HELP trailer sway almost killed us!

[cahillprc2]

We have a 2013 Somerset E2 "Off-road" PUP. We were on our way to the dealer for lift repair when a minor dip in the road surface caused the trailer to start swaying wildly. I immediately applied the electric brake controller brake (not the TV brakes) . . .nothing happened; that is it continued to sway wildly. We then started applying the TV brakes gently and to pull off on the shoulder. After a hair raising stop, we barely avoided a culvert and guardrail. After I checked myself for wet pants, I got out and rechecked all the hookups. The alarming thing is that this is the 3rd time it has done this for no apparent reason. Does anybody have any insights or possible causes?? We're about to get rid of it.

[Downwindtracke1]

I'll get the lone prophet in the desert award for this, but trailer sway is a rear suspension problem too. I hunt with a quad in northern BC. I carry the quad in a 4x8 utility trailer. At the last gas station, I fill three jerry cans up. They fit across the back of the trailer, a quad is 7' long. The first TV was a Jeep Cherokee , with the badly balanced load, I had to slow down. My next TV was a Ram 1-ton. The trailer still wagged, but I don't notice it on the truck.

[temccarthy1]

SidecarFlip wrote:
Drive slower. those tiny tires are not rated for 70 anyway. It's a vacation, not a road race...lol

OP said he was going 60 MPH...

[Toolguy5]

MarkTwain wrote:

cahillprc2 wrote:
This particular trial has a 12' box but no cargo area out front. We were traveling 60MPH on Interstate 70 outside of Baltimore where the posted limit is 70 MPH and people and big rigs drive 80mph. We were in the far right lane and if we went any slower we would have pose a danger as well. I obviously made a mistake using the hitch we had because it did ride a bit high in the front. We'll be getting a new one ASAP.. Someone mentioned a drawbar, what is that?

The best hitch from my experience is the Reese Dual Cam hitch.

I agree with the Reese Dual Cam. I had that when we had our TT and it worked great.

[PAThwacker]

I have never experienced sway with a pup keeping speeds at 60 mph. First pup had electric trailer brakes and second pup had surge brakes. Both units had front storage trunks and would be loaded heavy with gear. No wdhi or sway bars

[frankwp]

3oaks wrote:
You did the right thing to first trying to apply the electric controlled trailer brakes. That would have brought you of your emergency trailer sway situation. However, since nothing happened, you also have a serious problem with your trailer brakes or the controller. Be sure to have that matter taken care of as well as the cause of your trailer sway.

I see the opinion expressed often in sway discussions, but it simply is not always true. I had a large Coleman PU trailer being towed with an Aerostar minivan. Starting about 80KM/hr it would sway a little, 100 was downright dangerous. Applying the trailer brakes (fully functional) did NOTHING to diminish the sway. The only thing that worked was to just gradually slow down until the sway stopped.

New tires & shocks did nothing to help, but as soon as I installed a WD hitch, the sway disappeared, never to return.

[Ralph_Cramden]

cahillprc2 wrote:
Quick question, someone who used to be a suspension mechanic was looking at our suspension the other day and said it looked like our axle was bent. If so, it came that way from the manufacturer. I out a straight edge against it when I got home and there is about a 1/4 inch bow in the middle. Is that within tolerances or should I take it back to dealer (we have an extended warranty); and could this be the culprit.

That may explain why the person "used" to be a suspension mechanic.

[mobeewan]

cahillprc2 wrote:
Quick question, someone who used to be a suspension mechanic was looking at our suspension the other day and said it looked like our axle was bent. If so, it came that way from the manufacturer. I out a straight edge against it when I got home and there is about a 1/4 inch bow in the middle. Is that within tolerances or should I take it back to dealer (we have an extended warranty); and could this be the culprit.

Yes it is normal for the axle to have a slight bow.

[K_Mac]

First off, from your 9/04/17 post,it's your tow bar,not your hitch that changes your ball height. # 2, IMHO I would post your axle ? under a New Post' I'm sure you will get a lot more responses under a new thread.

[cahillprc2]

Quick question, someone who used to be a suspension mechanic was looking at our suspension the other day and said it looked like our axle was bent. If so, it came that way from the manufacturer. I out a straight edge against it when I got home and there is about a 1/4 inch bow in the middle. Is that within tolerances or should I take it back to dealer (we have an extended warranty); and could this be the culprit.

[cahillprc2]

Thanks everyone! I have had the trailer brakes checked and the controller. they are working fine now. Replaced the trailer hitch with a little shorter rise so it now travels level. we already had a friction sway bar and were only traveling 60 mph when it happened. The hitch being too high and not caring the weight correctly on the tongue was the problem. TV is a 2017 Tacoma Sport, Dbl Cab, 4x4 with trailer pkg. GVWR is 6500 lbs. TOWING FINE NOW. Your advice was very informative and helpful.

[NanciL]

If your trailer is perfectly level with your tow vehicle and it is happening, then it is time for a sway bar or bars.

Jack L

[skipnchar]

First question that comes to mind with me is "what are you towing with?" Short wheelbase vehicles like Wrangler and some others are more likely to have problems with sway and ALSO what kind of anti sway system are you using to hitch up? Pop up trailer are sway prone and having SOME sort of anti sway equipment is always a good idea. Usually something as low tech as a friction bar will work wonders at keeping the trailer tracking well behaved behind you. Speed, as already mentioned is another HUGE problem. I have NEVER SEEN any kind of tow able trailer sway while standing still. The further you get away from that rock steady state the more likely sway is to happen. Breaks are another issue but probably not relatwed to your sway but could make getting OUT of it difficult so I would make sure they are correctly adjusted and the controller is correctly set. Proportional controllers are best but even a timed controller should work when you hit the slide on it.

[beemerphile1]

You may have a brake issue but brakes don't cause sway.

Your most likely issue is not enough weight on the tongue.

[SidecarFlip]

Drive slower. those tiny tires are not rated for 70 anyway. It's a vacation, not a road race...lol