What Caused My Trailer Swerve?

[TDI-Minnie]

Many factors unknown and suspect...
Actual wet weight of trailer.
Hitch weight with WD on.
Truck tires and pressures.
Pitch of the trailer (nose up = bad)

Somewhere in here is the answer to fixing your setup since "buy a bigger truck" is usually not a viable solutuion.

[rideandslide]

Thanks DMTTRANSPORT

So far we have never towed at night, and i know i do not like the qwat i'm getting even with my WDH set at much as i can and still hook it up, so yes I'm looking at Air Lift 1000's . Any other input will help.

Also sorry to infringe on this thread !

[Superslif]

Do you know what your truck will tow? I thought some of the V-6 Tecoma's were rated at 6000 or 6500 lbs.

[smurfsofwar]

While I kind of agree that your Taco may not be the BEST match for any towing- it certainly isn't outmatched I don't think. Even after this whole thread has degenerated into weight- I kind of suspect what hit you a couple of times was a heat wash or a dust devil. Completely random, like little mini cyclones and they come out of know where on or by hot pavement.

Just a thought. Even a tow vehicle as small as your Taco shouldn't induce alarming sway without a catalyst with that trailer. Many people tow larger with smaller.

[TDI-Minnie]

Originally Posted by rideandslide

Also sorry to infringe on this thread !

Repost the pic in a new thread. I'm sure people will ask whether you've been to the scales to get weighed. What's the story with the truck? Can you trade up to a used 3/4 or 1 ton without loosing $$?
That's a much better solution than an expensive bandaid like airlift.
Also, if you ever go to sell you truck later on, anyone that sees the airlift will suspect it has had a life of hard towing. Not a good resale point.

[YC1]

Were you going downhill versus a steady level pull? Downhill can get you in trouble fast. Manually applying the trailer brakes will often take the wag out quickly.

[wandering1]

You can use 100 weight distributing hitches and sway control bars and if you do not have an adequate tow vehicle that can control the trailer you will have fish tailing. Good luck, hope the rig doesnt end up upside down like so many others.

[wandering1]

Originally Posted by TDI-Minnie

Many factors unknown and suspect...
Actual wet weight of trailer.
Hitch weight with WD on.
Truck tires and pressures.
Pitch of the trailer (nose up = bad)

Somewhere in here is the answer to fixing your setup since "buy a bigger truck" is usually not a viable solutuion.

LOL, lots of guesses. A bigger truck that will control the trailer is the solution.

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Originally Posted by rideandslide

Thanks DMTTRANSPORT

So far we have never towed at night, and i know i do not like the qwat i'm getting even with my WDH set at much as i can and still hook it up, so yes I'm looking at Air Lift 1000's . Any other input will help.

Also sorry to infringe on this thread !

Yes, Air Lift makes a nice, easy to install rear bag set up, I have the one with a gauge/air switch in the cab so you can adjust on the fly, If the 5000 series is in your budget you would get a better ride

[NFlcamper]

What people fail to take into account is trailer length. Think of it as a sail when you get cross winds. 25x8 =200 Sq ft. Some trailers are taller and more square footage. A light truck will be pushed by the trailer more than a bigger heavier truck. Here in Jacksonville Florida, we had a 45' container get pushed on its side crossing a bridge during a thunderstorm. That was an 18 wheeler! Cars,pickups, and other vehicles did not get flipped because they had less area to catch the wind.

Although we say weight a lot, take into consideration the length and height of these trailers behind these trucks catching side winds. Smaller trucks can't overcome this. I have even seen a container ship get blown away from the pier snapping the mooring lines! Wind against enough square feet will move things or destroy them.

[Menendez]

Originally Posted by wandering1

LOL, lots of guesses. A bigger truck that will control the trailer is the solution.

If we're talking trailer sway, by what means would a bigger truck better control what happens behind the pivot point?

[NFlcamper]

In terms easily understood; a 12 year old farm boy is like the Tacoma size truck. He wants to do his share but is limited by his size. A 17 year old in good shape is like a 1\2 ton truck - he thinks he can do anything! A 25 year old fit man is like a 3/4 ton truck, he can do most anything he sets his mind to and sometimes does too much. A body builder is your 1 ton truck. Give them all a wheelbarrow with 350 lbs in it and see who controls it best. Extrapolate the numbers to trailer weights and it is the same. A Tacoma (12 year old boy) can't do what grown men can!

[tuffr2]

NFLcamper - I read your post twice trying to poke holes in it. I could not find any flaw in your analogy. I have to agree those guys that do the ' strong man' contests are 1ton dually equivalent people to trucks.

One thing that a few people touched on that I think needs another mention.

When trucks say they can tow X weight I bet they can safety tow a flat bed trailer with bricks stacked flat of that weight. Add the high sides and frontal area of a camping trailer and now you have a different ball game. I think a sailboat sail will have about the same area as a camping trailer side wall. Ever see how a sailboat heels over in the wind?

It is a fact that a longer wheelbase makes a better TV. The Tacoma, being too small also has a very short wheel base.

[Menendez]

Originally Posted by NFlcamper

In terms easily understood; a 12 year old farm boy is like the Tacoma size truck. He wants to do his share but is limited by his size. A 17 year old in good shape is like a 1\2 ton truck - he thinks he can do anything! A 25 year old fit man is like a 3/4 ton truck, he can do most anything he sets his mind to and sometimes does too much. A body builder is your 1 ton truck. Give them all a wheelbarrow with 350 lbs in it and see who controls it best. Extrapolate the numbers to trailer weights and it is the same. A Tacoma (12 year old boy) can't do what grown men can!

If we're talking trailer sway, by what means would a bigger truck better control what happens behind the pivot point?