HOW TO GET RID OF TRAILER SWAY | Video 3 of a 4-video series.
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- Here is how I fixed my trailer sway concerns. It may not be 100% perfect, but now means I can tow with confidence in weather conditions that used to terrify me. After the last 2,000 miles of towing since the install, I can say this was the best upgrade I could have done.
Towing a travel trailer or 5th wheel is a big responsibility you and I have. We need to ensure the safety of ourselves, our families, and other road users. Not to mention protect and care for our RV investment.
This video is PART 3 IN A 4-PART SERIES on hitches, weight distribution, sway control, and trailer tires to help inform you on the many aspects of towing we all need to appreciate. I will update this description with links as the other videos are uploaded.
Video 1: How does a weight distribution hitch work? Do I need one?
• HOW DOES A WEIGHT DIST...
Video 2: TRAILER SWAY..Your weight distribution hitch might not be good enough.
• TRAILER SWAY..Your wei...
Please note my videos are based on my own research and experiences. Installation and setup of your hitch and towing setup by a professional is recommended.
Thanks for watching! Please like, subscribe and share with others you feel could benefit from this video.
/ @lifeonourtime
PLEASE NOTE:
Any RV, vehicle, or product I review, as well as information related to towing, towing safety, camping, and campgrounds, and also information provided on my RUclips channel, Facebook Page, and/or other social media are purely for informational/knowledge purposes and not intended to be a template to follow in every case. Always use best judgement as well as take every safety precaution before attempting on your own. Seek professional assistance as deemed necessary.
You explained this set up very well. For us new guys out here, we appreciate the opportunity to learn from folks like yourself. We'll done, and thank you.
Really appreciate your comment, this is a key reason why I put these videos together. Thanks!
This is one of the best videos showing how the dual cam system works. 👍
Thank you, glad you enjoyed!
Hello from New Brunswick. I use the same setup on my Jayco 28RLS. For the money it is not a bad system. Definitely less white knuckling and a more enjoyable drive.
Hello! Yes, every bit of help is good.
Excellent explanation of how this sway control system works.
Thanks!
With that the force is moved back on the trailer frame...good luck not snapping the frame
Wasn’t expecting this instrumental to open the video but shout out to you for the good musical taste 🤣. Great info, thanks for posting this!
Haha, thanks!
Maybe look into 'Independent Electronic Stability Control System' (ESC) for the trailer only.
Been using an EQ with my 32' 6300# loaded TT w/2017 F350 6.2 w/tow package for about 15k miles over 2 years. First tow was in heavy winds avg. 25-30mph with gusts up to 50, so everything since has been gravy. But even that day wasn't a problem. My friend who gave me the hitch was pulling his 5th wheel in front of me with his diesel 350 and complained about the winds more than I did that first day. Other large trucks aren't an issue unless we squeeze too close and create strong pressure. Go slow, leave space to get there quickest.
I'm holding out hope my other friend will upgrade to a 5th and give me his Hensley before I spend the dough on a PP. 😅
On all tandem axle trailers there are problems with trailer frames being twisted and breaking. An inspection at least annually will prevent a disaster or loss of your RV. Inspect the 2 Ibeams that your spring shackles weld to. The problem is making turns on pavement scrubs the tires sideways . Sharp turns really twist the frames and splits the web of the Ibeam about 1 inch above the bottom flange at 3 places where the Crossmembers weld between the I beans . This is evident by rust colored lines like a scratch. This occurs a few ft before and after the axles . On 5th wheels the Gooseneck can break . Look at videos on your type of RV.
Great video and demonstration, i don't know of how this could be done better the manufacturer should have a link for this.
Thank you very much! I agree there is a general lack of education when people are leaving a dealership. Even going from a small camper to something that may be 30-35 feet long, there is a massive difference in how they tow.
We love the Hensley Arrow
This is the best explanation of sway control I’ve seen yet. Thanks for the video.
D.
Glad you enjoyed it. I put a lot of time and effort into this one to make the best video possible for the topic.
@@AztecWarrior69 As there are/were few videos explaining or even attempting to explain how these work, this was one of the best I’d seen to that point.
I looked for your video on this subject, but couldn’t find any videos on RVing on your channel. If you have a recommendation for a better video, yours or someone else’s, feel free to post it.
D.
@@AztecWarrior69 I am here looking for useful information. The video offered more information than I had before watching it. You have offered no useful information.
D.
That was an excellent explanation
Thank you!
This was the first major challenge for us. My wife was especially worried about sway. We went with the Husky Centerline TS to solve it as a first step. However, now in the process of upgrading to Class A which will put that to rest. ;)
Haha, yes that will definitely fix any sway issue! That will be an amazing upgrade
Guzel bilgiler. Tesekkurler.
izlediğiniz için teşekkürler!
I am surprized that no one knows what to do if a caravan or large trailer starts to sway, A swaying caravan or trailer will start steering the car in either direction, Do not try to fight this as you will only make things worse, Lock your arms and steer straight ahead take your foot of the accelerator, do not apply the brakes or accelerate the vehicle, You can apply the trailer brakes if you are able. I have used this method and it does work. If the problem persists you will need to proceed at a slower speed & fit anti sway bars to your vehicle
When measuring your trailer height, always use the frame and not the exterior.
Another awesome video. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching, glad you are enjoying my content!
I wouldn't be sticking my fingers anywhere near that cam!
If we are going to give guidance that affects the decisions of others - we want to make sure it is solid advice. We don't look for squat and the trailer should remain level if the WDH is set correctly and the vehicle is capable of towing said trailer.
Braking and steering are very dependant on the front axle of any vehicle. Any time you pitch the front upward you compromise both functions. That can make us a danger to ourselves and others on the roadway.
Correct setup of this system is when both the front and rear squats the same amount. So if the front fender were 37 inches and the rear 38.5 inches before hitching up, then measurements of 36 and 37.5 after hitching and installing the bars would be correct (both front and rear squatted 1 inch). 36.25 and 37 would be wrong (squat of 0.75 and 1 respectively), as would 36.5 and 37.75 (squat of 0.5 and 0.75 respectively), etc.
Need to be careful how much weight is being moved to the front axle.
@@LifeonOURtime Excellent point. You can't transfer more than 50% of the tongue weight to the front axle without raising the rear of the tow vehicle from its original position. Barring that, if you are at the ragged edge of what your tow vehicle can handle, it is a good idea to take the whole rig to a truck stop and put it on the scales to be sure.
I have a tongue weight scale, and even though I knew from that and my measurements that I could not be loading my front axle more than 650 pounds (well within the limits of my front axle), I took it to the scales anyway. I have done this with every trailer I have owned after getting rid of my popup. With the current trailer, I am transferring about 300 pounds to the front axle.
Nice, that is a fantastic upgrade!
It's been so worth it!
Also, “sway control” hitches do not eliminate sway. You can always have sway when there’s only one pivot point . . . The ball. My stress level with the Equalizer hitch was off the charts and I also hated the noise it made because most all sway control hitches work off of friction which causes the noise.
I dug deep financially and bought a Pro Pride hitch and never looked back since. ZERO sway and I mean ZERO. It tracks straight, it’s super quiet, I can drive with one finger on the wheel if I want, I have a 87 degree turn radius and I can actually put my tailgate down completely due to the added distance the hitch provides. Best hitch on the market . . . .PERIOD, FULL STOP. No I’m not an ambassador for them, just a regular customer. My stress level went from off the charts with previous hitches to relaxed with Pro Pride. Not looking back.
I have the exact same WDH, right down to the round bars. The round bars are great because they have less bounce than the trunnion style. I really like it, but I find in order for it to be fully effective, the bar “scoops” have to be perfectly centered on the cams. With the TV & TT aligned, check that the cams sit directly under the apex of the bar scoops. This can sometimes take a lot of adjustment and readjustment to get it right. Then with the right amount of bar tension, sway can be eliminated almost entirely. You may need to readjust after a few KMs as well, and possibly yearly. After a few years, our bars loosened up and I had to adjust the tension a partial link (you can do that by inserting a 1/2” bolt & nut between any 2 links that will be under tension). After adjusting the tension, I found that this put the bars into misalignment with the cams, so those had to be readjusted as well. Unfortunately it seems our dealership bolted the cams a bit too far back on the frame, making it so that I have to adjust the cams right to their limit in order to get it right. Hope I don’t ever need to adjust it any further.
Interesting info, thanks for sharing. It took a handful of readjustments to the cams and rotation of the hitch head to get it right. Cam placement is very specific too, it’s good if an experienced installer does this work.
@@LifeonOURtime Unfortunately none of the installers who have worked on my hitch have understood how it needs to be adjusted. I've had to redo everything myself, but ultimately it really is worth the extra effort. Sway is a thing of the past.
Where do you all of that vertical bending force is going? Believe me when I tell you it is not just in the hitch bars.
Thanks for the education! What happens if hydraulics is used? Like a shock absorber? RWB ❤
A good question, but I cannot answer it.
I went with the Reese R3. The bars are on top. I have a bad back and the under-slung bars were difficult to handle. My sway control is built into the head of the hitch and there is no noise.
Interesting, I’ll have to look into that model.
I have the equalizer which is basically the same design as the reese but beefier. Its pretty noisy so if its not noisy maybe its loose lol
Tires getting kinda worn there, pardner. Time for a new set. Go with Cooper Discoverer AT3 4s. Tire rack has a $70 rebate.. cheers
Good catch! Yes, they were replaced a few months later.
Swaying is due to lateral forces created by Trailer upon the tractor, and they cannot be avoided. No matter what hitch you do the swaying exist and is dangerous. Only 5th wheel may avoid swaying, such a gooseneck trailer, which is ugly and require to modify the tractor. I invented a new trailer which use a dolly converting the bumper traction into 5th wheel traction and will not sway at all.
if want to get rid of sway go to a hensley hitch
Hensley is the ultimate solution.
Please tell me where you got this mirrors! They look great for ad ons!
Amazon. They are CIPA mirrors custom shaped to the OE mirrors. I have been very happy with them.
Where did you get those mirrors ? Description or link?
@@LifeonOURtime thanks for sharing 💪🏾
I guess the noise takes some getting use to, because when my trailer makes noises I'm immediately looking to see whats the problem is!!!
I was cautioned about the noise beforehand and have witnessed before buying the hitch. Agreed though, it’s a bit unnerving early on!
Wow so much lower to ground. Probably need a lift so I don't bottom out.
I'm so confused by all these hitches. I don't want to buy overkill for a trailer of 7,000 lbs max.
This is where 99% of people mess up. Sway control has nothing to do with the weight of the trailer per se. It is a combination of the size to weight ratio, the location of the weight within the trailer, and the ratio of the weight of the trailer to the tow vehicle. To make matters worse, if you ask a dealer for help, you will get the solution that gets you off of the lot the fastest. They only make money by selling the trailer, and once you hit the street, anything that happens is not their problem.
Robert Pepper posted an excellent video in May 2021 about trailer sway where they show various scenarios with models on a modified treadmill. While his video does not address the aerodynamic aspects of sway, it is an excellent starting point.
should have just got a Roadmaster Active Suspension kit for $400 and been done. Any WDH and RAS is all you need.
Wasn’t looking at options other than the hitch itself at the time. Something to consider the next time around.
I fail to see how adding a spring to your rear suspension will affect sway. And I will stick with my air bags.
Good video, sir. Now that you've had the Reese for a while, how is the sway, or lack of?
Anyone out there towed with a Reese and with a Hensley to compare?
Thanks, glad you enjoyed! It truly helped tremendously, but is not a 100% fix. The Hensley is the ultimate for addressing sway, based on the research I did at the time.
Great video! Great upgrade. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dean!
Truck mounted campers roll,, trailers sway
The head does not rotate, Sir. Just the bars do in the pivot point.
It depends on what words you want to use but the position of the head rotates/moves fore and aft. Otherwise, the torsion bars would not climb the cams.
LOL, get a one-ton truck. Done.
Do you have to unhook the bar when making sharp turns or backing up
I don’t, however I have experienced two times on a sharp turn and very uneven ground when one of the bars got up on the flange of the cam. I now make sure to do a pre-highway walk around after doing a lot of manoeuvres.
Good hitch. Wrong truck….little brakes. Wrong springs Big spread on trailer axles.
Or people can drive right and not jerk the wheel around and stop trying to counter steer their trailer sway.
I don't use any of this and I tow trailers around everywhere and I have 15 different trailers and a lawn and landscaping company.
Alot of sway is human error.
Anti-sway?....three words, Pivot Point Projection, Hensley Arrow, ProPride. Don't scrimp with safety. Especially with a "big box" RV Better to prevent sway from starting than to mitigate after it's started.
POI... hard to get perfection without knowing the actual weight that has been returned to the TV's steering axle.
A visit to the CAT scales is in order.
Great choices, huge price point though.
Have you added a rear sway bar to the truck?
I have not, but have been considering the Hellwig rear sway bar. Truck likes to hop around when cornering hard on rough roads. Do you have any recommendations?
You know what helps stop driving a camper at 80 mph .
Excellent point!
You’re worried about sway yet you’re towing on nearly bald tires
Such a richard
Thanks for the observation, they were not nearly bald but certainly were getting down there. Tires were replaced shortly afterward.
No measurements before and after? Fail.
This is nuts people are towing larger and larger trailers with 1/2 ton trucks what do you expect .
Sometimes I see stuff that scares me.
Don't pull anything weighing more than your truck max weight?
Just because they buy a bigger truck doesn't mean they won't overload that truck too.
Lose the tunes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A nice clickbait thumbnail.
What a monstrosity - totally unnecessary - it is not a control system it does nothing but act as a resistive element's to sway and is not much better than the friction hitches out there. There is only one concept that is the answer and that is my "Differential Stability" Dexter cam close with their electronic independent wheel control but missed the answer by a country mile. I'm still waiting for a call by any capable industry leader. Someone said I probably was asking to much for the concept well the chance would be a fine thing since not even the great ALKO or Bosh have shown an interest of any kind. Still they keep rolling over.
GET A REAL TRUCK!
A 3/4 ton would be an awesome tow alternative, but not within our budget and day to day needs.