Horrible Sway

[cktrow11]

I tried to find a previous post, but was unable to. Sorry if this is a common question/post.
I have a 2015 Hideout 31rbts. Dry weight is 8500# from the factory. I tow it with a 2011 Ford F250 6.7 Powerstroke and use a Husky weight distibution hitch with dual sway bars - all rated to handle it. When I pull it though, it sways horribly if I do over 50 MPH even with 2 sway bars tightened down. I haven't scaled it, but I believe I have our load evenly distributed. We are full timers for now while I move around with my job, so I don't pull often. When I do though it's long distances and makes it even longer having to do 50mph or less. I've only made 3 trips so far, but dread any future ones as the last one was a 3 day trip that never seemed to end.
Tonight I measured the trailer and the hitch to see if maybe the dealer didnt set up the hitch properly and the ball on the truck is actually 3" higher than the trailer measurement. Will being that high cause sway? Manufacturer directions say 1" higher. I'm going to lower it, but I don't leave this work spot until February so just trying to get some peace of mind between now and then.
Sorry for the long post, but thanks for any input. Just want to know if it's a setup issue, or if I should go trade off our brand new camper we thought would be so perfect.

[noteven]

The tongue scale is a nice piece of equipment.

You can use a bathroom scale on a hard smooth surface. Set it under one end of a double 2 x 6 beam with the other end of the beam on blocking with a narrow pivot point. Set the tongue jack on the wood beam. If your scale weighs to 400 lbs and you think the tongue weight is 900, put the jack down 1/3 of the beam length from the blocking end. The scale should read 300 if tongue is 900. The fixed end is carrying the other 600lbs. If your wood beam busts make it thicker.

If you hear Weight Police sirens approaching hide in the bushes ...

[alexleblanc]

towing my now Ex Wildwood 31BKIS with the same truck as you I was never able to get that darn thing tow stop dancing around even after weighing it wet, moving stuff around and playing with the Dual cam Reese hitch I had. Made the jump to a Propride 3P and never looked back after that. Sway was a non-issue after using that hitch. I've moved on to a fifth-wheel in the last week or so its no longer a concern for me.

My advise is to go to a Hensley or Propride hitch. Other will suggest moving weight around, setting up your hitch different and such, it may or may not work, but guaranteed a new Propride/Hensley will 100% satisfy your issues. I'll never tow a bumper pull without one now.

[cktrow11]

Calmed down a bit from when I posted initially and came to my senses. I'm going to quit being cheap and just buy a scale for the tongue. I have a pretty accurate guess on total weight, so I'll make sure I'm at target tongue weight before I leave AND set up the hitch properly. Make sure it's all correct and then if I still have issues I'll contact Keystone and try and get them to chime in and figure out why.

[the_happiestcam]

cktrow11 wrote:
I haven't scaled it, but I believe I have our load evenly distributed.

Scale it.

[mkirsch]

Just because tongue weight is between the magic 10-15%, does not mean that it is enough. Some trailers will tow fine at 10%, but others can need 15% or more to be stable.

Like others have said, you're are ASSUMING that your weight is distributed properly. You know what they say when you ASSUME, right?

Get the Sherline scale. It's not cheap, but it's cheap insurance because this is your home we're talking about here. If you lose it on the road, you're homeless!

Check your tongue weight and increase it. Get the hitch set up properly. You've got until February to work on this.

[rhagfo]

06Fargo wrote:
RV designers who put tanks aft of the axles should have a swift kick in the a$$.

I have three forward and one aft.

The important one (Fresh Water) is about 3' forward of the front axles and is kept full all the time. This on a 32' 5er, helps kill chucking.
The only tank aft is the Galley tank and it is at the rear.

[noteven]

RV designers who put tanks aft of the axles should have a swift kick in the a$$.

[lanerd]

#40Fan wrote:
Sorry no one has answered your question, but yes, a high nose on the trailer will cause sway.

I think the better wording here is that it "may" cause sway...not "will".

All things considered, the best advice given to you so far is that info provided to you by Barney. Assumptions will usually tend to come back and bite you in the butt and in your case, it probably will.

Since you have time, I would get the Sherline and make absolutely sure what your tongue weight actually is. And as Barney said, visit the sticky at the top of this forum and read it thoroughly.

Good luck

Ron

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

A nose high trailer will ever so slightly increase sway. The reason is because it will transfer a "slight" amount of weight to the rear of the trailer.

I have race car scales so I know "exactly" what the weights are doing. A few inches up will only transfer a few pounds. Anybody that says that a few inches nose up will cause extreme problems with sway does not know what they are talking about.

I can tell by your post that you have a severe light tongue problem. I have seen some trailers built really poorly when it comes to tongue weight. The only way to fix it is to pack accordingly. The heaviest things up front and the lightest things in the back. Bike rack up front or even a gen set mount on the tongue of the trailer. To fix your problem you have to get the tongue weight up.

[Slamnslash]

Not really apples to apples but I will share.
I picked up my 25' TT earlier this year. I did not have a WDH and planned on looking at Craigslist (seen several for way less than dealer).
I already had a 2-5/16 ball from my flatbed car carrier and I used that to get it home. Made it home OK but I definitely knew it was back there. Two days later I found an add on CL for a Pro Series WDH with 700# bars, and sway control for $150.

Met the guy and he had used it twice and it was set up for a 2500 truck and a 28' TT.
I offered $120 and took it home. The ball was about the same height as yours and yes it was all over the place. 45mph tops for me. Got to a large church parking lot with the tools and set it up right and now after about 1200 miles seems to be good to go.


Edit to add page 2 owenage!

[BarneyS]

cktrow11 wrote:
Snip... Just hoping people can assure me that the improper hitch setup probably caused most or all of the sway so I don't cuss myself until Feb when I have to tow it again.

I don't think that anyone can assure you that improper setup of your hitch caused most or all of the swaying you experienced. As you have seen from the responses, there are many varied causes of sway.

You have stated several times that you are assuming your trailer is loaded properly. I don't think that is a valid assumption because the symptoms you describe point to an improperly loaded trailer with a low tongue weight. If I were you, I would invest a little over $100 in a Sherline tongue weight scale and find out just what the tongue weight is. Don't go by the assumption that it is right - you are probably wrong.

We have a good tutorial at the top of this forum on how to set up your hitch. Although long, I think it will give you some good advice and help. Good luck. 🙂
Barney

[cktrow11]

msgtord wrote:
When setting up my WDH, I found the best instructions were in the Ford owners manual. And to set it up when loaded as your going to use it, on level ground.

Would've thought to look there. Thanks, I'll give it a try and see. As far as level ground I try my best, but sometimes it just isn't possible..

[msgtord]

When setting up my WDH, I found the best instructions were in the Ford owners manual. And to set it up when loaded as your going to use it, on level ground. The side leveling bubble shows level when loaded and with 1/3 tank of water.

[_40Fan]

Sorry no one has answered your question, but yes, a high nose on the trailer will cause sway.

[cktrow11]

dodge guy wrote:
You want 12.5% of the loaded ready to travel weight as a good tongue weight target. we cannot offer any more help until you know for sure what the weights are. get it weighed and then get it setup properly. and having too much tongue weight with not enough WD will have the same effect as too little tongue weight.

Ok, to reword my question.. Assuming my tongue weight before it's hooked to the truck is 10-15% of my loaded trailer weight. Will having a weight distribution hitch that is set up 2" higher than recommended by the manufacturer cause the trailer to sway?
I fully understand that it needs to be 10-15% of the total loaded trailer weight. That's not my question at all. I am assuming it's properly loaded and balanced for the purpose of my question.