Trailer wagging

[TWolf]

I have a 2013 Rockwood TT lite. It is 26 foot long. I traded my 04 Nash on it. I never had any problems towing the Nash which dry weight was 8300 lbs. The Rockwood which its dry weight is 5717 and wet is around 7600 lbs, I have trouble towing. When I get up to around 55 mph the trailer starts to wag like a dog's tail. It got so bad once that the traffic coming up behind me had to almost go off the road to prevent from getting hit. This happens even when I am not loaded but gets worse when loaded.

Does anyone have any idea what may be causing this to happen? I don't like towing it. I am taking it back to the Dealer in Spokane in 2 weeks to see if they can figure it out.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Tom Wolf

[gusco01]

Make sure the trailer & tow vehicle are level when loaded. If the toung is high in front that will also load the rear tires too much and cause sway and overload the rear tires and possible tire blow outs and bearing trouble. My Son has a forest river and he added a rack on the rear for a generator and pulled with a high vehicle and didn't have the trailer level and it caused both the rear tires to blow out and one wheel burned up the bearings. After he got the proper drop hitch bar so it was level the problem went away. I did not catch what kind of vehicle you are towing it with? That will make a diff

[CincyGus]

You can put water in the trailer, just wait until you get to where your going, or at least close and fill there. W

ith a water tank behind the axles, one on top of them, a bumper rack with a genny on it, it sounds like too light a tongue weight was the main issue. Load as much of your heavy stuff in the front of the trailer as you can, travel with no water in the fresh tank and fill once you get off the highway at a gas station or someplace like that. Your hitch may have solved the problem pulling it home empty but if weighed down in the back end again, I'm gonna bet you get a similar result.

Heavy stuff up front and getting the tongue weight in that 12%-15% range with the trailer level to nose down will solve it permanantly.

[TWolf]

I got the TT back from the Dealer in Spokane Tuesday and I bought a new hitch for it. I got the E2 round bar set up. Coming home empty it pulled wonderful. I could get up to 75 mph with out any problems. Most often I will pull around 65 to 70.

We are planning on going camping this weekend so I will get to test the hitch when loaded with water.

I called Forest River to talk to them about the problem and all they would way is not to put water in the trailer. Then just what good is the trailer?

Thanks for all your help and replies.
Tom Wolf

[opnspaces]

Like others I'm guessing you're too light in the tongue. Yes I agree that getting it weighed (try a cat scales, a local moving company, the city landfill) Barring getting it weighed you could make a few tests.

You mentioned your water tank is behind the axles and the gray and black tanks are in front of the axles. Try draining the fresh and use a hose to fill the gray and black and take it for a drive.

Or go to home depot and buy about 200 lbs of the bagged playground sand and put the bags on a tarp as far forward as they can go in the trailer. Pull the generator off and go for a test drive.

Maybe you can find a way to use some ratchet straps to temporarily mount the generator to the tongue long enough to go for a test drive. If the rear rack is removable make sure to remove it also for the test.

If it tows fine after that then you just have to figure out how to load to keep the an adequate tongue weight.

If and when you do take the trailer to the dealer make sure it's on a day they can look at it. Have the fresh tank full, the generator on the back, and and install instructions for the hitch downloaded and printed out.

Good luck with it, it doesn't sound like an enjoyable tow as it is.

[TWolf]

I had the hitch adjusted when the trailer was fully loaded. Had to stop on one of our trips to get it adjusted. They leveled the hitch so that the trailer matched the trucks stance.

The carrying rack I used 3 of the receiver mounts spaced out across the bumper. The two outside ones are close to the frame mounts and the middle one is in the middle of the bumper. By doing this, it prevents the rack from shifting due to weight. The front edge of the rack is about 1 inch from the rear bumper.

I do like the looks of the front mount carrier. I can also carry my generator in the back of my truck but that is a hassle to move when I need the bed. Being disabled, 150 lbs is hard for me to move.

Thank you all for your input and ideas. It has been very helpful. I will update when RNR in Spokane figures out what is causing the problem. They have been great to deal with so far.

[nevadanick]

Move evrything you loaded into the trailer to the very front and take it for a drive.

[Terryallan]

TWolf wrote:
When we bought the trailer and brought it home from Spokane. It is about 130 mile trip. The TT acted up a little bit. At that time it was completely empty. Now we have loaded it up with what we use to camp with. I have always filled my fresh water to where it pours out of the over flow for just the reason of slushing back and fourth.

We still have the one year full warranty and we also purchased another 6 year full warranty to cover anything else that may happen. We take it back to the dealer on the 24th to see if they can fix it. This will not be a fun ride over.

You really need to redo the hitch once you load the TT. It will tow completely different loaded. It does sound like you need more tongue weight, and to readjust the hitch. Remember. You don't really adjust the hitch for the truck. You adjust the hitch for how the trailer affects the truck.

[DiskDoctr]

TWolf wrote:
I also have a bumper rack which holds my Honda 3000 generator.

Can you tell us more about your "bumper rack?"

Not exactly your question, but the rear bumpers of many RVs are not designed for much weight.

Don't fret all the Q's and cautions. These are pretty common issues and suggestions. Fortunately, most here will be sure to mention as many possible problems and solutions as possible.

[69_Avion]

Are the tanks behind the axles? Check tongue weight empty and full. I prefer tanks in front of the axles when possible. Extra tongue weight doesn't hurt anything as long as the tow vehicle can handle it.
You can always add a generator or other items to the tongue.

[coolbreeze01]

Typically associated with being tail heavy.

[handye9]

TWolf wrote:
I have an EQ hitch and had it set up to my current truck. The truck is a 03 Chevy 2500HD D-max crew cab short box. When I first bought the TT, I had a 99 Ford 250 crew cab short box and it did the same thing. The hitch was lowered and tilted more flat than forward. I bought the hitch used in 98 when we bought our first TT. Can a hitch wear out? The fresh water tank in behind the wheels and the gray/black is over the wheels. I also have a bumper rack which holds my Honda 3000 generator.

If it is to little tongue weight, how can I solve this issues with out moving my generator. It also had the same issue without the generator. We do a lot of dry camping here so I need both the generator and a full tank of water.

The TT is a front kitchen unit.

I think there may be a combination of issues.

1. Tongue weight is too low. You say wag gets worse when loaded.

I too, have a front kitchen model with fresh tank behind the axles. Added to that, most of my exterior storage is behind the axles and I've had a little wiggle. I used a tongue weight scale and watched my tongue weight drop 200 lbs, while filling the fresh tank. If I'm towing with water onboard, I load everything possible up front to counteract the water weight. I even took the spare tire off the back bumper. Without help from big rigs speeding past, or, a strong cross wind, I no longer have a wiggle.

2. The hitch needs the be adjusted for current truck / trailer combination.


Set up your hitch for current combination and check your loading. With fresh tank so far back, the bumper is probably not a good place for your generator.

Get an accurate weight on the loaded trailer. Then, rent or buy a tongue weight scale and use it while loading. Your loaded tongue weight should be about 12.5% (with or without water) of loaded trailer weight.

One of these is one my wish list for a generator.

[TWolf]

When we bought the trailer and brought it home from Spokane. It is about 130 mile trip. The TT acted up a little bit. At that time it was completely empty. Now we have loaded it up with what we use to camp with. I have always filled my fresh water to where it pours out of the over flow for just the reason of slushing back and fourth.

We still have the one year full warranty and we also purchased another 6 year full warranty to cover anything else that may happen. We take it back to the dealer on the 24th to see if they can fix it. This will not be a fun ride over.

[Gdetrailer]

odis wrote:
I was reading about traveling with fresh water and had to ask this ? . If you travel with say half a tank of water would it effect sway? Seams like once it started sloshing back and forth it would ampliphy the sway? I try to dump before I travel but have some fresh water for the bathroom breaks.
Just a thought.
Jim

A half full tank could slosh enough to give the feeling of sway or unstable towing. Might be a good idea to either haul a very small amount of water or a full tank rather than half tank.

[odis]

I was reading about traveling with fresh water and had to ask this ? . If you travel with say half a tank of water would it effect sway? Seams like once it started sloshing back and forth it would ampliphy the sway? I try to dump before I travel but have some fresh water for the bathroom breaks.
Just a thought.
Jim