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trailer being pushed around by wind

MN_Lance
Explorer
Explorer
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!
2008 F350 CC 4x4, V10, Air bags, overload spring helpers, Rancho RS9000X with a 2008 Lance 861
23 REPLIES 23

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
Soft sided radial P tires on the tow vehicle and the old tech bias ply tires on the trailer can make for a handful to pull.

P tires may handle low or no wind situations fine but add sidewinds and its a different story. I noticed this when pulling one of my 10k flatbed trailers with the wifes 1500 chevy when it had P tires on it. Went to a LT C at 50 psi and the trailer tracks straight in any wind condition.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

Lantley
Nomad
Nomad
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.
19'Duramax w/hips, 2022 Alliance Paradigm 390MP >BD3,r,22" Blackstone
r,RV760 w/BC20,Glow Steps, Enduraplas25,Pedego
BakFlip,RVLock,Prog.50A surge ,Hughes autoformer
Porta Bote 8.0 Nissan, Sailun S637

TomG2
Explorer
Explorer
I am not with the weight police in all situations, but I notice the wind a lot less with my 2500HD than I did with a 1500. The softer suspension, including tires, gives the wind a little bit of an advantage. Slowing down will regain some of your stability.

LeBout
Explorer
Explorer
Movement in high wind situations is very normal albeit disconcerting. If you're not getting sway or movement when the wind is absent I wouldn't think you have a problem.
2020 Heartland Wilderness 2500RL
2013 Ford F-150 3.5L Eccoboost Supercrew 4x4, Max tow package
2 Honda 2000 watt Generators
Eastern Oregon, USA

Our Trailer
Our Floorplan
Days camped so far in 2020: 0

Terryallan
Explorer II
Explorer II
29 feet of sail, and stiff wind. Yep, It's gonna move.
Terry & Shay
Coachman Apex 288BH.
2013 F150 XLT Off Road
5.0, 3.73
Lazy Campers

jerem0621
Explorer II
Explorer II
Seems like business as usual to me for towing in a heavy cross wind.

However, you should not experience sway, the rig should be pushing as one. If it is not I would re-examine your DC set up.

Thanks!
TV-2022 Silverado 2WD
TT - Zinger 270BH
WD Hitch- HaulMaster 1,000 lb Round Bar
Dual Friction bar sway control

It’s Kind of Fun to do the Impossible
~Walt Disney~

chevyman2
Explorer
Explorer
even a class "A" MH is a handful in a stiff cross wind. When I had TTs, they were a hard pull in a cross wind. Now pulling a PUP with a mid size SUV (Jeep GC), in a hard wind, it can be a force.

In a nutshell, a cross wind is going to cause some moving around, even if you are driving your little DD car or truck empty.
Tim-DW(Kathy)
12 Chevy Sonic DD, 03 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, 2001 Jayco KIWI
If a "nightmare" is considered a dream-then I am living the dream

_40Fan
Explorer
Explorer
It's wind, you're going to move. Pulling my 24' TT home this weekend with my 3/4 ton, I was pushed around with the cross winds.
2013 Arctic Fox 22GQ
2011 Ram 2500 CC LB CTD G56 3.42 Mineral Gray

LeBout
Explorer
Explorer
What kind of cross winds were you experiencing? I just came back from a trip to the Midwest (Minnesota and South Dakota) and while crossing SD we had sustained winds upwards to 40 MPH. Made driving miserable. I, too, have a Ford F-150 but my trailer isn't quite as heavy as yours.
2020 Heartland Wilderness 2500RL
2013 Ford F-150 3.5L Eccoboost Supercrew 4x4, Max tow package
2 Honda 2000 watt Generators
Eastern Oregon, USA

Our Trailer
Our Floorplan
Days camped so far in 2020: 0