Tow dolly excessive sway.

[SteveCal]

Last week I bought a used (2005) Demco KarKaddy 460 SS. Seller said it swayed "a little bit" when empty but no sway with car on it (BS). While towing home I could not drive over 30 mph because it swayed back and forth violently. It jerked my 1985 Ford pick up left to right and that ain't no light weight truck.

The bolt and pin in the tongue folding point are not tight. They are a little more than 1/8" out of round. Is this enough slack to cause the sway?

All else seems to be OK. Toe in is right at 1/8".

Anyone else experience this with a KarKaddy?

[VanDiemen23]

sounds like whatever is causing the sway is also causing the fold joint to beat itself out. You'll probably have to drill out the hole and weld in hardened bushings. There must be something else not quite right - slop in the steering mechanism, bearings, etc. What is the toe and camber when loaded?

[Mr_D]

Was the towing pin in place? If not that would allow the dolly to wander.

There should not be any play in the drawbar pivot, there isn't on ours. I almost have to drive the pin in our out. That would also cause problems.

I bought a locally made dolly some years ago, it would shake you all over the road unless loaded, once loaded it was OK. Found that the alignment was off when not loaded. Sold it to a friend and got the KK-460.

[SteveCal]

Don't sway no more. Called Demco. Nice folks and very helpful. I cannot afford the parts for the repair so had to figure it out myself.

Shortened story. The problem was excessive side to side movement of the coupler at the tongue. I manufactured and installed a set of custom shims. 65 mph. Straight like arrow. I'm a Happy Camper now. Now to find some teflon stock to replace the steel parts I made for the test.