9/14/2023 0 Comments Incontrol trailer![]() Use the manufacturer recommended gear when towing.Follow these general tips when towing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) : The best way to correct trailer sway is to avoid it in the first place. However, drivers have to be careful not to exceed the tow rating of the hitch or vehicle itself. Any less weight forward may pull up on the tow vehicle’s rear wheels just when you need more traction and control. Between 12-15% of the trailer’s weight should be resting on the tow vehicle’s hitch, according to Bill Estes, writing in Trailer Life Magazine. This can also make your RV more likely to suffer a blowout, or additional braking and steering problems.īalancing weight to the forward and rear is also vital for controlled driving. Loading too much gear on one side of your camper can also cause an unbalance, making them swing more dramatically once a sway starts, like a pendulum around its center of gravity. A 35-mph crosswind could put as much as 3,440 pounds of force pushing on the side of a large trailer, according to a study on commercial vehicle towing accidents by Knott Laboratory in 2009. The front of trailers are aerodynamic to improve towing gas mileage, but the sides aren’t. Trailer sway can be a result of crosswinds, drafts from passing semi-trucks or descending hills using incorrect braking technique, according to Mark Polk in his RV Tech Tips series on. This can cause the tipping over or separation of the trailer and maybe even the truck or car too. If that sideways force is strong enough it can be more powerful than the road-tire friction for the drive wheels on the vehicle. Any trailer sway or side-to-side force will turn the vehicle and create an unexpected steering force. ![]() The hitch acts as a pivot point in-between the centers of gravity of the two vehicles. Hitch adjustmentsĪny trailer towed with a hitch set behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle can sway or fishtail while driving. What causes trailer sway?īelow are common causes of trailer sway when towing a trailer. These tips can help you understand what causes trailer sway, as well as help keep your RV upright. A brief encounter with sway on the highway can quickly put a damper on your vacation and make you think about putting the camper back in the garage or up for sale. The loss of control can mean tipping your valuable recreational vehicle or causing a serious accident.Įven the most experienced drivers have lost control of their towed trailers with disastrous results. A sudden gust, a passing semi-truck or a quick steering correction can start your trailer swaying or fishtailing. There are few things more frightening while towing your recreational vehicle than trailer sway.
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