Tongue Weight (getting sucked in by trucks)

You probably wouldn't have the swaying problem if you had a proper tow vehicle. You will soon find out that is does cost a tad bit more to go cheap.

PS-- Make sure your vehicle insurance is up to date with increased liability and medical.


The information is out there, all you have to do is let it in.

DirtyOil wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Sounds normal to me unless there's something I'm missing.
Assuming the trailer is small but you're pulling with a lightweight vehicle so expect to get tossed around by semis.
If it pulls fine otherwise, only real solution is a heavier tow vehicle IMO. Not suggesting you need one, rather only that mass and wheelbase are 2 large factors in how well a TV performs with respect to your issue.

X2 to a point... I've seen in heavy cross winds Semi's being "sucked" in (empty truck/trailer) being passed/over taken by other semi's. I've been "sucked" in as well, transporting various TTs. Doesn't matter the length or weight in heavy cross winds whether its a semi or a small SUV...its those crazy "vortexes" as mentioned. Its rare if not at all when hauling fifth wheels. Worse with those "ultra-light" TTs.

Have to agree with the above-mentioned posts. Even with my 1 ton and long trailer you will experience this to some degree, physics. Semi's have one heck of a bow wave of air that creates vortexes. As long as the truck and trailer move as one you do not have a problem. If it's just the trailer then you can work on a solution.

I had a Mazda Tribute (Escape clone) for a while and tried towing a small trailer with it. It did not do well. Side winds,trucks passing etc. all effected it. Not dangerously but it puled the Tribute around a little. Considering I had pulled the same trailer from Minnesota to Colorado and back twice with a Jeep Cherokee with no problems I was surprised by the way the Tribute was effected. Considering the Tribute and Jeep wheelbase were similar and on paper close to the same weight it seemed odd to me the difference in towing. Maybe difference in rear springs? Beyond towing the Tribute was a nice to drive SUV. Quick acceleration, Ok gas mileage, with a smoother and quieter ride than the Cherokee, but then what isn't smoother and quieter than a Cherokee. One simple thing to try to see if it is a trailer weight issue is empty your trailer, empty all waste and water tanks, etc. then take for a 30-40 mile round trip. Then fill it back up and take it over the same 30-40 mile route. If there is a noticeable change it may be a weight or balance issue. If there is no noticeable change then I would look at the Escape, tires, WDH adjustment. Look for the simple answer first.

I had all the sway bar stuff on mine too, I.E. Tahoe SUV, and it didn't make one dang diff with the short wheelbase. The tail will continue to wag the dog.

I met many seasoned RV'ers on the road while I tried towing with that car and many had had the 'same' experience with a short wheel based SUV and actually ended up buying/switched to a MH.

All said it got too tiresome being 'on' all the time trying to keep it straight with passing trucks or wind. Said it was too exhausting and negated the RV'ing experience with their family.

I was just glad to hear it was not just me or wrong equipment. I actually turned around on my trip when I hit windy conditions in Tulsa and just could not keep it on the road. Had I a had a proper truck it would not have been a problem. Retired the Tahoe to getting groceries, dropped the TT back at the dealership and bought a MH!

1964DeCamp wrote:
Where? I'm in Michigan, near Ann Arbor...

Cat Scale Locator

Enter your zip code.

My apologies, I have a friction sway control bar, that I have the friction set "rather loosely", and as for "pretty level" I meant the tow is pretty level, as far as sway was concerned.

as to your insight, RE: needing to learn a few things in regards to my self admission regarding my lack of knowledge: That's why I'm here.

Thanks for the reiteration.

1964DeCamp wrote:
All great advice! thanks! It is a smaller SUV, the wheel base is smaller, so that may be an issue. I also don't believe I've ever had the tires at max pressure, so that's another thing I will try...Usually with the WDH it is pretty level, It's just a white 'knuckler trying to keep it steady when being passed or passing large trucks. I wouldn't say "squirrly" per-say, just difficult to keep it straight. It doesn't sway too much, except when passing... as I do have a sway bar (but I set it rather loosely) I'm new to towing anything except a pop-up, and that towed effortlessly with our mini-van. That being said, any advice helps, and I won't take offense, because I don't have a clue :)

One thing we need to do is clear up a few misconceptions:

1. Any true sway is too much sway, period. It's highly unlikely that you have any true sway though, because you'd be here reporting your accident, in the hospital recovering from your injuries, or dead. Sway is the trailer wagging back and forth, getting worse and worse until you apply the trailer brakes manually, or the trailer yanks you off into the ditch.

2. You do not set a sway bar "rather loosely." Sway bars are either on or off.

3. "Pretty level" is not how you set a WDH. There is a good FAQ at the top of this forum on setting up a WDH properly. You are looking to return the front ride height to where it was when the trailer was unhitched. Level is not relevant here.

To me it really sounds like you just need to learn a few things. Right now as you admitted you don't have a clue, and just set things up so they looked right to you.

Hey bud, no harm in asking. It's how we all learn.
To summarize some of the above suggestions......
First make sure both vehicles are as "stiff" as possible. Max tire pressures and if you can find LT tires for the tow vehicle that will help with tires squirming around thus reducing the effect.
Proper tongue weight. You say it tows fine otherwise so I don't think you're grossly off here, but too little tongue weight is worse than too much, but either will contribute to increased sway.
Lastly if it's still not acceptable, additional rear suspension/sway bar on the rear of the tow vehicle.
Remember though, as you're admittedly inexperienced and towing with about the smallest rig you can get away with for your trailer, what you're feeling is possibly not going to get any better with your current setup.
Again, high profile trailers respond differently to the wind blast or vortex from the big rigs. I have a 32' enclosed trailer that I pull with my 2500 Dodge. It weighs less than half of what that truck is rated to tow, but I know that when I'm blowing by a semi in the left lane I need both hands on the wheel and have to do some active input to keep from getting tossed around some.

I'd agree on the tail wagging the dog especially on a short wheelbase SUV. I towed a Honda mini van on a uhaul car trailer once behind my 99 Tahoe. It did pretty well except for the fact that I was constantly correctingthe steering.this may have also been exagerated due to worn steering/suspension components, and the fact that I was at least 12-1500# over the gvwr.

You say you use a weight distribution hitch. Who adjusted it?

Read this;
Weight Distribution (WD) Hitch --- How it Works

Do this;
Travel Trailer Hitch Set-up Procedure