trailor sway

[Bumpers53]

Hi I'm wondering if anybody has a new ford F150 if so are you having any trouble with trailer sway because of the truck being to lite. I have a wd but it seems like my trailer wants to fish tail a lot I have never had this problem before.

[TomG2]

I have swayed many miles with overloaded pickups, towing everything from asphalt rollers to skid steer loaders. Believe me, I know what sway is. When the oscillations start and won't stop until speed is reduced dramatically, that is sway. The tow vehicle is not up to the task. When someone posts three or four absolute "Rules", I question their expertise. I am not nearly arrogant enough to attempt to list all the factors in sway.

To paraphrase your signature. "Too many opinions and not enough facts".

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

TomG2 wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

#2. Trucks don't cause sway at all.

Have you never driven an overloaded pickup? They wallow from shoulder to shoulder. If that ain't sway, what is it?

Put 2,000 pounds of gravel or 1500 pounds of tongue weight on the back of an old C10 if you don't believe me.

#1. The load is causing the wallow!

#2. Wallow and trailer sway are two entirely different things.

And only a crazy person would tow a trailer with 2000 lbs of tongue weight with a half ton pickup.

Did you read where I stated NOT to go over spec on the pickup you're using?

One more time. Don't go over spec for the truck you're using, get the setup correct, get the hitch weight correct and you won't have any problems with sway.

And while I at it: Wallow is not sway. Wind buffet is not sway and light pickups do not cause sway.

This is trailer sway!
^^^^^ This is a full size Ford pickup. See how it's being yanked all over the road like a rag doll? It has NOTHING to do with the pickup. This trailer set up the same way would push a class 8 truck all over too. Plain and simple, the trailer setup is WRONG!


This is trailer sway!


And this is trailer sway

[westend]

I had a pallet and 1/2 of blocks in my Mazda B2200 for one trip. It didn't sway but I had to air the tires to 90 psi to keep the bumper off the ground.

I think T and P might have it right. I do see that some mfg's have a listed tongue weight less than 10 percent of the trailer weight. Even with some fibbing and loading batteries, tanks, etc. the tongue weights may be too low.

[TomG2]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

#2. Trucks don't cause sway at all.

Have you never driven an overloaded pickup? They wallow from shoulder to shoulder. If that ain't sway, what is it?

Put 2,000 pounds of gravel or 1500 pounds of tongue weight on the back of an old C10 if you don't believe me.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

#1. Light trucks don't cause sway.

#2. Trucks don't cause sway at all.

#3. Truck tires don't cause sway.

Trailers that are not set up properly cause sway.
Get the trailer set up correctly and the tail will follow the dog. Get it wrong and it won't matter if you tow a 20' TT with a Kenworth, you will get sway and you will feel it in the truck.

The problem is a lot of trailers are designed incorrectly now days to keep the tongue weight down. The manufactures are doing this so the average SUV owner or light truck owner can tow more trailers on the market. By doing this they are causing a lot more sway problems to the general public.

The bottom line is, get the trailer set up right, keep under the manufacture limits and you won't have any problems.

[brymanda]

it does sound as if your set up was off.make sure you level trl and measure to the top of hitch. your ball should be 11/2" to 2" above that. i did the same thing and it fixed it right up. hope this helps,happy camping.

[Bumpers53]

Thanks for the info I didn't make any adjustment for the new truck on the WD so I did last night but there was only a inch difference the new truck is a inch lower than the old one .I have a 08 28ft.salem with a super slide it is about 8500pd. I also just bought a anti sway bar. I'm going camping this week end I guese Ill find out thanks again

[rbpru]

I have a 2011 F-150 4x4 with e boost. We tow a 25 ft Dutchmen with a Blue Ox hitch with no sway or fish tailing.

[JAC1982]

Vague question, but yes, when we had an 2013 F150 with the Ecoboost, we had lots of sway issues, even with new/upgraded tires, rear airbags, an Equalizer, and WD hitch. Our camper is a Raptor 27FS toyhauler, so probably close to 8,000lbs loaded up (without a toy in it). We fixed it by getting a bigger truck.

Also, how fast are you driving when experiencing sway?

[JWRoberts]

The difference in weight of the aluminum F150 will not be a factor in your problem. Look elsewhere.

[coolbreeze01]

3oaks wrote:

coolbreeze01 wrote:

3oaks wrote:

Too light of tongue weight or nose high trailer is a major contributor to cause a trailer to fish tail.

#1 cause of sway is lack of tongue weight. #2 tires.

"P" rated tires verses "LT" tires can cause poor handling in the event of a trailer fish tailing but I don't think it is the cause.

Speaking from experience, I ran the factory original "P" passenger tires on our '09 until the tread wore down and needed replacing, without any fish tailing incidents.

Think low tires. He probably has 8 on the ground.

[3oaks]

coolbreeze01 wrote:

3oaks wrote:

Too light of tongue weight or nose high trailer is a major contributor to cause a trailer to fish tail.

#1 cause of sway is lack of tongue weight. #2 tires.

"P" rated tires verses "LT" tires can cause poor handling in the event of a trailer fish tailing but I don't think it is the cause.

Speaking from experience, I ran the factory original "P" passenger tires on our '09 until the tread wore down and needed replacing, without any fish tailing incidents.

[TomG2]

Where does seriously overloaded tow vehicle come in at? That's why I always ask for ratings and weights. Not number of chain links, not hitch brand. Although they can all be a factor.

[coolbreeze01]

3oaks wrote:

Too light of tongue weight or nose high trailer is a major contributor to cause a trailer to fish tail.

#1 cause of sway is lack of tongue weight. #2 tires.

[beemerphile1]

TomG2 wrote:
Bumpers, post your vehicle ratings, including payload, as well as scale weights for the combination. Everything is just wild guessing without those facts.

^^^^This

There are lots of different variations of F150 models. We also have no idea what you are towing. Be specific with models and numbers for quality help.