On our recent trip, I stayed at 65 mph or less and drove very defensively. However, about a handful of times, I had to make a quick steer to one side or the other (something in the road or somebody who doesn't understand how to "merge").When I do this, I noticed the popup skipping around for a bit afterward. Depending on the severity of the steer, it might take it 3-10 seconds to stop skipping from side to side, get back on track, and settle down. I had new tires, but figured this couldn't be good for them. I really watched and tried to avoid this phenomenon, but sometimes it was unavoidable.My questions are:- Do you experience this?- Does it concern you?- Is this more because I have a single axle trailer?- Is this more because I have such a heavy TV compared to the weight of the trailer?Anyway, we see lots of threads on this forum about sway. . . when the tail wags the dog. I thought I'd start a conversation about when the dog wags the tail a little too enthusiastically.

I find it hard to believe you are experiencing anything to be concerned about behind that beast of a TV. I have had to do the same thing with my extremely smaller Rav4 and have never felt any wag whatsoever.

Single axle might be part of the problem. Traveling at 65 mph might be a factor as well.Do you have an Anti-Sway Bar? This might help keep the sway away & help bring it back under control. I you have one, perhaps tighten down a little more might also help. Having a heavy TV compared to the trailer, shouldn't be a cause & should keep the tail from wagging the dog. If you have breaks on the trailer, one can use them to manually apply them to the trailer (without breaking the tow) which should help strengthen the trailer. Make sure you do not have much weight in the rear of the trailer. This makes them easy to sway. At least the above things have work for or against me towing the Scamp.

If you don't have a sway bar, I'd get one.

No sway control. When I bought the popup from my in-laws, they had a friction type Reese sway system that doubled as a minimum weight distribution setup, but the bars were too light for my van and I didn't need the WD. I lost one of the bars in a corner near the house and decided to just go with a 2" ball.FWIW, the hopping trailer (the few times it happened) had ZERO effect on the van. I couldn't even feel it. I only know it happened because I saw it in the mirrors.65 mph is the max rating for the tires. . . I was on a lot of US Highways and a few Interstates with speed limits from 75-80 mps but stayed at 63-65. Going slower doesn't seem safe or likely to happen on those roads.The trailer is balanced, but it's not very heavy. I can pick up the tongue by myself. The majority of weight sits forward of the axle, as the fridge, our ice chest, the water heater, and a 2'x8' toolbox are all towards the front.

DesertHawk wrote:If you have breaks on the trailer, one can use them to manually apply them to the trailer (without breaking the tow) which should help strengthen the trailer.I do. Great tip!bradnailer wrote:If you don't have a sway bar, I'd get one.Interesting. . . for whatever reason, I've always only viewed sway control as a way to keep the TT in line so that it won't push around the TV. Never even considered it when the TV wasn't being impacted.Is it possible add to add the sway knobs to a simple 3 1/4" drop Reese platform with standard 2" ball? I just bought this hitch. lol

Wagging the tail | Good Sam Community

popupcamping
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
I find it hard to believe you are experiencing anything to be concerned about behind that beast of a TV. I have had to do the same thing with my extremely smaller Rav4 and have never felt any wag whatsoever.
DesertHawk
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
Single axle might be part of the problem.

Traveling at 65 mph might be a factor as well.

Do you have an Anti-Sway Bar? This might help keep the sway away & help bring it back under control. I you have one, perhaps tighten down a little more might also help.

Having a heavy TV compared to the trailer, shouldn't be a cause & should keep the tail from wagging the dog.

If you have breaks on the trailer, one can use them to manually apply them to the trailer (without breaking the tow) which should help strengthen the trailer.

Make sure you do not have much weight in the rear of the trailer. This makes them easy to sway.

At least the above things have work for or against me towing the Scamp.
bradnailer
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
If you don't have a sway bar, I'd get one.
fickman
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
No sway control. When I bought the popup from my in-laws, they had a friction type Reese sway system that doubled as a minimum weight distribution setup, but the bars were too light for my van and I didn't need the WD. I lost one of the bars in a corner near the house and decided to just go with a 2" ball.

FWIW, the hopping trailer (the few times it happened) had ZERO effect on the van. I couldn't even feel it. I only know it happened because I saw it in the mirrors.

65 mph is the max rating for the tires. . . I was on a lot of US Highways and a few Interstates with speed limits from 75-80 mps but stayed at 63-65. Going slower doesn't seem safe or likely to happen on those roads.

The trailer is balanced, but it's not very heavy. I can pick up the tongue by myself. The majority of weight sits forward of the axle, as the fridge, our ice chest, the water heater, and a 2'x8' toolbox are all towards the front.
fickman
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
DesertHawk wrote:
If you have breaks on the trailer, one can use them to manually apply them to the trailer (without breaking the tow) which should help strengthen the trailer.

I do. Great tip!

bradnailer wrote:
If you don't have a sway bar, I'd get one.

Interesting. . . for whatever reason, I've always only viewed sway control as a way to keep the TT in line so that it won't push around the TV. Never even considered it when the TV wasn't being impacted.

Is it possible add to add the sway knobs to a simple 3 1/4" drop Reese platform with standard 2" ball? I just bought this hitch. lol
DesertHawk
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
Is it possible add to add the sway knobs to a simple 3 1/4" drop Reese platform with standard 2" ball? I just bought this hitch. lol

Yes, I had one welded to one a few yrs. ago.

I can understand the 65 speed.
fickman
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
If you're curious, here's the hitch setup my FIL was using with this trailer and his Hyundai Santa Fe. It was just too light for the van. I don't need the WD part, but was going to use it for sway until I popped one of the bars off in a corner.

66024 Reese 350 Mini-Lite Weight Distribution Hitch with 2" Ball
2112
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
Did you pack the trailer in a way to make one side heavier than the other?
It may just be where you put things in the trailer.
fickman
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
2112 wrote:
Did you pack the trailer in a way to make one side heavier than the other?
It may just be where you put things in the trailer.

I think it was evenly distributed side to side with the galley lowered in the center for travel.

My thoughts were that the van is just jerking it around if I have to do a quick s-swerve to avoid debris or something (again - I don't make a habit of such maneuvers). It looks like it actually bounced somewhat off the ground - skipping until it sat long enough to let the tires get on track behind me. A hyperbolic example might be a wakeboarder or inner tube behind a ski boat. I don't think a heavier trailer would respond in the same way.
rrupert
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
I worked for a Coleman dealer and he advised customers that had models with the front storage trunk like yours to keep the trunk weighted with your heaviest items. They tend to be tail heavy and must have added forward weight. Also, make sure your tires are kept at the maximum recommended pressure.

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