Sway & Wind

[Frenchy33]

Hi all,
I have a 30' Coleman trailer pulled by F150 Crew Cab 5.5' bed w/ Curt 600 WD & Sway Control System.

If not pulling in wind, my rig pulls like a dream, and I have no problem what so ever. This past weekend I was towing home in 13 MPH wind. I seem to experience a lot of sway in situations like that. It was to the point where I had to slow to 50 on the interstate to feel comfortable towing. As soon as I got off the interstate and out of the wind, I didn't have any issue (so doubt it is a weight balance issue). I also feel a pretty good bow effect from passing semi's.

Does anyone else share this experience, or is it possible I need to fine-tune my WD hitch?

I'm heading from IL to SD this summer, and am dreading the thought of wind over 10, which is most likely to happen.

[intheburbs]

I think it's simple physics - the lighter, half-ton towable trailers have too much surface area relative to their weight. Less weight and more surface area equals more sway.

I had three different trailers I towed with my half-ton Suburban. All were 26-30 feet, weighing from 4550 to 7000 lbs. All three gave me the push-pull with passing semis, and all were susceptible to moving me around with varying wind gusts. On one trip on a windy day, I had the sway brake cranked down so hard that I bent the half-inch steel plate that the sway ball was mounted to.

I now have an 8600-lb trailer I tow with my 3/4 ton Suburban, and it doesn't sway. Period. No push-pull with the semis, and I don't even notice crosswinds. I've pulled the trailer down South to the Gulf, over the Mackinaw Bridge, and out west in the Rockies, including Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, and up and down the Front Range which is known for high winds. I don't even use any type of sway control. Have towed this trailer about 10,000 miles, and never had any type of stressful event above a 3, on my scale of 1-10. Had a few 8s with my lighter trailers.

If I ever had to go back to a lighter trailer, I'd go with a hitch that eliminates sway like the Hensley Arrow.

[troubledwaters]

Lynnmor wrote:


Dutchman probably understands that tires, hitches and sway controls do not make the wind go away. Heavier vehicles are safer in a cross wind, that needs no explanation.

The only problem with your theory is, you can hook that trailer up to a diesel dually, but if the tongue weight is to light that trailer is still going to sway. You may feel it less because of the heavier truck, but that trailer will still be all over the road. The problem isn't the size of the truck, the problem is the fact that the trailer is swaying.

[JAC1982]

When we bought our first toyhauler (about 32' long travel trailer) we pulled it with an F-150 similar to yours. It "pulled" fine, power was never an issue, and we were well within the weight limits, but in wind, it was quite frightening, and living where we do, it's pretty much windy on every trip. Almost rolled the entire thing on WY Highway 191 between Rock Springs and Pinedale when a tour bus and then a semi passed us going the other way, in wind. We tried all the usual "tricks"... making sure our hitch set up was correct, added airbags etc etc. They helped a little, but it still wasn't very stable. We upgraded soon after to an F250, and the difference was like night and day. Yes, we could still feel the trailer behind us, but we never felt scared or anything like we did when we were pulling it with the F150. Once we went the dually route to prep for a 5th wheel, it was even better.

Now, our current set up (dually with 38' toyhauler 5er) pulls like a dream. Last summer we towed it across I-80 in Wyoming (which is a towing nightmare usually) and it was absolutely fine. We felt the wind every now and then, but it was more like the entire rig felt it, versus feeling like the tail was wagging the dog.

[discovery4us]

X2 on the sway control and tongue weight. In my opinion a heavier TV will do little to correct the problem. Sway is magnified as the distance between trailer ball and trailer axles is extended. We had a 50' flat bed irrigation pipe trailer that would sway when we pulled it with the ford ranger or the Sterling Day Cab.

[dodge_guy]

Make sure you have 12% loaded tongue weight. then get a better hitch with built on sway control. I recommend the Reese Dual Cam. it keeps my 32ft 9200lb trailer perfectly straight behind my Excursion, even in high winds and passing semis.

[Jim2007]

Hi... I have a 30 Foot, 5th wheel towed with a long bed dodge 2500. I live in colo. And travel in winds up to 40mph. Safely. However, fuel consumption goes up...Happy camping . .. jim2007.

[owenssailor]

I think you need to provide a lot more information to get useful suggestions.
What is your truck and trailer and what are their specs including payload and axle ratings.

Weigh your units to get weight with truck only, both with no WD and both with WD. You need axle by axle weights.

From that you can determine tongue weight. Then you will know if you have a properly sized WD setup.

Measure truck front fender heights with no trailer and then trailer and then trailer with WD. Then you will know if WD is set up right.

WHat tires do you have. WHat pressures do you have them at.

I tow a 30 foot trailer with a 1500 Chev and have done so for the last 7 winters. Last winter we travelled 18000 km - a lot of it towing. I do not feel the transport bow wave when getting passed. Moderate cross winds are no problem at all.

Going through all of the above will let you determine exactly how you are set up and will allow useful help from this forum.

Otherwise the answer is get a 1 ton.

[IdaD]

Frenchy33 wrote:


For those who pull a 5er's, do you ever have issues with wind?

Nope. With my truck I doubt I’d have many issues with a TT either but there’s no doubt fifth wheels pull better - basic geometry.

[bid_time]

Frenchy33 wrote:
I have a 2015 F150. I don’t fully understand adding tongue weight. Wouldn’t that in turn take weight off front truck axle? Also, tire pressures were all good.

Read Here
And Here
If you don't have the proper amount of tongue weight, you're driving yourself to the scene of an accident. A weight distribution hitch takes care of the front axle.

[Second_Chance]

Frenchy33 wrote:
Thanks DutchmenSport. I'm seriously considering upgrading my truck next year to a 3/4 or a 1 Ton. Possibly upgrading the trailer to a 5th wheel.

For those who pull a 5er's, do you ever have issues with wind?

If you're thinking of a fifth wheel, skip the 3/4-ton and go straight to a 1-ton SRW (DRW if considering 14K or heavier fifth wheel).

Answering your other question, we often tow in 25 - 35 MPH winds with gusts to 40 and above - mostly when we're in the southwest as we are now. The truck and trailer track straight down the road and I don't have to fight the winds at all. If the winds are headwinds, it hurts fuel economy, though.

Rob

[Frenchy33]

I have a 2015 F150. I don’t fully understand adding tongue weight. Wouldn’t that in turn take weight off front truck axle? Also, tire pressures were all good.

[BB_TX]

Frenchy33 wrote:
Thanks DutchmenSport. I'm seriously considering upgrading my truck next year to a 3/4 or a 1 Ton. Possibly upgrading the trailer to a 5th wheel.

For those who pull a 5er's, do you ever have issues with wind?

You will find a 5er is far more stable in high winds. Even more so than motor homes. We have towed our 34’ 5er behind two different F350 crew cab long beds across the high plains with 25-30 mph cross winds with little effect. Except significant reduction in fuel economy. Have had TTs and MHs in front and behind us in high winds moving back and forth in the lanes while we barely noticed the wind. And I am not exaggerating it.

[drsteve]

coolmom42 wrote:
You may well be better off in a bigger truck. But first check that you have correct tire inflation for the load and correct load range tires. Also check the trailer tire pressure.

Tune the hitch in, if it is not already. You don't mention what year truck either. If older, are shocks or other suspension parts in good shape?

[bid_time]

You more than likely didn't have enough tongue weight. Did you have it loaded unusually heavy behind the axles? Weigh the tongue, ideally you need 12% or more tongue weight.

[coolmom42]

You may well be better off in a bigger truck. But first check that you have correct tire inflation for the load and correct load range tires. Also check the trailer tire pressure.