truck/trailer sway

[allkidd]

This spring we purchased our first trailer. It is a 28 foot Grey Wolf toy hauler. It weighs about 5000 lbs and we usually carry about another 1000 lbs.

I've towed boats but never anything with a higher profile like a camper trailer. When we puruchased the trailer we also purchased a blue ox sway bar.

When there is wind and I'm towing on the interstate I feel like there is some slight sway. Not terrible but bad enough I have to slow down and keep both hands on the steering wheel. Also, bad enough that my wife won't help with the driving. When a semi passes I definitely feel sway...or like I momentarily lose total control.

Based on conversations with blue ox, and watching their videos, I've made adjustments and it is better but still doesn't seem right.

My tow vehicle is a 2020 Chevrolet half ton with the max tow package...rated to tow 11,300 lbs.

Is there something better, or in addition, to my blue ox sway bar? We plan on taking several long trips and I'm not sure that I feel comfortable the way it currently tows.

Any help is appreciated!

[Hannibal]

You need some friction to resist minor sway from gusty winds and passing trucks. An Equalizer 4 point or a Reese Straight Line will do the job but they’re a bit noisy.

https://www.etrailer.com/question-116001.html

[2112]

Getting truck and camper weights with and without the camper connected is the first step. You may have removed weight from the front axles with improper WDH adjustments. Unloading the front causes an unstable feel in the steering wheel. Verify your truck front axle weighs close to the same with and without the trailer connected.

Air up your truck tires to max pressure as stated on the tire sidewall will help. Timbrens will help. Unfortunately, I don't think you can ever totally eliminate the push/pull feel you get when passing large trucks or the effect of crosswind.

[Camreal]

Ive had sway problems in past on trailers and it almost always turns out to be
tongue weight.

[Taxman2436]

allkidd wrote:
Thank you for the quick replies!

Sounds like I need to get some weights of my truck and trailer. If I take my rig to a weight station on the highway will they take these weight measurements for me?

Not a weigh station. You can take it to a CAT scale at Pilot truck stop near you. Costs about $12.00 to weigh and should give you 3 weights, front axle, drive axle and trailer axle(s).

[blt2ski]

TT = Travel Trailer
TV Tow vehicle
WD weight distribution
SC sway control

Does the trailer move side to side like a fish tail? that to me is bad sway.
If the trailer and truck rock side to side in crosswinds, while some may say sway, I consider this normal! Normal because if you are getting hit by wind, you will lean in or get pushed back initially when hit. Your truck will do the same. I do find that my rig rocks more with no WD or sway bars. Less with a WD only, and when I put a combo version on, I had less side to side rocking in side winds or trucks going by etc. I never had side to side issues with ANY trailer, unless i had too little hitch weight.
Of course one time, when hit with a 60-90 mph side gust that was coming from Easter Wa/Or west into Portland on a bridge crossing the columbia river, I moved a half a lane west as I was hit by a very big gust from the east. Most cars and semi's around me also moved a half a lane too.
DO NOT go into a scale on the side of the freeway UNLESS closed. Then you can use the scale to measure your setup. You may have to get out of your rig to see the numbers on the scale, as they may be inside the shack. But usually the last CVEO in it, will make it so you can see the numbers from the outside.

Marty

[allkidd]

What does TT, TV and WD represent?

[allkidd]

Thank you for the quick replies!

Sounds like I need to get some weights of my truck and trailer. If I take my rig to a weight station on the highway will they take these weight measurements for me?

[MitchF150]

Like all the above have said, but I have found that the term "sway" can mean different things to different people...

Meaning, "sway" to me is a total see-sawing effect of the steering wheel to try to correct when the trailer is totally out of sync with the truck..

I feel wind and I feel semi's and even little eco-box cars go flying by me and what I feel is a "push/pull" effect on the whole rig, but nothing like the see-saw effect of the steering wheel..

I just have a basic EAZ-Lift WD setup that over 18 years old (#1000 bars) and it handles my new Rockwood just as well as it handled my old Prowler.

I felt the same push/pull effects with the smaller, lighter Prowler as I do with the longer, heavier Rockwood..

Nothing to ever even trigger the trucks computers "sway control" on the truck..

Anyway, what was said above you should still do to get the weights right..

I towed my little 8' utility trailer one time and just plopped 3 bags of instant cement in the back of it and drove home about a mile and it swayed once I got over 25 mph! I had to baby that thing home, since it was only a mile and if I had just put those bags over the axles, or in front of them, I could have driven that thing at hwy speeds with no problem....

Good luck, Mitch

[dodge_guy]

Yep, you need to get weighed as loaded for a trip. Your tongue weight should be around 13% of the trailers total weight. Let’s just say it is 6000lbs loaded for trip. Your tongue weight should be approx 750lbs.
You will need the TV weighed by itself with everyone inside, the TV and TT without WD hitch engaged (the bars should be in the back of the TV or in the front of the trailer), and then with the TV and TT with the WD engaged.
When you have those numbers then we can tell you where you’re at!

[BenK]

What are your TV’s GVWR, RGAWR and if stock or modifications, add one, etc

What are the TV tires aspect ratio? If 60% or lower...might not need next higher class tire = LT’s

What is the pointing of the trailer ? Best to be level and better yet, slightly pointing down.

What does your TV manual say the front axle weight and/or height be after setting up vs unhooked .

As mentioned above...Trailer tongue’s actual weight should be >13% of the trailers ACTUAL weight...that will also confirm that you have the correct bar rating.

The BLUE Ox employs spring bar bending to keep/return the trailer back to center. That allows the trailer to move more than the other WD Hitch setups and why they are quiet. But, that is for properly setups...you might consider a friction bar...they are much better these days

Please post back on how it goes and good luck

[wanderingaimles]

First suggestion, get it to a scale with everything aboard as if you are going on a trip.
Verify the weights including the tongue weight for the trailer. If need be add weight to the front to get to at least 10% of total trailer weight, and 13-15% is better.
Also ensure you are moving enough weight to the front of the truck with the WDH set up.
Come back and post the results after checking those items and folks can give you some better suggestions.

[Sjm9911]

How fast are you towing? Do you see the tralor swaying? Or do you feel like the rear of the truck is moving a bit? If you have passanger tires on the truck you may need to get LT tires. Stiffer sidewall to take the weight of the trailor. Make sure the hitch is set up corectly also. And yes the big trucks suck you in a bit.