Need advice on toy hauler swaying on freeway

[09KZMXT266]

I would greatly appreciate any feedback and advice please. My TV is a 2012 Toyota Tacoma DBL Cab short bed 4x4 with a 4.0 V6. I just bought a toy hauler that is 22' long and weighs 3600#s dry with a TW of 620#s. I pulled it home 350 miles in my Dad's 3/4 ton with no issues using just the hitch ball mount. Tonight I picked up my rig from E-Trailer where they installed the break controller and WD Hitch. The hitch looks to be installed correctly, but I'm a total newby and could be mistaken. Both the truck and trailer look to be pretty level, although the front of the TV may be a little raised. Normally my truck is raked and now it sits level.

On the way home I was fine until I entered the freeway and at about 45 mph I started to feel the trailer walking around behind me. It spooked me enough that I exited the freeway to take surface streets
home.

I know it will all change after I load my gear and a 980# Harley in the back. But, should I be getting sway at 45 mph on the freeway with a properly installed WD Hitch? Is it possibly due to not enough load in the back of the toy hauler? I was thinking adding more weight to the rear would only increase sway?

I realize I would be better off with a different TV, but I really, really, wan to keep my Tacoma if I can.

Help!!!!!!!

[APT]

dodge guy wrote:
Did anyone see what the OP is towing?

Yes, a TT with at least 1000 pounds of tongue weight before adding 1000 pounds of motorcycle. That's 3/4+ ton territory.

[silvercorvette]

Jerrybo66 wrote:
Pulling it with your Dad's 3/4 ton with no problem has to be your first clue. You can't expect a japaneese shopping cart to do the job of a truck... IMO..

Plus 1,000

I have owned a few rice burners, both cars and motorcycles and was very happy with all the Japanese cars I have owned and a Nissan truck I rented to do some moving. You are asking this truck to do things it was not designed to do. If you try to fix your problem by changing hitches you are trying to fix a broken leg with a band aid. If you continue to use the truck you will either kill yourself, or run into another motorist and kill them , or maybe kill yourself and the people on the road with you.

If you can't afford a new truck borrow your fathers truck

[mtofell1]

09KZMXT266 wrote:
Yea, I've been doing a lot of research. I do think I'll be okay. In the end, when I get close to 1k miles, I'll hook everything up, load the Harley, and everything else in the TH, and hit the scales. That will be the only way I'll truly know where I stand. I joked with my Wife last night telling her we can either leave the two dogs at home, or lose 40lbs. each to be able to go camping. 🙂

It is amazing how fast weight adds up... I rolled through the scales recently with my 3/4 ton and "1/2 ton towable" TT. And I don't carry anything special - just a few kids and the basic camping stuff. Heck, I was even on my way home so most of the beer and firewood were gone. I was surprised to only be 600lbs under the max 9200 weight for combined axles. 600lbs is still a lot of weight and, much to the dispute of the weight police, there IS a fudge factor for sure built in to the ratings. My point is even with a 3/4 ton and modest TT the max weight is closer than you might think.

[Cummins12V98]

Op all I can say is tow SLOW! Also get to know your emergency slide bar on your brake controller! I know from personal experience TT's tend to wagg the dog and roll over when the TV is not heavy enough!

Seriously be very careful.

[09KZMXT266]

Yea, I've been doing a lot of research. I do think I'll be okay. In the end, when I get close to 1k miles, I'll hook everything up, load the Harley, and everything else in the TH, and hit the scales. That will be the only way I'll truly know where I stand. I joked with my Wife last night telling her we can either leave the two dogs at home, or lose 40lbs. each to be able to go camping. 🙂

[Stevepro172]

09KZMXT266 wrote:

Stevepro172 wrote:
The F150 will do fine. I was in the same boat with the same 8.5x22 VRV with my Ram 1500 Hemi. Trailer tows fine with WD hitch. Currently with the trailer empty I'm at 800lbs of tongue weight. Once I add the toys and gear I will have to make sure to keep at least that much tongue weight. What you are going to have to watch for is running up against max payload in a 1/2 ton truck. Don't get fooled that the specs say that it will tow 11,000lbs because most likely the max payload is around 1500lbs. So take whatever you and your wife weight plus anything you put in the truck and the bed, plus the tongue weight and subtract that number from the max gross. this will be the limit...Period. In my Ram, I only have 1467lbs so with my trailer even thought its light I'm closer than I would like but my 2 kids are both under 4 years old so I'm good for now but once they start to put on weight, hello 3/4 ton!

Good luck with the F150 and VRV. I'm loving mine!

You know, now I get what you meant by having to upgrade when the kids get older. I was so caught up worrying about if the truck could tow the trailer, I totally discounted payload. Now, I'm a little worried. I'm really not sure what my max payload is. The online brochure shows 1520#'s My door jamb sticker says not to exceed 1200#'s. Basically my Wife and I, two dogs, and 800# tongue weight are over the 1200# at 1280#. I wonder if the door jamb shows 1200 because of the 20" Passenger tires? How can one increase payload capacity? LT tires? I wonder if the max payload capacity option is available post purchase? Anyway, now I'm a little worried. I guess when I throw the Harley in the back of the Hauler my tongue weight will decrease, so that helps. Man this stuff is exhausting.

There is no way to increase payload in a truck. All trucks come with max payload. the difference in payload is due to options. 2 wheel drive usually have more as well as only 2 door models. Once you go 4x4 with crew cab you lose a couple of hundred pounds of it. I think you will be much happier towing with the F150 even if you are bumping up to the max payload... BTW 1200 sounds low for even a well equipped F150. Ram 1500 usually have the least 🙂

[09KZMXT266]

TomG2 wrote:

09KZMXT266 wrote:
Wow. I think i'll just sell the trailer. No freakin way i am buying 3 new trucks in 8 months.

Nice trailer. I bet it is "half ton towable". Just kidding, you will be happy towing it with your F-150. The mistake you made was experiencing how comfortable it towed with your dad's 2500.

I hope you're right. 🙂 Actually, I found out my Dad's truck is not a 3/4 Ton. It's a 1 Ton 3500.

[TomG2]

dodge guy wrote:
....snip.............
That's because the 3/4 ton was a bandaid for the bad hitch setup! which is what happens here alot!

And how do you know that it was a bad hitch setup? Got weights and measurements to prove it? More likely an inadequate tow vehicle. I think that E-Trailer knows how to install a hitch. The trailer towed fine with Dad's truck.

"Tonight I picked up my rig from E-Trailer where they installed the break controller and WD Hitch."

[dodge_guy]

TomG2 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Did anyone see what the OP is towing?

Sure we did, but he is also complaining about sway with his Toyota.

He also wrote:
"I pulled it home 350 miles in my Dad's 3/4 ton with no issues using just the hitch ball mount."

Let's see, he is spooked towing with the Toyota and comfortable with the 3/4 ton. Would it be better to gain a couple hundred pounds of payload or something he knows will work if he is going to purchase a new TV anyway?

That's because the 3/4 ton was a bandaid for the bad hitch setup! which is what happens here alot!

[TomG2]

09KZMXT266 wrote:
Wow. I think i'll just sell the trailer. No freakin way i am buying 3 new trucks in 8 months.

Nice trailer. I bet it is "half ton towable". Just kidding, you will be happy towing it with your F-150. The mistake you made was experiencing how comfortable it towed with your dad's 2500.

[09KZMXT266]

Wow. I think i'll just sell the trailer. No freakin way i am buying 3 new trucks in 8 months.

[M_GO_BLUE1]

Jerrybo66 wrote:
Pulling it with your Dad's 3/4 ton with no problem has to be your first clue. You can't expect a japaneese shopping cart to do the job of a truck... IMO..

x2

[TomG2]

dodge guy wrote:
Did anyone see what the OP is towing?

Sure we did, but he is also complaining about sway with his Toyota.

He also wrote:
"I pulled it home 350 miles in my Dad's 3/4 ton with no issues using just the hitch ball mount."

Let's see, he is spooked towing with the Toyota and comfortable with the 3/4 ton. Would it be better to gain a couple hundred pounds of payload or something he knows will work if he is going to purchase a new TV anyway?

[dodge_guy]

Did anyone see what the OP is towing?

[Cummins12V98]

goducks10 wrote:
Ram 2013 2500's are on the lots now. Plenty of payload and all the power you'll need. You won't even know that TH is behind you.

And you will have room for growth. Everyone goes bigger!