Sway when towing an RV? Watch this!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ม.ค. 2018
- Equalizer 10k Weight Distribution Sway Control Hitch
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Thank You for this I've been towing trailers for years, and your explanation of the Weight Distribution Hitch cleared up some gray areas for me!!
Awesome video! Can’t promote this info enough! Knowledge promotes wisdom, wisdom saves lives and money. Thank you
Great explanation. I can personally attest to the effect of wheelbase. For all sorts of reasons we use an SUV as our TV, and a couple of years ago changed the TV from one with a 118" wheelbase to a 131". Our trailer and WD hitch (Blue-Ox Sway-Pro) remained unchanged (apart from height adjustments to fit to the new truck). With the old TV, driving in any kind of crosswind was a white knuckle affair, and I'd usually find myself dropping my speed to 80 km/h (50 mph). With the new TV, I can hold my speed at 100 km/h with no sway.
However, you missed one critical factor: Speed. Since sway is a dynamic effect caused, in large part, by the airflow over the sides of the trailer, for any setup there is a critical speed, above which the tendency to sway will be amplified with each oscillation of the trailer. Therefore, one easy (and free) means to control sway is to slow down. A side benefit is the greatly reduced fuel consumption!
wow....this is the first time to understand right away about sway. best explanation ever.
Wow, easily the granddaddy of videos on sway with RVs. Great job!
Fantastic explanation of how the weight distribution hitch works. I had the basic idea but seeing the physics of it really brought the importance of setting that hitch up right
Excellent video, you are a natural teacher. So many things to learn about pulling an rv in safe safe and stress free manor. Thank you
Excellent job in explaining a complex problem in understandable terms.
This was excellent, thank you! I just bought a 20’ Kodiak qb travel trailer that I’m pulling with my F-150. The dealer advised a weight distribution set up (it has an integrated sway control) and I wasn’t sure because it’s an additional $700. or so. However, watching your videos has convinced me and I’ve made an appointment to get it installed. Thanks again, your videos are very informative and educational.
Thank you! You are my new teacher! We are just getting into looking for a trailer to pull and have a 95 4x4 k1500 suburban with no towing package other than a ball hitch. Thanks to God 20 plus years ago I hauled three horses from Nebraska to nw Illinois through a blizzard with it without incident and want to be much smarter about towing now.
You bet I will be following you and again thanks for caring and educating us. 🙏🏻
Very informative for the people that don't know much about towing and weight distribution. Well done!
an 8ft deisel 2500 made an incredible difference along with a Blue Ox WD hitch. We towed the same 30ft trailer with a capable v8 SUV but the difference in tracking and "fighting" the trailer continually was amazing. We almost bought a 1500 and are very glad we stuck to the plan. Great video. Glad I've never had to manually jam the brake controller to save lives at this point.
Very good illustration and accurate explanation. Couldn't be better. Thanks to people like you, the internet is an incredible learning tool. Well done!
Weight distribution is a huge Factor
Back when I was working for a motorcycle shop, I went about halfway across Texas pulling a 16 foot lowboy behind a half ton pickup with five big dressers and a side-by-side loaded on it
Coming down this one long slow Hill the trailer started wagging the truck like you wouldn't believe
Pulled over, move the side by side and two of the motorcycles further forward on the trailer, not a hint of sway the rest of the trip
That's back when I was still green enough pulling trailers to pull a load like that with a half ton with a V6 🤣
Thanks for creating this, impressing the importance of WDHitches and why it all happens.
Good explanation! An interesting aspect of the sway control is that when installed properly, the tongue weight doesn't cause your back end to squat down and front to point up! It loads the weight as if it is a bridge between the trailer and truck. Your sway control adds a substantial amount of weight to your front tires. Your trailer and truck should stay level.
Excellent vid. Had no idea about the "technical" aspect but this will change the way I drive.
Wow. This was one of first video of yours that I saw on late 2018 before by my travel trailer in 4/2019. Thanks.
Great explanation. I'm sure a lot of people are going to benefit from it.
Best explanation I've seen of weight distribution and sway control.
That is an excellent explanation of trailer sway. Also including the misalignment of the trailer tires cannot be overlooked. Many think it's only wind. Great video. Happy traveling, Lou.
Except it's not alignment of the he tires, it's alignment of the axel.
After using 2 different friction style say controls I switched to a Hensley Arrow. Not only did their hitched worked as advertised, they have the best Customer Service I have ever seen in the travel trailer accessory business. When I sold my travel trailer and went with a motor home, they bought my Hensley Arrow back from me.
Bruce Marcotte I bought a used Hensley in a private sale via e-trailers. Hensley Mfg treated me like a new customer throughout. Never had an issue with the hitch. When I quit camping after buying a 3500 dually diesel (loved that truck) Hensley bought back the hitch, all the accessories and spare parts (new in box, plus 2 sets of sway bars) at more $ than they said they would! They sent me the box to put it all in! Their Customer Service was simply GREAT throughout (three drawbar swaps). Zero issues towing with a 1500, but I must have weighed both rigs half a dozen times or so to assure myself that everything was within spec. I went for the diesel strictly for the torque - towing in the mountains - and never regretted any of it.
Excellent explanation and demo….it was easy to understand! As a newbie looking to possibly tow an RV in a couple of years this was extremely educational!
Wish i saw this before i bought a 45k travel trailer!Great vid,and if i get another rv it'll be a 5th wheel....lesson learned🇨🇱
OK, if you have a PU with a single axle, get air bags! And a really good weight distribution hitch. Really, the air bags drastically reduce the bouncing. Weight distribution is so important I like the Blue Ox. Simple and works for me. Whatever you use, go slow and watch your flanks. Be very mindful of windy conditions when you are approaching a field after transit through tree lined terrain. Cross winds are hell.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you I would say that a million more times if I had the time. I have been trying to explain this to my sister she has a travel trailer and she just bought a pickup truck she was pulling the travel trailer with her minivan and that didn't work out too well. But now she has a pickup truck and I was trying to explain the sway bars and weight distribution hitch tour and I think this video will get it through to her so again thank you so much.
I have a Blue Ox sway max weight distribution hitch for my 35 foot tt, it helps. It does not sway so much as just pushes the whole rig slightly with a gusting cross wind. If you feel swaying coming on, 1) foot off accelerator and foot off brake if possible, 2) GENTLY squeeze the trailer brake. This will tend to stretch the trailer and truck straight. Stop sway before it starts. I have towed in some pretty nasty winds, and this helps. And go slow or stop in bad winds. I think my suspension air bladders help too. They kick down any bounce.
Very well done one of the best videos on youtube well informed. Thanks
Genius explanation and illustration! Thanks so much!
Great service to all of us...thanks!
I watched this video just before towing a travel trailer for the first time. Gotta be honest, thought it was a bit exaggerated but quickly learned you were spot on!!! Thanks for sharing!
Heading down in a couple hours to pick my new trailer up. I drive truck for a living. Weight distribution makes a world of difference.
Excellent video! Thank you for your time and effort.
Awesome video....very well detailed.....yet simple enough.....thx for making it!
Nice video...... I spent big bucks on an EQUALIZER unit from Utah. Took some time to install but haven't had any problems
Perfect explanation, thanks. I will now buy a sway control system knowing just exactly why!
Thank you. I would have liked to hear more time discussing improper weight distribution on the hitch and how that causes inertial over correction between the the two body masses of the tow vehicle and the trailer. In my opinion, Wind is only a factor when it is significant. Tire alignment is a mechanical problem that occurs, but is not common. But improper weight distribution causes most of the scary and dangerous sway. That is why there are typically two systems incorporated in most camping and cargo trailer coupling systems. They are the sway control system, or braking systems that are added to weight distribution systems to limit sway, and the weight distribution system to bring the tow vehicle and the trailer into longitudinal and latitudinal alignment as a means to correct weight distribution.
I agree. Ive towed many years with both types of trailers.
How the trailer is loaded front to back which produces tongue weight is really biggest factor in sway
A+++ Video!!! Thank You!!! This should be required viewing for every new RV owner!!
Great explanatory video! But i do agree that weight disbursement in the trailer is critical as well...ie like w tractor trailers...proper weight disbursement over the axels...thru the body and up to the hitch. This is always something to take into consideration for all trailering.
Very helpful video! I ran into a sway issue the first time I took my trailer on the highway. Scary stuff.
Thank you for a great video, the sign of a good teacher is when he can explain the subject matter in a way that the general audience can understand. Unlike some of your critics who try to impress themselves with complicated remedies.
Very good explanations. I tow a 35 foot long Wildcat behind a Chevy 2500HD. We went towable because of a large shell and dog crates in the truck bed. I use the equalizer system, and it seems to do the job. The only time I've felt the trailer come loose was on a high bridge in wind over the Mississippi... it was exciting for a moment...until the hitch did its job and everything snapped back straight :) Keep the great videos coming
I'm 26 and planning to buy a travel trailer by the end of the year and chase my acting career. I just got upgraded to a Tundra now I gotta get the trailer, there's so much to learn RV life
Brilliant!!! Very well explained with plenty of beneficial information with great visual explanations! Thanks!
We got a Hensley Arrow hitch and we don’t even know what sway is anymore. So glad we had it towing across the Great Plains. Well worth it.
Best video I’ve seen. Keep them coming
Great video. Great information in a very understandable way. From a 40 + year licensed engineer.
A buddy of mine tried coming to my rescue when my Suburban broke down. He showed up with his newer Suburban and a flat bed trailer. Got my Suburban loaded up and proceeded to get on the Freeway. We got up to about 40mph when the trailer started swaying back and forth. He is an excellent driver and knew when to gas the truck and when not to along with knowing not to slam the brake pedal through the floor. From the trailer swaying back and forth we took up both southbound lanes and almost went through a guard rail before he was able to get everything under control and stopped. My Suburban and moved around enough that my driver side rear tire was hanging off of the trailer and the drain plug and the axle of my Suburban got stuck on one of the diamonds of the diamond plate deck of the trailer. His was the first time he had used his Suburban to tow a vehicle with and found out a couple of days later that the leaf springs on the driver's side of his Suburban were bad. This was a seriously scary experience that everyone learned from and grateful as hell that no one was hurt.
When I was towing a travel trailer, an 18 wheeler passing me was my biggest scare. Good input Big.
Well done!! I definitely have a better understanding of what sway is. I use an old Curt weight distribution hitch without anti-sway bar. I learned that by moving more weight to the middle of the truck bed I was able to control sway much better without an anti-sway bar.
what type of weight do you use and around how much weight?
Best video I’ve seen on sway yet, thanks
You have a real talent for making useful videos. Wow.
Thanks for the clear and concise explanation.
Excellent !! I added an additional length to my RVs back porch and hauled an atv and generator on it. This is definitely effecting sway! I’m gonna have to eliminate these I think to make a safer ride
I would like to say thank you.
Absolutely fantastic visual explanation. Thank you
You do such a great job explaining! Thanks
Another very well explained video that helps illustrate the many forces involve in towing trailers.
Some of the following is in lamen's terms for the benefit of others who may be reading this. I know you from one of the Ford Truck forums I frequent. I know you know your stuff.
One of the things that you left out that may have been noteworthy, is tires. It is astounding how many 1/2 ton trucks and SUVs have P-rated tires (Passenger car) standard. Swapping those out with an LT with a rating of E for instance will allow one to increase air pressure, thus increasing side wall rigidity. This will also help to make sure that the articulation of the entire suspension system resides where it should.
I know this is a small factor when compared to the major causes you explained. But for the occasional weekender, simply changing a properly set up system with appropriate tire can be the final piece to the puzzle for a more enjoyable towing experience.
Another thought.... For those out there who have purchased a package deal from an RV dealer (trailer and WD hitch), be mindful that it is almost impossible to properly set up a WD hitch to a tow vehicle when it is brand new at the dealer. Once the trailer is loaded with all of the gear for camping trips, it will almost undoubtedly change the behavior of the WD hitch. Be sure that if they assemble and install the system for you, the hitch and its components should be understood and adjusted by driver or owner of the vehicle. A basic understanding of how to properly adjust any WD hitch out there is a must if you consider yourself a conscientious, safe driver. It is just as important as working brakes and sound tires.
Okay, rant over.
Also, a very essential part of the "complete" system is the Brake actuator. GOTTA have one! Can't emphasize this enough!
One interesting factor with travel trailers is adding weight behind the axles of the trailer. I have heavy E bikes that I mounted on a hitch on my rockwood travel trailer. In addition ,If I have any water in my fresh tank, this weight is applied behind the axles causing a tenancy to sway. If I tighten up my sway control bars which are the blue ox system, this mitigates sway when I’m in gusty wind conditions. Also I make sure that my tanks are empty and I load my truck and trailer to counter the additional weight of the heavy bike rack. Very good video!
Thank you! Always learning.
Good visual demonstration. I'd suggest maybe a 'Part 2' to explain other factors that contribute to sway issues. 1.(sort of alluded to in the video...) The SIZE of the trailer - The 23' TT that I pulled with a '97 light-duty F-250 (7-lug wheels) had virtually no sway issues with a load-equalizing hitch. If you're towing a 30' Airstream, you might have issues. 2. Overhang - Are your tandem trailer wheels closer to the middle (bad), or further back (good - rear kitchen floor plans, for instance)?
Great video on sway while towing.
Good job. As mentioned in other comments, rearward trailer weight balance and surface area contribute to sway accelerating, leading to loss of control not only due to reduced traction but a more powerful lever rotating around the trailer wheels. Also, the lateral stability provided by the tires decreases with speed, parked rigs don't seem to sway, while those NASCAR guys get loose with no trailer at all😊.
I agree with some of the other commenters that weight placement is also a HUGE factor in all this. But I think one thing you were sort of getting at without really articulating is that with a bumper pull when the trailer is trying to push sideways it has leverage on the tow vehicle due to the pivot point being about 4 feet behind the drive wheels, so the force is sort of amplified.
Thanks for the education... Watching trailer sway accidents on TH-cam looks pretty terrifying. Good to know how to keep it from happening to oneself.
Excellent video. Ive been driving Class A trucks for 20 years but I've never towed a trailer with a pick up truck. I got myself a 1 ton dually because it's better to have more than you need and not need it then to not have enough. First thing I did was to install airlift in the rear. After this video I have decided to pay the extra money for the fifth wheel trailer.
This video may be the reason we go with a fifth wheel instead of a travel trailer. Super helpful!
Thank you for this! I’ve been learning a lot from your videos. Appreciate all you do
Great job thank you for the info!!
Loved your explanation. Shared with my MeWe group.
Great job on the video explain sway how it can effects the truck and trailer.
This is exactly why I got a 5th wheel. Super safe towing and no tail wagging the dog.
You made a good updated video for RVs this is good info.
instant props on intro bass riff
PERFECT . . . Answered ALOT of Questions I have been looking for. THANKS GREATLY . . . FANTASTIC VID . . .
Wow, very very good presentation, I just learned a thing or two. Very good, ty!!!
What an excellent demonstration 10\10
Excellent! Best explanation I’ve heard!
Thank you so much. This way very helpful. THANKS for taking the time...
Excellent explanation for a novice. Thank you for that clarity
Great information,best explanation I’ve found yet
Every travel trailer owner should watch this video 👍
Thank you- this info can save lives!
This is an excellent resource, thank you!
Thats a badass video. Thanks alot.best one i have seen yet
Awesome video! Thank you for the detailed info!
That was great info. As a single female traveler, I like the safety of a fifth wheel. My concern then is ease of hitching one versus the other, as well as backing one versus the other. I’ll have to see if you have videos addressing those concerns. 😊👍🏻
Thank you for making this video!
I have towed with the Reese Dual Cam Sway Control system since 2003. I have had no sway problems with this set up. It locks the truck and trailer together using a cam lock. Due to mechanical advantage, the trailer can't break the connection, but the truck can whenever it makes a turn. I have towed campers from 20' to 35', and have had no detectable sway. This system really works well, and is 1/10 as expensive as the Hensley.
As a Forklift driver who loaded Semi trailers, I was taught to put the heaviest part of a load ahead of the rear axles. This helps to keep the trailer from swaying, (tail wag) especially with tandem towing. I found that putting the majority of the load ahead of the axles made my camper tow better, careful not to exceed the tongue weight limits. Sway bars have improved since then.
Roy Davis general rule of thumb is 10-15% of the total weight should be tongue weight. More weight really only puts more strain on the tow vehicle but airbags or a good weight distribution hitch can alleviate most of that strain
Hi Roy I hear ya as far as weight distribution goes but I drive forklift too and only deal with lumber and MDF. Most of the loads I ship out need to be above the axles with less weight above the pins. I mainly deal with B-trains and the occasional flat deck if that matters.
Roy you have it correct. The problem with only 10% of the weight on the hitch is wind hitting the front of the trailer lifts it up, reducing tongue weight. Once the trailer starts lifting the hitch, you will sway.
@@gpecaut1 No not really unless your towing ar 120 mph stick with 10 to 12 %How do I know this Im one of the engineers that wrote the trailering guide for Chevrolet
I’ve been looking at a Ram 1500 ecodiesel, as I plan on towing a small-ish 28’ trailer. Your your video just made me rethink my bed length choice. And you may have helped lean me towards a 2500 dually instead of a 1500 single. Thanks I think you just cost me $20 grand. 🤣
Amazing video so down to earth thank you sir❤️👍🏼👍🏼
Great video. Learned alot about sway control.
Excellent advice. Thank you
Thanks again for being into this stuff. Love Ur attention to detail and researching. informative video! Awesome! I love my travel trailer. Safety first all the time. Very interesting stuff. Get ready for the winter Olympics in Pyeug Chang South Korea! Prost
Really well done
Great presentation.
Brilliant demonstration! thank you :-)
great video, takes the mystery out of it
Excellent video. Thank you.