Community Forums

Batten54 · 08-09-2016, 05:59 AM

I noticed a lot of fishtail in wind and some no wind. do you want the nose of the trailer A: high B: level C: low when going down the road? If high or low how much..1-2 in. when setting still...half a bubble on a level...?

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lynnmor · 08-09-2016, 06:11 AM

Level to slightly below level in front.

Bubbles are not a measurement, levels vary so that is meaningless. You measure from the road surface.

DMTTRANSPORT · 08-09-2016, 06:13 AM

Load the front of the Trailer....

hondavalk · 08-09-2016, 06:37 AM

Level and more tongue weight

dms · 08-09-2016, 07:01 AM

Can't tell from your picture, but it looks like you have only a weight distribution hitch, not an anti-sway setup. You need both.

Trailer should be loaded with 60% of the weight in front of the axles and 40% behind. Also, trailer should be within 3" of level with truck hitch.

DMTTRANSPORT · 08-09-2016, 07:35 AM

Rear air bags...

rkresge · 08-09-2016, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batten54

I noticed a lot of fishtail in wind and some no wind. do you want the nose of the trailer A: high B: level C: low when going down the road? If high or low how much..1-2 in. when setting still...half a bubble on a level...?

Hard to tell from your pic, but that looks a lot like my Husky WD hitch, and the trailer looks to be close to 30'. Unfortunately, I can't see whether you've got anti-sway on there. If it's a Husky, their manuals call for TWO sway bars for anything longer than 26', one on either side of the hitch.

Having said that, your rig looks pretty close to level (maybe a little nose up on the TV), so I'm guessing your hitch & WD are set up pretty well. If so, the only issue should be sway control.

So the question is, what's your sway control situation?

Roger

chaps2018 · 08-09-2016, 12:52 PM

1-level (looks too high in front). Park on level ground measure front frame to ground compare to rear frame to ground

2-tongue weight =10-12% of trailer weight.

3-assume you are using a wdh, check spring tension is correct (qty links). With vehicle no trailer connected measure front fender height, hitch trailer w/springbars and remeasure. If the height is the same its good. If lower then you have too much spring that will make the trailer rear end too heavy and fishtail.

timetogo · 08-09-2016, 12:55 PM

Sway is usually lack of tongue weight, but tires and lack of psi can also contribute. You are dragging a large sail with a fairly small pickup. Good luck.

markmiiler · 08-09-2016, 01:04 PM

Tongue weight!!! Like TIMETOGO said

stormrider15 · 08-09-2016, 04:40 PM

Your set up looks level to me. Like others have said sway control on your hitch is key. I had a Husky WD hitch with two sway bars but still had sway. I upgraded to a Reese straight line dual cam. No more unexplained sway. I do get hit with wind blast some times but the trailer and truck move together. Not really sway.

Cumminsfan · 08-09-2016, 04:41 PM

Bigger truck.

TXiceman · 08-09-2016, 04:45 PM

AS noted, level to slightly nose low. But you need a minimum of 10% of the trailer weight on the tongue (better closer to 13%).

But do you have a friction type sway control. If your trailer is close to 30', I'd put on two friction sway control.

Personally, I like the Reese Dual Cam type hitch. It is a it more trouble to set up, but works better.

Another personal preference, I'd use a 3/4 ton truck over the 1/2 ton truck.

Ken

D Lindy · 08-09-2016, 05:22 PM

As others have mentioned but, I'd also add look at your tire pressures, low pressure will also cause fish tailing, along with excessive speed, how fast are you towing?