Shaking/Shuddering while towing trailer

zab wrote:
Hi, I have a 2012 Honda Odyssey. I have a Class 3 hitch installed, and am pulling a 2800 pound, 17' Viking trailer. I use a Weight Distributing Hitch with Sway Control (550 pound rated), and also have a Tranny cooler installed. I haven't driven it loaded yet, just me, but I'd like to add in my wife, kids and some luggage, while staying under the 3500 pound tow limit, if I can crack this problem:

When I am towing I feel like the van is shuddering (from front to back, or vice versa) any time I accelerate/brake, go over small bumps, at low speeds, moderate speeds or highway speeds (-55mph). It's a "chug-a-chug-a-chug-a" type of feeling, not high/fast vibrations. Everything is properly connected, as confirmed with the dealer. Most experienced towers tell me to check the sway control: I have tried more friction, less friction, etc, but it's still there. It is NOT a side to side motion. The electric brake controller is working and I feel like the brake controller is set to the right setting. If I turn the brakes up, it creates a noticeable shudder/shock, okay, that's too high. If I turn it down, I can feel the van doing all the braking and taking forever to stop. So I don't think it's the brakes, plus it's like I said, this happens when starting to accelerate or hitting bumps in the road as well.
It feels like the trailer is really pushing/pulling and turning my van into a bucking bronco.

I'm thinking it might be the WDH shifting too much weight forward? I have it set on the third link (which makes the bars parallel with the A-frame), but maybe I should try another link?

I've driven other vehicles before (dualie pickups) while towing heavy loads, and didn't experience anything like this...I'm not an expert, but a concerned amateur!

Thanks!

EDIT: one thing i forgot: the shudder happens with just the ball on the hitch, no WDH.

Is your trailer
THIS ONE?

If so you ARE OVERWEIGHT, period.

Per the specs in the link above..

Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 2818 / 1278.2

Hitch Weight (lbs/kgs) 406 / 184.2

GVWR (lbs/kgs) 3626 / 1644.8

Payload Capacity (lbs/kgs) 791 / 358.8

Your actual dry weights most likely are a bit more than the weight listed on the brochure.

Not to mention that is a single axle trailer which tends to ride a bit more ruff than a dual axle..

I HAVE been there MANY YEARS AGO when I was not as "wise", towed a single axle 4x8ft utility trailer with a car that had a 3500 lb towing rating.. Even thought the utility trailer weighed about 800 lbs empty it made the ride very harsh.. A lot of front to back "push" (this is not a side to side sway movement), kinda felt like the Jolly Green Giant was pushing the vehicle back and forth..

The "fix" for this feeling I found was when I bought my first TRUCK. When the trailer was hooked to the truck I got a real taste for how it SHOULD TOW.

Plain and simple, your trailer is too big and heavy for your vehicle.

I would recommend that you find someone with a 1/2 ton truck and take it for a tow.. I think you will agree very quickly that your vehicle is not the right one to tow your trailer.