"The trailer started whipping..."
I saw the aftermath of this accident while driving out of the mountains near Pine Mountain Club, California. There were gouges in the pavement where the truck (It might have been a Chevy Avalanche)an...
Forum Discussion
Very interesting thread. Not that there is any shortage of opinion, but I'll add my thoughts:
- It really helps to have the trailer loaded properly (somewhat nose heavy) with a proper sized tow vehicle, properly inflated tires, etc.
- If (for whatever reason) the trailer starts to fishtail, the proper response is to immediately put on the trailer brakes and to go lightly (if at all) on the tow vehicle brakes. Even if one doesn't have lightning fast reflexes, this is a good paradigm to follow
FWIW, while I don't agree with the logic/reasoning, I would never use fricton sway control bars either. When towing a trailer, I used a Reese Dual Cam HP hitch. It not only distributed the weight, but it reduced/eliminated sway.
To me, the most telling advantage of the Reese hitch was that, when being passed by a semi or when being hit by a crosswind, it did not feel like the wind was pushing the truck and pushing the trailer: it felt like the wind was pushing a big, long, single 50' vehicle....and if I was to simply go with the flow, both my truck and trailer would move together as the wind pushed. Alternatively, if I used the steering wheel to maintain position, both truck and trailer maintained position in unison.
I'm sold on Reese Dual Cam HP and suspect that other WD/Anti-Sway hitches are just as good. I won't use friction anti-sway bars. I will jump on the trailer brakes if I start to lose control.
- It really helps to have the trailer loaded properly (somewhat nose heavy) with a proper sized tow vehicle, properly inflated tires, etc.
- If (for whatever reason) the trailer starts to fishtail, the proper response is to immediately put on the trailer brakes and to go lightly (if at all) on the tow vehicle brakes. Even if one doesn't have lightning fast reflexes, this is a good paradigm to follow
FWIW, while I don't agree with the logic/reasoning, I would never use fricton sway control bars either. When towing a trailer, I used a Reese Dual Cam HP hitch. It not only distributed the weight, but it reduced/eliminated sway.
To me, the most telling advantage of the Reese hitch was that, when being passed by a semi or when being hit by a crosswind, it did not feel like the wind was pushing the truck and pushing the trailer: it felt like the wind was pushing a big, long, single 50' vehicle....and if I was to simply go with the flow, both my truck and trailer would move together as the wind pushed. Alternatively, if I used the steering wheel to maintain position, both truck and trailer maintained position in unison.
I'm sold on Reese Dual Cam HP and suspect that other WD/Anti-Sway hitches are just as good. I won't use friction anti-sway bars. I will jump on the trailer brakes if I start to lose control.
