A little uncomfortable with my set up...

[95jersey]

Let me explain...

I went from a Wildwood travel trailer (22ft, 3600lbs) to a Jayco 273 Toy Hauler (31ft 6500lb, 12ft high). My tonque weight went up significantly from probably a few hundred lbs to 1000lbs. Not to mention, putting in 250-750lbs of dirt bikes behind the rear axle.

My truck is a new 2018 F150 with the 3.5TT, 10 speed, and best towing package you can get on an F150 (extra payload, rear axle upgrade, etc). It is a beast and I could not even feel my Wildwood behind me. My truck specs fully support the load of the trailer with room for safety, but I am not here to discuss specs, but more or less tow feel on highway. Please don't recommend a 250/2500, not going to buy another truck at this point.

Towing the 22ft Wildwood was a walk in the park, I didn't even need a WD hitch. I could do 75mph without blinking. The experience with the Jayco is not so nice. It gently sways and pushes me around just a little, at highway speeds (65+). Not anything significant or dangerous, just unpleasant and requiring your attention. The 18 wheelers passing by are a real joy. I have a HD-WD hitch, airbags on the truck, and 2 anti-sway bars as well. It is set up as good as it is going to get. It is 100% level and the truck has the HP to pull it without question.

I am thinking 2 factors are causing the uncomfort at highway speed (the sheer height 12ft+, and the 31ft length). I am sure the higher tonque weight and 750lbs of dirt bikes loaded past the rear axle isn't helping.

I am thinking of selling it and downgrading to a smaller unit (maybe 20-26ft toy hauler, and in the 5000lbs or less range). Before I go down this road, is there anything I am missing to make my current set up handle better? Also, if I just go down 3-4 feet in length and 1500lbs in weight, will that even improve my situation? Or am I going to have the same problem with the increased height? Would hate to downgrade and have the same **** problem.

[time2roll]

Take it to the scale and get some real weights.
LT tires may produce a measured improvement but I doubt will solve the issue. I would start by airing up the existing tires to the sidewall max and see what that does.
Do you have any buddies that tow similar? Trade vehicles for an hour and swap comments.

[MFL]

What are the truck tire specs, and are they at max sidewall when towing? Most toy haulers are front/tongue heavy to offset the loaded toys. Sometimes adding air bags can help, even if you don't need the lift, it will help give the truck a more solid feel, and lessen body roll.

Jerry

[troubledwaters]

Wills6.4 Hemi wrote:
If the dirt bikes are on back of TT and weigh hundreds of pounds that is your problem.

Agreed, I'd bet if you weighed the TT axles and tongue separately you would find that your tongue weight is to light with the dirt bikes in the back. I'd bet you got to much weight behind and axles and if you increase your tongue weight your problem will go away.

[the_bear_II]

Perhaps adding some weight in the front of the trailer to counter the dirt bike weight may make a difference.

I'm sure you've tried adjusting the weight distribution on your hitch to see if that may make a difference. Put more weight on the rear tires or more towards the front of the truck.

Some roads due to the grooves caused by the heavy 18 wheelers will cause some sway. The depressions in the pavement may not be noticeable but the truck and your trailer may straddle them differently and cause a little sway.

Be sure to check the PSI on your trailer tires. The last time I had tires put on my trailer the dealer only filled them to 50 PSI and they should have been at 80 PSI

[Wills6_4_Hemi]

If the dirt bikes are on back of TT and weigh hundreds of pounds that is your problem.

[95jersey]

Let me be clear, it is not that the trailer sways behind the truck, more or less that the whole unit (truck and trailer) combined move around together. The connection between the 2 is solid. I feel the trailer simply pushes the truck itself around, it doesn't sway behind the truck. I have a good HD-WD system and 2 friction bars, not the most expensive set up, but I can't see that throwing $2000+ on a different WD system would fix the problem. I am thinking the extreme height and length is catching the wind and will just continue to push the truck around no matter what the WD set up. It gets worse on high open bridges, pushing both vehicles around, but at least in unison.

Never thought about the tires, they do look like generic no names.

[downtheroad]

Are these the specs. for your trailer?

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 6400
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 1080
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 9950
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 3550

You posted that your tongue weight is around 1000 lbs...I'm thinking that it is significantly more than that when you load up - trip ready.

My only suggestion is that you dump the friction bar hitch and look for a different set up. There are many out there than may help you some.
or....smaller trailer or bigger truck.

Good luck with the solution.

[time2roll]

I would get an anti-sway hitch system over the friction sway control.

https://www.propridehitch.com/propride-3p-trailer-sway-control-hitch/

[newman_fulltime]

put on better tires and a stiffer spring on the trailer would even put shocks on the unit but I suspect cheap spongy sidewall tires is a big part of your issue.and use a weight distributing hitch with sway control