Tow vehicle too short of wheelbase???

[hookset]

Recently downsized from 39' 5th wheel & one ton diesel dually to a 30' (box-34' inc hitch)trailer and a 2017 Chevy Silverado Tahoe suv. On tow home from dealership & 1st camping trip (100 miles total) I experienced a considerable amount of sway even with a WD hitch and 1 sway bar. Many years ago we started camping with a 30' trailer pulled by a Chevy Blazer - don't remember having this problem. Is it ---

1. Tahoe has too short of a wheelbase (116 inches)
2. Need 2nd sway bar
3. WD hitch not installed correctly
All the above or ????

[bid_time]

Easy fix, you need more tongue weight, 15% is good, more is better.

[Lwiddis]

I wouldn’t pull a 30 foot TT (35 overall?) with my Tahoe. Too much TT for TV wheelbase.

[rexlion]

I think you may have too much tail and it is at risk of wagging the dog. However, you can try some things first. As mentioned, ensure 10% to 15% of trailer weight is on the hitch (there is no substitute for actually weighing the trailer and the tongue, and ensuring proper tongue weight percentage!!). Then, replace your plain WD hitch and sway bar with a hitch that has built-in sway control, such as an Equal-i-zer from Progress Mfg. (I would stay away from the Blue Ox Sway Pro for a 34' TT, some have reported sway problems with that situation). Or go whole hog and get a Pro Pride or Hensley.

[coolmom42]

Check your vehicle weights, as loaded for use. Make sure you have 10-15% of the trailer weight on the tongue. In this case, go for 15%. You may be close to overloading the Tahoe, so make sure your total and axle weights are in limits.

Make sure the front end weight is restored on the Tahoe, with the WD system.

Make sure the trailer is level, or very slightly nose down. No high nose.

Check all your tire pressures--make sure they are correct for the loads. Make sure you have the right load range tires. If you are borderline, go up.

You mentioned ONE bar. I would recommend you go to a setup like an E-qual-izer or Blue Ox.

You will ALWAYS feel a "bow wave" or "push" when passed by a big vehicle like a semi. But it should immediately straighten out, and not turn into a sway issue.

If none of the above work, you need a sturdier tow vehicle, probably a 3/4 ton, or at least a 1/2 ton HD.

[bobndot]

Think of the trailer ball as a hinge in regard to sway.
After you set things up, I would make sure your EQ WD bars are the correct size so you don't stress them over time. You probably have more tongue weight than you think unless you have scaled your tongue weight and know for sure.

First , air up all tires to max PSI . I would redo the hitch set up . Follow the below link. I did mine this way, using a Reese Pro Series friction set up and it worked perfectly.
Set your hitch correctly and it should tow without sway as long the TV and TT are in correct wheel alignment, so the two vehicles don't fight one another causing the TT to wag the TV and
TV try to correct the situation .
Your goal in general, all hitched up, is to have the front end height of the TV be about the same as normal for steering control and the rear squat down a little in order to keep traction on the rear wheels.

A second friction sway control would also help with a 30 ft box in crosswinds.

The last resort would be a longer wheelbase veh. which would be better but I don't think you need to do that in order to get a comfortable enough ride.


http://davidsrvtips.blogspot.com/2009/02/hitch-setup_2781.html

[SoundGuy]

hookset wrote:
Recently downsized from 39' 5th wheel & one ton diesel dually to a 30' (box-34' inc hitch)trailer and a 2017 Chevy Silverado Tahoe suv. On tow home from dealership & 1st camping trip (100 miles total) I experienced a considerable amount of sway even with a WD hitch and 1 sway bar. Many years ago we started camping with a 30' trailer pulled by a Chevy Blazer - don't remember having this problem. Is it ---

1. Tahoe has too short of a wheelbase (116 inches)
2. Need 2nd sway bar
3. WD hitch not installed correctly
All the above or ????

Could be all of the above. Having towed with vehicles with wheelbases ranging from 111" to 143" I'd agree that 116" is just too short for towing a trailer measuring 34' coupler to bumper. To solve this I'd first load the trailer as it typically would be for camping and check that the weight distribution is correctly set up. Assuming it is and you still have sway the next solution is to add a second sway bar. If that still doesn't do it then a WD system like the Hensley Arrow or Propride 3P may be your only option and although expensive either would certainly be a lot less costly than replacing your Tahoe with a much longer wheelbase vehicle. BTW, never heard of a "Silverado Tahoe", has to be one or the other, so I assume you mean you have a Tahoe SUV considering the wheelbase is so short. 😉

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Try tightening the sway bar first.

I'm a newbie and nowhere being an expert.

Except that I've experienced a bit of over-reactive sway when a rig passes me by (but nothing I lost control of). I just stop in a nearby gas station and noticed the untightened sway lever and adjusted it. It appeared to have solved it. I tow a 21 trailer with a 4-runner.

[12th_Man_Fan]

I would suspect it is a little of all the above but mostly the hitch.

After pulling a fifth wheel with a dually any sway at all will seem excessive.

It has been a long time since I pulled a tag-along but the sway when being passed by trucks and the cross winds was why I went to a 5er.

I was under the impression that they have some hitches now that eliminate all the sway. May need to spend some big bucks but I am certainly not an expert on equalizer hitches.

Good luck I know how unsettling it is to have that issue with your family on board.

[ScottG]

My vote is for the hitch not being set up correctly. For some reason, dealers have a hard time with this job.
I would go over the instructions and increase the tension on the spring bars until you get the best handling. Then you can add friction sway bars.
You want to keep the sway from starting in the first place rather than control it with friction bars constantly.

It could also be that your Tahoe is just too lightly sprung for the job but try the above first.