New truck, New trailer, TONS of sway!

[Mwolfe450]

I recently took delivery of our 2015 Prowler 32pbhs trailer and towed it home with my 2015 f150 ecoboost pickup. The dealer I bought it from also sold me and installed a blue ox sway pro system. The ride home was downright scary on the highway. A 5 mile trip was about all I could handle staying in the right lane, well some lane and some shoulder, well below the speed limit. I even had a few panic and grab the brake box slide moments to straighten back out. I got it home and thought they set the bars too tight. The rear of the truck felt unplanted and very unstable. Today I hitched back up and went for another ride with less tension on the bars, which helped the truck feel more planted, but still had way more sway than I was comfortable with. I plan on re-installing the hitch myself, and also getting everything weighed up but I need to figure out what issues I might be faced with. The trailer is a touch over 8k empty, and has a tongue weight of 950lbs. The truck is good for 10,700 pounds, so I know I am at the higher end of my truck's capacity, but still within it, especially with the trailer completely empty. Any research I found made the hitch seem like a good unit, and the truck seems to carry the weight ok considering what I'm towing. Any thoughts, or insight is greatly appreciated.

Matt

[93Cobra2771]

I agree with the last two comments.

At this point we don't have enough info to help you out...

By the way, also sent you a private message.

[jerem0621]

OP...you have been beat up enough on your Truck..so I'm not going to jump in there.

Let take a look at your hitch first of all. Get out your instructions and set the hitch up correctly. As said before, nose down is better.

We had someone come on here not too long ago with similar handling issues with the BlueOx Sway Pro and it too resetting the hitch and adding more tension to straighten it out.

You are heavy, you know you are heavy...take those tires are look at the sidewall...air those tires up to Max PSI...

Then tow the truck and trailer to a scale and figure out what's going on weight wise, you may find that the tongue is too light, or too heavy for the spring bars...etc etc..

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[dodge_guy]

I will also say that is a lot of trailer, but if it's properly setup you should have no issues. Buying a new truck will just be a 40k band aid, you'll still have an improperly setup trailer with a 3/4 ton.

I would load the trailer with 2-300lbs of stuff in the front and see how it tows! If it's good, then get it to a scale and weigh it without the extra weight in it.
BTW, I would ditch the Blue Ox hitch and go with a Reese Dual Cam. Much better than any other hitch out there, only thing better is a Hensley or Pro Pride!

Good luck!

[bid_time]

Sway is caused by not enough tongue weight. There is nothing about the towing platform that is going to change that, if the tongue weight is to light, it's going to sway. The tongue weight should be at least 12 to 13 percent - more is better (that's fully loaded and ready to camp). Start there, dial in the hitch, and give it a try. Once you determine the tongue weight you can determine if your truck has enough payload to handle the trailer.

[CampingN_C_]

I agree it's too much for for a half ton but if there's something going on with the trailer itself it's going to sway regardless. If you have "P" tires that's a lot of your issue, especially with the higher tongue weight.
Overall length is another one. Mine is around 35ft long and I fought handling issues with a CCSB 2500HD. Recently went to a CCLB and it's OOOOOOO so nice now! :B

[evanrem]

You are in a bummer situation. You need to figure out the weights and see where you are at. I was in the same place 5 years ago towing at the max for my 1/2 ton if not over a bit. I was about to sell the new trailer for something else until I stumbled across the pro pride hitch which offered a money back guarantee so it was take a bigger loss on the trailer or spend 2k on the hitch. I towed the setup for 5 years and just upgraded to a 2500 and what everyone says is true, way better tow. Good luck

[tragusa3]

I have made tons of adjustments to my WDH. Seems like for the first year I was trying a tweak on every trip. Every adjustment, even the small ones, could be felt in the towing experience. None were as scary as you mention, but I've got less length and weight. Some were "not good" though. I've now settled in on something stable.

All that said, I know your engine is not having any trouble with the load, but the rest of the truck is not up to it.

[cockroach]

Towing capacity is not the answer to all the real world factors in towing a trailer. The specs don't address the weather that you might be exposed to. Safety should be your number 1 concern, for both you and your family as well as others on the roads you are driving. I have been towing since 1969 with a car. Towed a 17 Ft Holiday Rambler with a Chevy Station wagon. It worked just fine. In today's world I doubt that I would tow over a 25 ft or 26 ft Trailer with a 1/2 Ton pickup. No more than about 6000 pounds. Anything heavier I would go to at least a 3/4 Ton. Just my opinion. I am no expert.

[SprinklerMan]

Spend all the time and money you want on the hitch and tires , thats too much trailer for a 1/2 ton truck . You dont have load range E tires , you dont have enough springs on the rear axle . Before you wreck the truck and or the trailer . Go get a 3/4 ton .

[APT]

9k loaded with 1100 pounds+ of TW is a lot for even the most capable half tons.

Focus on the WDH adjustment. Get trailer level to slightly nose down. Get the truck front axle back to unhitched weight, despite Ford's recommendation.

[goducks10]

Tell us what cab config you have.
If it's a supercab with a 6.5 box then no way in you know where that you'll ever get the sway gone.
A supercrew with the 6.5 box would help.

[Lantley]

Before I join the too much trailer band wagon what is the GVW of your truck? What type tires are on the truck. What is the actual TW of the trailer?
There needs to be some base line info before hitting the panic button

[Mr_Biggles]

Too much trailer ! What is your truck's max payload (sticker on driver's door ) , and do have "P" rated tires or "LT" rated tires ?

[midnightsadie]

before you do anything tow it with a real truck. or you,ll just be throwing money out the window,your truck is just not big enough. and shame on the sales person who told you,it would.

[TomG2]

The OP wrote, "I have access to an old Reese system and also a f250 I can hook to it for comparison."

Try that combination before wasting any more time, money, or safety with the F-150. You will learn more than a dozen of our experts can tell you in the first five miles.