Reducing trailer sway while towing

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ETHO

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I pull a 7000lbs camper and would like to reduce the sway of the trailer when vehicles pass by on the highway. Have a sway bar on the rear axle, plus WDH and a single sway bar on the hitch. But still sways to much to my liking. Looking to see what type of suspension to add to help with reducing the sway. Going to replace rear suspension and thinking about while changing out rear suspension would air bag suspension help?
 

bobmbx

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How is your weight distribution in the trailer? Moving more weight forward of the TT axle will reduce sway.
 

Hiloc

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I had the same issue. The sway wasn’t dangerous, but just felt uncomfortable. My trailer is 7,000lbs at the trailer axles and 850lbs on the tongue. I started to use a standard weight distribution hitch and got the normal sway. I then added one sway bar. It helped but not all the way. I then added a second one and the sway is gone. If I knew back then what I know now I would get a weight distributing hitch with the built-in sway control.
 

chuck s

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Truck suspension changes will probably not help and they'd be a unusual solution I've not seen discussed here or on the trailer towing forums I frequent.

Trailer sway is primarily the result of improper weight and balance. Conventional trailers need at least 10% of the total trailer weight on the ball and 15% is often better. Hiloc has 12% and is still getting a little. I get none but, perhaps, my 10,000/1000 pound rated Equalizer (brand) WDH is handling it better. I've towed the same trailer, using the same WDH, behind both my former 2007 and current 2017 Expeditions.

I had a tire blow-out (not merely a flat tire, I thought someone hit me from behind!) at speed on the Ohio Turnpike 18 months ago and easily pulled to the shoulder for repair. I credit the WDH, the Ford trailer sway control (built into the Ford trailer brake system), and my "boss" driving skills. :)

Primary lesson learned in that incident: Don't tow with old tires on the trailer. Time flies and I had no recollection how old the tires were. :(

-- Chuck
 

ynpmoose

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I tow a 4800 dry/7000 max travel trailer that is a bit tongue heavy, plus has a flipped axle, making it sit higher than factory. I had gone through several WDH setups, standard Husky with dual friction bars and Curt TruTrack, without finding a comfortable solution. I finally got the Equalizer and it is night and day. Even at 65/70mph, it is solid. I wish I would've figured this out sooner.
 
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ETHO

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Only reason I was thinking some better suspension was it feels like the back end of the expedition is a little loose letting the trailer move the back end starting the sway.

Thinking about moving around some weight in the trailer and adding a second friction sway bar and see what happens. Also trying to find a CAT scales and see what is the weight over the TV and TT Axles.
 

coolzzy

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Have you measured the wheel well height front and back and compared unloaded heights (no trailer) and hooked up for travel with the trailer. You should have no rise in the front and minimal drop in the rear when weight distribution bars are adjusted correctly. If the front has any rise it will feel like you are being ****** around as well. I'm using a husky centerline TS friction sway hitch and am rock solid with a 30ft trailer behind me on the highway. The soft Goodyear tires can also cause some lateral sway because they are soo squishy. Keep them aired up to max pressure to minimize this.
 

powerboatr

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follow all the above
your set up needs to be dialed in. proper pressures on all tires
if the trailer wdh and sway is correct, you should be perfect with minimal sway

i towed a LONG LONG trailer with a crew cab f350 dually...once the hitch was set right, it towed like freight train. straight and safe.
there is a list of things that need to be set correct
getting accurate weights is paramount. watch reese and others videos on set ups...light bulbs will be going off
 

wingrider

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..... I'm using a husky centerline TS friction sway hitch and am rock solid with a 30ft trailer behind me on the highway. The soft Goodyear tires can also cause some lateral sway because they are soo squishy. Keep them aired up to max pressure to minimize this.

I pull a 24' enclosed car trailer for track events and was considering a 27' Featherlite car trailer. Is there a general idea as to length and when to add a sway hitch or load leveling hitch? I was concerned 27' is too long for a non EL expedition, sway, load etc. (currently towing w 2012 that has all the HD tow, 3.73, etc).
 

Old Guy

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Put more weight on the trailer tongue. Rule of thumb: about 7% of the total weight of the trailer. I tow 8000 # of boat and trailer which does not fishtail at all.
 

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