trailer being pushed around by wind

[MN_Lance]

Have a 29ft sunnybrook harmony and tow it with a 2013 F150 ecoboost with the tow max package camper is approx. 7500lbs and tounge weight approx. 800. the hitch is the reese with the trunion bar 1200lb and dual cam sway control, I set it up per instructions but when driving in a fairly stiff cross wind it likes to I wouldn't say sway so to speak but gets pushed around a lot. the truck sits approx 1 inch less than when its unloaded and the trailer is very level. it requires constant driver input to keep it in a straight line. I filled the rear truck tires to the max {44psi} but it didn't help much. I almost feel the tires have too soft of a sidewall and may be part of the problem? im not sure what to try next im hoping someone has something for me to try..thank you for any help also my old truck was a 2011 f350 and with no sway hitch you could barely tell it was back there!

[brulaz]

MN Lance wrote:

...
could a axel alignment problem cause the trailer to slightly dart back and forth causing the condition I explained in my original post?

also has anyone tried to warranty anything like this through lippert? my dealer a couple months ago when I brought up my tire issue said they don't warranty axles because they don't know if you hit anything
...

Yes, I would definitely get that axle taken care of first, then go from there.

And if your dealer isn't going to help on a warranty repair then you could well have troubles getting your money back. Probably best to take it to a good frame/suspension shop and have it looked at.

[mister_d]

I had nothing but problems with the dual cam and getting it set up correctly but I was one of the few. The majority of owners are very happy with theirs when dialed in correctly (which is why I had originally purchased it).

There aren't many F-150's towing TT's your size that aren't "close to overloaded" when talking payload. I with the crowd saying you need to get some real numbers.

[TomG2]

I may fall into that classification also, but I do think the truth is in the OP's post, "my old truck was a 2011 f350 and with no sway hitch you could barely tell it was back there". The F-350 probably had double or even triple the payload of his F-150. Go to the scales and find out how close to being overloaded you are. It can be disappointing. BTDT, now have a 2500 series.

[SprinklerMan]

I was thinking the trailer may be a bit low on pressure

[Gdetrailer]

SprinklerMan wrote:
That tire presure may also be a bit light .

If you are talking the tire pressure of the VEHICLE then you are dead wrong. The OP has a F150 which will have as standard equipment P or PASSENGER TIRES. 44 PSI IS the max pressure of those tires.

As far as I am concerned, what the OP is feeling would be pretty much NORMAL when going from a heavier and STIFFER suspension to the softer almost mushy "caddy" suspension of a F150. The OP DOWNGRADED the tow vehicle and can FEEL the difference.

The problem is most folks who have 1/2 ton trucks just don't "get it" since they have never experienced a better platform...

[SprinklerMan]

That tire presure may also be a bit light .

[mosseater]

I'm not going to disagree with Barney. Your set up, especially with that truck/trailer combo, is gonna be more critical than a bigger truck. I'll just add that thanks to the help I've gleaned here, I have mine set up about as good as one can, and in cross wind, even with my HD payload package 150, I still have to drive it. Constant driver input...yeah, got that t-shirt on the way back from Indiana. Didn't really occur to me why I was fighting the wheel until we got out at a rest stop. Probably 30 mph winds! The close home we got, the less the wind effect, then it was back to normal. You're towing a giant brick down the road, after all.

[MN_Lance]

Thank you for all the thoughts/info I think I discovered another issue I need to solve first before doing more with the hitch setup. since I got the trailer 1 year ago I have noticed that one tire was almost shot after approx 1500 miles last year so this spring I swaped it for the new spare and I have only taken 2 trips this year for a total of 450 miles and can see the new tire is already starting to get chopped!! with the trailer sitting level and no side pressure from turning on either axle I put a straight edge across both tires from front to back on both sides and one side is right on and the other side with bad tire I hit 3 of the tire walls but the one that is wearing funny seems to be toed in 1/4 to 3/8 of a inch! I know people are going to say this is the wrong way to do it but it gives me a pretty good idea that I have a axel issue, which leads to the next questions.

could a axel alignment problem cause the trailer to slightly dart back and forth causing the condition I explained in my original post?

also has anyone tried to warranty anything like this through lippert? my dealer a couple months ago when I brought up my tire issue said they don't warranty axles because they don't know if you hit anything....any thoughts?

thank you

[BarneyS]

MN Lance wrote:
Snip... it requires constant driver input to keep it in a straight line. Snip...

This sounds like the classic case of the WD bars V not being centered EXACTLY on the cams when the trailer and truck are lined up straight. The cams are constantly fighting with each other to keep the trailer in line. You need to get down and look closely at the cams/bars. See this post by member JBarca that shows pictures of what I am talking about. The other things mentioned by posters above could also be contributing but I would re-examine the hitch setup first.
Barney

[foneguy493]

remember your towing a billboard ! wind will allways bbe a factor. mine is no ligghtweight by any means ive had constant winds slow me, push me along and 1 time slide me sideways, that was a 70 mph + microburst that was part of a tornado. my advise is super high winds simply slow down.

[TomG2]

I think Ford recommends 50% front axle restoration for your vehicle. Some have reported how well that works. Personally, with your setup, I would try 100% first. You are probably close to your payload limit with a lot of that weight on the rear axle.

[brulaz]

IMHO the regular F150 has way too soft a suspension for its rated tow/haul capabilities. Unless you get the HD Payload option which stiffens the springs, shocks and adds LT tires (and 7 lug axles/wheels).

So I've tried to improve that by putting on HD shocks, Roadmaster Active Suspension (or you could add Timbrens or SuperSprings or whatever) and LT tires. Definitely helps in the wind and otherwise.

[LarryJM]

Lantley wrote:
Now you need to weigh your rig a come up with some actual measurements. My first thought is your tongue weight is too light. 7500 x 13%= 975 800 is too light.
In order to get your rig set up properly you will need real weights to figure out exactly where you stand.

I agree until you start dealing with actual FACTS and not just guesses that is all we too are doing GUESSING for the most part. There is a ton of more factors besides just setting up a hitch according to the written directions from the manufacturer.

Larry

[Hondavalk]

First time out after installing my Dual Cam I also had 1" of sag at the rear of the truck and felt my sway wasn't any better than without the cams. Tightened up the chains 1 link (now have 6 links)and it was a night and day difference.