Urgent help needed with Blue Ox Sway Pro swaying

[skripo]

Currently in Orlando leaving to return to Montreal on Friday. Had a white knuckle ride all the way down and can't see myself going back the same way, especially with wind.

I am pulling a 24bds Fun finder that weighs 6200 LB loaded and has a tongue weight of 850 lbs. All weights are from cat scale and dealer. I am using a 2014 Dodge Durango R/T with 5,7 hemi and Blue Ox Sway pro as hitch. I am within 400 lbs of max payload. Before leaving I installed 4 brand new Maxxis 8008 for good measure.

On the way down the car was barely controllable, it seemed like it was all over the road. I stopped ar an RV service center and he reset my hitch 1 hole lower which DRAMATICALLY improved the ride.

The only problem is that I now have a ton of sway, particularly when it's windy it I get passed, semis are scary but pickups or larger vehicles also. Cause stress. Cross winds are the worst.

I adjusted the bar tension from recommended to tightest and while ride improves, sway is unchanged.

I called BLue Ox from the road several times and they did their best to help, but nothing worked Their final advice was to lower the hitch to 1" below the ball, which I will try.

Any other suggestions? I will be at the Daytona RV show Friday, any body I should ask for or see for help?

[krobbe]

skripo wrote:
I'm towing a 24', not 26.

Actual length is 27' 7".
I also noticed that the max frontal area from the chart Jeremiah provided lists 60 sq ft. The FunFinder 24BDS has about a 80 sq ft frontal area.
It really is a case of not enough truck. An easy, relaxed tow requires extra margins on all of the ratings.

[skripo]

I'm towing a 24', not 26.

[Ron_Gratz]

JoeTampa wrote:
I am not sure that anyone would recommend an F150 to tow a 26 foot TT. Most would recommend an F-250, which has a wheelbase of 137" at minimum, or 18" longer than your Durango. I went from 109" to 153" and I can tell you that the inches matter.

The 2015 F-150 Regular Cab short box has a wheelbase of 122.4".

All other combinations are available with wheelbases of 141.1", 145.0", 156.8", or 163.7".

Many combinations have "payloads" ranging from 2500# to 3000#.

There should be plenty of 26' TTs which can be safely towed by a properly selected F-150.

Ron

[bgum]

You have maxed out your TV and don't like the ride. Slow down and don't take your hands off the wheel. Best of luck.

[JoeTampa]

skripo wrote:
Not in any particular order:

1) Perfectly level
2) Only feels like oscillation when being passed. Could be being pushed around.
3) 1000 lb bars
4) all air pressure at max. Trailer at 50 and TV is at 36 psi

Durango is not a jeep. It is based argest Mercedes SUV model. Wheelbase is 119.8", compare that to Ford F-150 at 122".

The Commander has a wheelbase of 109", or 10" shorter than yours.

I am not sure that anyone would recommend an F150 to tow a 26 foot TT. Most would recommend an F-250, which has a wheelbase of 137" at minimum, or 18" longer than your Durango. I went from 109" to 153" and I can tell you that the inches matter.

[owenssailor]

I would suggest getting the rear tires to max allowed pressure, fronts high but not to max. Also be sure front of trailer is not high.

[atreis]

Most setups get pushed around some. Sway (back and forth motion, like a pendulum, after being pushed) is a serious issue. Tongue scales (Amazon) are pretty affordable - weigh the tongue. Too low tongue weight will cause sway. The tongue should be between 12% and 15% of the total trailer weight.

I could be wrong, but have never heard of sway being caused by tire pressure... Uncomfortable towing perhaps, but not actual sway.

[skripo]

jerem0621 wrote:
I took the liberty to do a little research based on the numbers you have provided.

You state that you have a tongue weight of 850 lbs and you are using 1,000 lbs spring bars...you are within your tow rating and your GCWR...However you are WAY overloading your receiver.

Here is an excerpt from the 2014 Durango owners manual that addresses this issue.




So...

1) You have 130 lbs too much tongue weight
2) you have 270 lbs too much spring bar pressure (potential)

What does this mean?

Basically, your receiver is overloaded and more than likely flexing under the load/torque from the WD bars.

LT tires are great, The Sway Pro is a great hitch and the spring bars are appropriate for the tongue weight... but receiver flex will cause issues... really bad issues eventually.

In light of this I would crawl under the Durango and check the welds on the receiver for cracks.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Wrong. My class IV hitch is rated at 14,000 lbs and 1,400 lbs tongue weight. The hitch isn't 'cracking'.

Also wrong on the tongue weight max. The physical manual that came with my truck does indeed show 750lbs max but also clearly states that what matters is not to overload the rear axle, which I didn't.

I know this because I weighed it and have 400 lbs to spare.

The 2 best guesses are to increase the tire pressure and/or lower the hitch 1 hole, even though it is already level.

[skripo]

I spoke to my friend, a 30 year veteran of the tire industry and current wheel designer. He suggested I bring up the pressure to 50 psi.

I will try that first.

[Adam_H]

skripo wrote:
That is the one thing I am unsure about. The truck came with a tow package and 20" Goodyear Fortera HL (high load).

I still suspect them. I am thinking of changing them to a 10 ply but want to be sure it is the problem before I do.

The weird part is that it drives perfectly changing lanes at 65 MPH.

You stated you set the tire PSI on the Dodge at 36psi and it came with high load P tires. I know the high load P tires on my F150 go to 45psi. Check the sidewall of the tire for max PSI. 119" wheelbase is not too short for that camper.

Adam

[jerem0621]

sch911 wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:
I took the liberty to do a little research based on the numbers you have provided.

You state that you have a tongue weight of 850 lbs and you are using 1,000 lbs spring bars...you are within your tow rating and your GCWR...However you are WAY overloading your receiver.

Here is an excerpt from the 2014 Durango owners manual that addresses this issue.




So...

1) You have 130 lbs too much tongue weight
2) you have 270 lbs too much spring bar pressure (potential)

What does this mean?

Basically, your receiver is overloaded and more than likely flexing under the load/torque from the WD bars.

LT tires are great, The Sway Pro is a great hitch and the spring bars are appropriate for the tongue weight... but receiver flex will cause issues... really bad issues eventually.

In light of this I would crawl under the Durango and check the welds on the receiver for cracks.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Sorry that table is for non WDH towing.

That is Incorrect. The owners manual states that a WD hitch must be used for tongue weights over 500 lbs. This table implicitly states that this is the WD max...since the max tongue weight is above the weight required for WD.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[eluwak]

I have a larger tow vehicle, slightly longer but lighter TT, and the same hitch. My TW is ~850-900 lbs depending on tanks and such. I get pushed around when trucks pass, and you'll find that most folks with TTs do at least a little. As long as the push incident of the passing vehicle doesn't cause you to start oscillating then your hitch is working fine.

I found increasing TW made for a better tow in my case, but your receiver is already overloaded. Load E tires might help... Maybe heavier duty shocks?

[jerem0621]

3oaks wrote:
I would look close at the receiver for a label or embossed writing on the receiver. The hitches that I have seen give two different ratings. One for use without a weight distribution hitch and another, much higher max rating when used with a weight distribution hitch.

It is good practice to check the receiver for the tag. The owners manual says 500 lbs in weight carrying mode.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[sch911]

jerem0621 wrote:
I took the liberty to do a little research based on the numbers you have provided.

You state that you have a tongue weight of 850 lbs and you are using 1,000 lbs spring bars...you are within your tow rating and your GCWR...However you are WAY overloading your receiver.

Here is an excerpt from the 2014 Durango owners manual that addresses this issue.




So...

1) You have 130 lbs too much tongue weight
2) you have 270 lbs too much spring bar pressure (potential)

What does this mean?

Basically, your receiver is overloaded and more than likely flexing under the load/torque from the WD bars.

LT tires are great, The Sway Pro is a great hitch and the spring bars are appropriate for the tongue weight... but receiver flex will cause issues... really bad issues eventually.

In light of this I would crawl under the Durango and check the welds on the receiver for cracks.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Sorry that table is for non WDH towing.

[3oaks]

I would look close at the receiver for a label or embossed writing on the receiver. The hitches that I have seen give two different ratings. One for use without a weight distribution hitch and another, much higher max rating when used with a weight distribution hitch.