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

[camp-n-family]

The Hensley and Pro-prides are excellent hitches, but they are not fixes for under sized trucks.

[Mickey_D]

I have a LaCrosse 329 that weighs over 10K pounds when loaded with all of our junk, propane, batteries, etc... I started off with a 2014 GMC 1500 CC with LT E rated tires, and heavy shocks with a Curt Pro Series hitch and dual friction bars and it was not pleasant. The truck had enough power and brakes, but it was a case of the tail wagging the dog. Ended up moving up to a Cummins Ram 2500 CC 4x4, and while it was a LOT better, it still got pushed around on very windy days. I recently got a Hensley and the difference is amazing. When coming back from our last trip we had heavy interstate traffic and 35MPH side winds and everything felt rock solid. It was actually relaxing at 70 with the cruise on.

Before spending the money on a new truck I would look at getting a Hensley or ProPride hitch. If it makes the F150 work with the trailer you will be ahead, and if you do end up moving to a bigger truck you will have the ultimate setup.

[Mike_Up]

Mwolfe450 wrote:
Wow. Thanks for all of the input. I haven't had time to mess with the setup, I am hoping to do so soon. I understand I am at or above the limits of the truck once the trailer is loaded. I towed it home empty, with nothing in it. So I towed an 8k trailer with a 950lb tongue weight trailer and it was bad. I understand weight capacities are glorified on trucks, especially 1/2 tons. I have towed 10k with the truck and had no complaints, but that was an open trailer, much different than a 32ft sail. I also feel some people have responded thinking the truck had no suspension left with the trailer. In fact, I felt it had way to much travel left for being at capacity. When I took some resistance out of the bars it certainly helped. Not sure of tires on the truck but they're oem goodyears definitely not e rated, I'll guess lt tires. Payload on the truck is 2060lbs. Yes that's including passengers which is less than 550lbs. So I have 1500lb carrying capacity being conservative in the truck. The trailer would generally be towed fairly light for small weekend trips and full hookup sites. The dealers setup had the trailer level to slightly nose up. I will set the hitch up according to instructions and nose the trailer slightly and re try it. Then I will add tongue weight and try again. Lastly I will hitch it up to a v10 250 and see how that is. will the 250 pull it better, absolutely. If I'm still not comfortable in the f150 I will get a different trailer. I guess my original question in my first post was what might make it so squirrelly empty? Would prowler sell such an unbalanced trailer? Or can a poorly set up hitch cause that much sway?

Just like you, I bought a new F150. These trucks are light so they will get thrown around by an out of control trailer. I'm surprised the electronic sway control didn't help. You do have the Ford factory brake controller?

Your trailer nose should never be high. That's likely your sway problem. You'll likely need to readjust the hitch so that trailer is slightly nose down.

You may also have oversized WDH bars. With the Sway Pro, you need to have the bars bending to control sway and they won't if the bars are to large for your trailer.

Plus that trailer is so heavy dry, you'll be very close to the truck's hitch receiver rating when loaded. Be very careful with a trailer that heavy, and a truck this light. You need to have the hitch adjusted so it's spot on since you have no room for error as you found out.

Good luck.

[TomG2]

I agree with most that the OP's F-150 can be made to tow his travel trailer. I also agree with those, including the OP, that a F-250 will do it "better". What is "Better" worth in terms of comfort, safety, and longevity? We all get to make that decision.

[coolbreeze01]

The number 1 cause of trailer sway is lack of tongue weight. Air your truck tires to max and tow the trailer without the bars. I bet it won't sway.
Once fully loaded you can dial in your system.

[Hunterred]

I pull a 9200lb loaded Jayco 29QBS, 7500 dry. I have a blue ox and use a 2015 GMC 1500 w/max tow. my payload is 1985 and the tongue weight is 1198 loaded. I use P rated tires. We are at 92% of the truck GVWR loaded for a 2 week trip with 96 gal of water onboard. It can be done, and I would love to hear your %'s from the ¾ ton croud and ask how far under the max you should be for a buffer.

A few things that will be likely culprits:
Tires not inflated to max psi. with P rated that is a must. the sidewall is too soft with them.
Nose up. big no no, nose down slightly or level is best.
Over rated bars. you likely have the 1500lb bars. this will be a good thing once loaded but unloaded likely lifts too much off of the rear.

As everyone els says, set up properly and get some weights. good luck sir.

[Need-A-Vacation]

Is the 950lb tw the "brochure" dry tw? Is so, you actually have ~1100lbs tw before even loading the trailer with clothes, food, chairs, etc. The 2-30lb propane tanks and a battery are not included in the "brochure" dry tw, adding ~160lbs. Per one post only about 130lbs less than your receiver rating? That is another rating you need to watch.

You have enough payload per the yellow sticker if that is where you got the 2000lb rating.

As mentioned, load the trailer up and readjust the wdh. If possible, weigh the tongue with a bathroom scale as posted. Search for how to weigh tongue weight with a bathroom scale.

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

[TomG2]

wing_zealot wrote:
Glad to see the Gotta Have A Diesel Dually to Tow A Popup crowd is alive and well.

A 35 foot, 9,000 pound travel trailer is now classified as a Popup? Since when?

[wing_zealot]

Glad to see the Gotta Have A Diesel Dually to Tow A Popup crowd is alive and well.

[GaryWT]

Always interesting reading. I just want to add the the worse time I have ever had towing was towing the empty trailer home. Once loaded, things improve. Do not change anything until the trailer is loaded up and you test it again. The dealer just might have set the hitch up based on a loaded trailer (a dream I know). Guessing you had a battery and propane but fill th front storage to get the tongue weight where it should be.

[CampingN_C_]

Mwolfe450 wrote:
Wow. Thanks for all of the input. I haven't had time to mess with the setup, I am hoping to do so soon. I understand I am at or above the limits of the truck once the trailer is loaded. I towed it home empty, with nothing in it. So I towed an 8k trailer with a 950lb tongue weight trailer and it was bad. I understand weight capacities are glorified on trucks, especially 1/2 tons. I have towed 10k with the truck and had no complaints, but that was an open trailer, much different than a 32ft sail. I also feel some people have responded thinking the truck had no suspension left with the trailer. In fact, I felt it had way to much travel left for being at capacity. When I took some resistance out of the bars it certainly helped. Not sure of tires on the truck but they're oem goodyears definitely not e rated, I'll guess lt tires. Payload on the truck is 2060lbs. Yes that's including passengers which is less than 550lbs. So I have 1500lb carrying capacity being conservative in the truck. The trailer would generally be towed fairly light for small weekend trips and full hookup sites. The dealers setup had the trailer level to slightly nose up. I will set the hitch up according to instructions and nose the trailer slightly and re try it. Then I will add tongue weight and try again. Lastly I will hitch it up to a v10 250 and see how that is. will the 250 pull it better, absolutely. If I'm still not comfortable in the f150 I will get a different trailer. I guess my original question in my first post was what might make it so squirrelly empty? Would prowler sell such an unbalanced trailer? Or can a poorly set up hitch cause that much sway?

Lot's of what you said here sounds like you're pulling too much WD tension. You say you backed off and it got better. You've also said the "rear didn't feel planted", also a sign of taking too much weight off the rear.
I fought a bad set up that felt like sway when in fact the trailer wasn't "swaying" at all. I'm starting to think your trailer isn't TRULY swaying but just a bad set up.
Oh and your "P" tires, in case you haven't been told. 😄

[JIMNLIN]

op wrote:
I guess my original question in my first post was what might make it so squirrelly empty?

AS the forum says their are a multitude of things that can cause a certain combo to be squirrely.
We see folks with all sizes of trucks/bumper pull trailers with the same issues when their not set up right. What works for J. smith may not work for G. jones.

Would prowler sell such an unbalanced trailer?

You bet. The dealer is under no obligation to make your combo tow correctly.

Or can a poorly set up hitch cause that much sway?

Yes.
Looking around at different rv websites/TT forums your scenario is happens quite often.

[Walaby]

Yes, I believe an improperly setup hitch can cause what you are feeling. I personally am of the mind that your truck is probably on the edge. Don't assume you have LT tires, in all likelihood, they are probably P rated tires if they are OEM.

Just as a point of comparison, and everyone's comfort level is different, my previous rig was a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 short bed, and I had a TT that was 30' tip to tail. Loaded weight was 7000. Tongue weight was 900. My cargo capacity was less than yours (1680). 900lb tongue weight, 100 lb for hitch, and approx 400 for passengers, and I was under my cargo capacity by about 280. I felt like I was pretty much at the max I wanted to be, and while it was okay pulling, I upgraded the truck to a 3/4 ton. Since then I've also upgraded the trailer and am way happier and way more comfortable.

You can probably make it work with your rig, but as someone pointed above, if you are on the edge, little changes will have much larger impacts.

Get the hitch dialed in. You can set it up pretty dang close without weighing. Blue Ox instructions are pretty straight forward. You just need to take pre hook up measurements on front and rear wheel well. Goal is to get front wheel well at same height hooked up, as it was unhooked. Rear should be about an inch or less lower. Then tow to get it weighed. You will need three weights.. Truck alone, truck with trailer with WD bars in place, and truck with trailer with WD bars removed.

Of course, you want to do this setup, with the trailer packed as you intend to camp. If you set it up dry, depending on how much weight you add, you may have to do it again.

My new trailer, a 32ft Lacrosse (36 ft total) is 8300 lbs dry. I personally would not want to tow it with a 1/2 ton, even if the weight numbers were okay. I know the trailer is back there even with my 2500 Ram CTD. Cruising down the freeway at 1700 RPM's and just humming along is nice though.

Just rambling thoughts. Before I ran and sold the truck, I would try to dial it in. But, I suspect you're still not going to be totally happy. I'd bet you lunch that a 3/4 ton will be in your future.

Mike

[Mwolfe450]

Wow. Thanks for all of the input. I haven't had time to mess with the setup, I am hoping to do so soon. I understand I am at or above the limits of the truck once the trailer is loaded. I towed it home empty, with nothing in it. So I towed an 8k trailer with a 950lb tongue weight trailer and it was bad. I understand weight capacities are glorified on trucks, especially 1/2 tons. I have towed 10k with the truck and had no complaints, but that was an open trailer, much different than a 32ft sail. I also feel some people have responded thinking the truck had no suspension left with the trailer. In fact, I felt it had way to much travel left for being at capacity. When I took some resistance out of the bars it certainly helped. Not sure of tires on the truck but they're oem goodyears definitely not e rated, I'll guess lt tires. Payload on the truck is 2060lbs. Yes that's including passengers which is less than 550lbs. So I have 1500lb carrying capacity being conservative in the truck. The trailer would generally be towed fairly light for small weekend trips and full hookup sites. The dealers setup had the trailer level to slightly nose up. I will set the hitch up according to instructions and nose the trailer slightly and re try it. Then I will add tongue weight and try again. Lastly I will hitch it up to a v10 250 and see how that is. will the 250 pull it better, absolutely. If I'm still not comfortable in the f150 I will get a different trailer. I guess my original question in my first post was what might make it so squirrelly empty? Would prowler sell such an unbalanced trailer? Or can a poorly set up hitch cause that much sway?

[camperforlife]

Ok, I've read every post and I don't think you were ever given all the info on where to start.

First off, weigh your tongue. There are plenty of how to's online as how to do it with bathroom scales. After you know your true tongue weight check what weight rated bars came with your Blue Ox, someone else explained the dots on the bars tell you the rating: 3 dots, 1000 lbs, 4 dots 1500 lbs.

Now after you know the tongue weight and have the right rated bars go back step by step and make sure the Blue Ox is set up properly. If you have issues with set up call Blue Ox, they are wonderful about helping.

Now you can make another tow and come back and report your results. You know you are pushing your trucks limits, having the hitch set up properly is critical.