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!

[bikendan]

allkidd wrote:
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.

IMHO, you need to take your combo to the scales and not use vague terms like about and around.
What year and model of Grey Wolf do you have? I don't know of any 28ft toyhauler that weighs 5000lbs. And have you weighed the actual loaded tongue weight? What's your truck's payload capacity?
I think you are underestimating your weights.

[Cummins12V98]

FIRST thing to do is dump the soft stock tires and buy quality "E" rated tires for the truck.

[Bobbo]

mkirsch wrote:
There are not "multiple definitions" for sway. Sway is not a momentary bobble of the trailer hitting uneven road. Sway is not even the effect you feel from a passing bus or semi.

Sway is an ACTUAL loss of control, that you cannot recover from without extraordinary effort. Sway does not cure itself. Sway does not disappear as the distance between you and the semi increases. Sway always gets worse if left uncorrected, never better as time passes. You either hit those trailer brakes or you end up backwards in the ditch.

I agree with this post. There is only one definition of "sway." However, there is correct and incorrect usage of the term "sway."

This video shows what "sway" really is.

Trailer Sway Video

[mkirsch]

You definitely do NOT have sway.

There are not "multiple definitions" for sway. Sway is not a momentary bobble of the trailer hitting uneven road. Sway is not even the effect you feel from a passing bus or semi.

Sway is an ACTUAL loss of control, that you cannot recover from without extraordinary effort. Sway does not cure itself. Sway does not disappear as the distance between you and the semi increases. Sway always gets worse if left uncorrected, never better as time passes. You either hit those trailer brakes or you end up backwards in the ditch.

What you have is an adjustment issue. Perhaps not enough weight on the front axle of the truck. Perhaps your sway bar system is not being used correctly.

[teejaywhy]

Taxman2436 wrote:

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).

https://learntorv.com/how-to-weigh-a-travel-trailer/

[Hannibal]

I’d recommend increasing tire pressure to the 51psi on the sidewalls for towing. Goodyear HT should be good for highway towing. Looking forward to your CAT scale results.

[Rustycamperpant]

It sounds to me that more weight needs to be transfered to the front axle. If your steering seems to be "wondering around" and semis give you fits when they pass, tilt your hitch down more to get better weight transfer to the front of youi tow vehicle. .

[Grit_dog]

Fill up your rear tires and I’d run 40+ in front too. Maybe even 50 and air down if a bit rough.
That will help. Otherwise, you are pulling a big sail. Unless you have a similar basis for comparison, it may just be “normal.”

[Bobbo]

Don't forget that you need 3 weights.
1. Tow vehicle front axle, tow vehicle rear axle, trailer axle(s)-all while still hooked up like you tow.
2. The same but with the weight distribution bars disconnected/removed.
3. The tow vehicle axles without the trailer.

[Mike134]

allkidd wrote:
I found a truck stop about 45 minutes away that has CAT scales available to use.

I highly recommend using the CAT app. You can pay and get your weights without leaving the truck. It knows if your doing a reweigh and charges you accordingly. You can watch several you-tube videos to help you through the process.

[Sjm9911]

I would try airing up the rear tires on the truck and see if it makes a diffrence when you tow it to the weight station. You can get exact numbers from these guys later , if it helps you will have peice of mind that its easily solvable.

[dodge_guy]

Yes, we are more than happy to help. Get the weights and get back to us.
As far as tire pressures. We need to know what kinfpd of tires and the tire size. And gen the weights will,help us from there.

[allkidd]

Thanks for the help.

Sounds like there are several possible problems ranging from wrong set up to tire issues. Before I do anything I will get the weights. I found a truck stop about 45 minutes away that has CAT scales available to use. My hope is to get there either this Tuesday or Wednesday.

If you guys are willing to continue to help, after I get my weights I will reply back with all the figures.

Several of you have mentioned tires as a possibility> My tires are Goodyear HT. I guess that is basically passenger tires? Currently, the tire pressure is 39 with the max on side of tires 51 psi.

Thanks!

[Sjm9911]

From the way its discribed , im thinking a bit of sidewall roll in the TV rear tires thats why i asked what kind of sway. A slight feeling of sway in the rear can be due to underinflated tires, or needing something with a stiffer sidewall. I know some are aginst LTs on a 1/2 ton. But i had this myself when i gad the half ton. Lt tires fixed it. The rear was moving a bit, enough so you had to make a lot of small corections while driving. This feeling was worsened buy any outs5ode force as the op descibed. Yes, toung weight is always importent. And knowing you weights.but sometimes its a combination of things.

[nickthehunter]

Simple first step. Move some weight from behind the axle to in front of the axle (or eliminate it entirely - such as water in a tank behind the axle), which will increase your tongue weight, and see if that helps.