the original dealer and said "fix it!" They have had it over a month now and said "yes. We towed it with our truck and something is definitely wrong". They contacted eclipse and the dealer said they put undersized drop brackets and suspension on it. The dealer is waiting for eclipse to send the new brackets so they can cut off the old and weld on the new. Whew! My question for the forum is; how safe will my trailer be now that it's been hacked-up and welded on? Why was there no recall? Should I get my lawyer involved since I feel the trailer has significantly lost it's value?

10 Replies

  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Oct 12, 2015
    They weighed the tongue and axles... What were the weights?
  • Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
    Turtle_n_Peeps
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2015
    RinconVTR wrote:
    Frankly, I'm confused. So the drop brackets were wrong and they want to offer you new ones. So what. That has nothing to do with your sway problem, and its the sway we need more detail about.

    If actual trailer sway is happening at 45mph, you have serious...SERIOUS issues. And the number one thing to do is know your weights.

    What is the actual trailer weight and tongue weight?

    What type of WDH are you using? Is it set up per the manual?


    ^^^^^ This.

    Brackets have nothing to do with sway. NOTHING! If they weld them in the same place you will have the same problem.

    If they weld them a few inches back it "may" stop the sway depending on the weights and balances of the trailer. I think this is what they may do. If so, your wheels will not be centered in your wheel wells anymore. But this is about the only thing you can do with a poorly designed trailer.

    Frankly, IMHO, this shop has no idea of what they are doing.
  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    Wonder if the new shackles will also have the leading leaf spring eye lower than
    the trailing leaf eye?

    Designed a series of trailers for the Navy back in the late 60's while still in
    college working part time

    First tow with a borrowed dump truck...the trailer swayed badly. Even though the
    tongue was hinged and bore no weight on the dump trucks pintle and the axles
    were at the front and rear of the 20ft or so trailer length

    Called the axle supplier and the engineer talked to got a little irritated with
    me, as I was NOT getting it...then he said..."kid you know what caster is?"...sure..."Well
    it like that for a trailer axle"

    The only change we made was grinding off the rear shackles and lowered the front
    eye about 2 inches lower than the trailing leaf eye...and...no more sway...

    Why I always setup my trailers with the tongue slightly pointing down...
  • Awaldow's avatar
    Awaldow
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    Thank you everyone for the feedback. Lots for me to ask the dealer about. Will post more when I get answers. Thank you all.
  • drcook's avatar
    drcook
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    Should I get my lawyer involved since I feel the trailer has significantly lost it's value?


    You might want to talk to him/her. They might negotiate a better resolution than having new suspension pieces welded on. Without the correct jigs and fixtures, you are dependent on the skill of the person(s) doing the welding to get everything lined up and positioned correctly so that the trailer's suspension will be in line.

    A good welder can do the job as good as the factory, but the key is a "good welder", not some underpaid hack who works at the dealership and says he can weld. It would have to be a certified welder doing the job to make sure they don't burn the frame, get brittle welds, get adequate penetration, etc etc.

    Just my opinion as this sounds like a serious issue.
  • mowermech's avatar
    mowermech
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    You got rid of a heavy-half ton truck and got a baby Suburban half ton SUV?
    I bet it has P rated tire on it, too.
    No wonder nothing improved, IMO.
    I believe you should have a 3/4 ton truck with LT tires for that trailer (or any trailer over 19 feet long).
    If the suspension was assembled wrong, and the new parts are installed by a competent person, there should be no lessening of value.
    Hopefully, it will solve your problems.
    good luck.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Oct 10, 2015
    Sway is lack of enough tongue weight and 45 is the magic speed when it starts. Doubt the dealer's truck was a F150 so it's the trailer. What was the tongue weight? Putting new brackets on is not going to hurt the frame but doubt it will help. When it still does it, add 250 lbs of stuff to the front... Problem solved.

    *Before putting the new brackets on you need to have the weights and post them here. Moving the brackets/axles back several inches would help solve the problem.
  • RinconVTR's avatar
    RinconVTR
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    Frankly, I'm confused. So the drop brackets were wrong and they want to offer you new ones. So what. That has nothing to do with your sway problem, and its the sway we need more detail about.

    If actual trailer sway is happening at 45mph, you have serious...SERIOUS issues. And the number one thing to do is know your weights.

    What is the actual trailer weight and tongue weight?

    What type of WDH are you using? Is it set up per the manual?
  • Awaldow's avatar
    Awaldow
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    Thank you for the response. Both dealers did weigh it under the wheels and tounge. They then set it up. My family loves the trailer but towing it anywhere has always been a nightmare. Just wondering if the dang thing will be safe after they cut and weld on it.
  • Tachdriver's avatar
    Tachdriver
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    Do a search on this forum on the word "SWAY" there is a lot of good information.

    First off you need to make sure you are not tail heavy. 13% or so of your weight should be on the tongue. Have your rig weighed with the weight distribution hitch connected and disconnected. Too much weight on the rear will be the main cause of sway.

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