Community Forums

sammy64 · 08-25-2014, 07:55 AM

Hi guys, im having trouble with sway on my camper,,,

NOW before all the "no it alls" start in on me !!!!! ive pulled almost every type/combo of trailers out there and never had this type of trouble...and yes i know im asking a lot but ive done it on several trailers before and its always worked after balancing things out......

im lost on this one,,, ive been towing for years and have had my share of "trailer waging" before but this ones got me, below is my set up, and this is what i have..

1, the camper sways WITHOUT the little trailer on it (and with it on)

2, camper has a "sway bar" on it

3, everything is tight and good (new tires on all 3)

at about 55-60 it does good for the most part (still sways sometimes) about 70 it does good and then bang it starts swaying if i speed up or slow down it quits, until i level off my speed then it will randomly start again... dont seem to be any "trigger" to start it doing it,

.

everything looks level and ive tried moving weight forwards and backwards in the camper with no luck...... any ideas would be great,,, thanks

doc · 08-25-2014, 08:12 AM

Just and observation here. You ask for advice and then say you don't want "no it alls" (Know it all's?) starting in on you. huh??

bamaboy473 · 08-25-2014, 08:18 AM

Put about 200 pounds of sandbags on the tongue, if you can do it safely, and try the drive. You say you've added weight to the front of the TT, but how much? Assuming that you're familiar with light-tongue wagging, then....

Very carefully measure the distance from the center of the truck's rear wheels to the centers of the TT wheels. Your TT's axle might be mis-aligned.

sammy64 · 08-25-2014, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

Put about 200 pounds of sandbags on the tongue, if you can do it safely, and try the drive. You say you've added weight to the front of the TT, but how much? Assuming that you're familiar with light-tongue wagging, then....

Very carefully measure the distance from the center of the truck's rear wheels to the centers of the TT wheels. Your TT's axle might be mis-aligned.

as far as weight transfer i have taken "most" of the camping gear and a few things and moved it to the front bed , (maybe 100-150 pounds maybe) it didnt seem to have much effect BUT i can leave it loaded the way it is now (weight spread out) and ad the sand bags to the tongue, there is enough room on to the battery box behind the gas tank to stack up the "tube type" sand bags and strap them down. thanks

sammy64 · 08-25-2014, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc

Just and observation here. You ask for advice and then say you don't want "no it alls" (Know it all's?) starting in on you. huh??

"know it alls" AS in the ones that are going to say leave the other trailer home or slow down,,,, BUT CANT offer any real advice for what im asking......

Mich F · 08-25-2014, 08:30 AM

It does sound like you don't have enough tongue weight on that travel trailer. With a TT your tongue weight should be about 10-12% or so of the trailer weight.
If you're using (ST)trailer tires on your trailers, they are not supposed to exceed 65MPH. To me that's more than fast enough particularly when you're towing two trailers.
Do you normally tow a utility trailer with nothing on it ?

Just saw your post #5. I obviously fall in with the "know it all" group.
By the way, suggesting you slow down, even though you don't want to hear it, is good advice.

MnTom · 08-25-2014, 08:43 AM

Two things come to mind, one is the tongue weight as mentioned, and the other is tire pressure. Low tires can help cause sway.

sammy64 · 08-25-2014, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mich F

It

Just saw your post #5. I obviously fall in with the "know it all" group.
By the way, suggesting you slow down, even though you don't want to hear it, is good advice.

NO YOU dont fall into that category because YOU have some good advice to share

i dont have much in the camper so im going to have to figure out how to get more weight on the tongue all the time not just for trials, we only keep bare essentials in the camper so finding weight might be hard lol thanks

PS the utility trailer is for hauling fire wood on so its empty going home lots of times

sammy64 · 08-25-2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MnTom

Two things come to mind, one is the tongue weight as mentioned, and the other is tire pressure. Low tires can help cause sway.

thanks checked all 8 tires before we left they are all good, im going to try the weight idea and see if it helps....

JohnBoyToo · 08-25-2014, 10:29 AM

Sorry,
I'm not a know it all so I have some questions

you said the trailer has a "sway bar' ?!?
Never heard of a sway bar on a trailer, have them on all my tow vehicles,
but maybe it's my racing background, are you talking about a bar from one trailer wheel to the other ????

or are you talking about some type of anti sway hitch between the tow vehicle and the trailer ?!?

Mich F · 08-25-2014, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammy64

NO YOU dont fall into that category because YOU have some good advice to share

i dont have much in the camper so im going to have to figure out how to get more weight on the tongue all the time not just for trials, we only keep bare essentials in the camper so finding weight might be hard lol thanks

PS the utility trailer is for hauling fire wood on so its empty going home lots of times

Whew, that's a relief.

Is it possible to put that firewood in the truck, or even inside the TT using a tarp or whatever ? It would make things a lot simpler.
Do you still have sway if you're towing the travel trailer without the utility trailer behind it ?

Mich F · 08-25-2014, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo

Sorry,
I'm not a know it all so I have some questions

you said the trailer has a "sway bar' ?!?
Never heard of a sway bar on a trailer, have them on all my tow vehicles,
but maybe it's my racing background, are you talking about a bar from one trailer wheel to the other ????

or are you talking about some type of anti sway hitch between the tow vehicle and the trailer ?!?

I assumed he meant something like this, between the truck and travel trailer. Sway Control - Left - Camco 48381 - Sway Control - Camping World

Arch Hoagland · 08-25-2014, 10:42 AM

I'd shoot the wheels with an IR gun to see if a bearing or the brakes are causing drag on one wheel.

Is there any sign of irregular tire wear that could be caused by bad tracking?

sammy64 · 08-25-2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mich F

Whew, that's a relief.

Is it possible to put that firewood in the truck, or even inside the TT using a tarp or whatever ? It would make things a lot simpler.
Do you still have sway if you're towing the travel trailer without the utility trailer behind it ?

ive put the firewood in the truck before BUT its a Dodge and it wont hold much weight at all and it starts sagging in the back and then the trailer isnt running level :( yea its a cheap shot at the dodge bu hey it is what it is i hate this truck LOL

Yes the camper sways just as bad without the little utility trailer behind it, im starting to think the camper is set up something like the old pop up campers as they had the axle about direct center :(

thanks