1stDeuce
Gold Member
Another fella who went for a "trailer ride". And by reading his post, it doesn't sound like he has any idea why this happened. That is unfortunate. I'm glad that he wasn't hurt, nor anyone else...
As many of you seem to know, there is only ONE reason that trailers sway constantly, and it is insufficient tongue weight. That sway may go away when you accelerate, or go uphill, but it will come back stronger when you then try to slow down, or when you go downhill.
The ONLY solution is to get more weight on the tongue. Tires don't matter, nor do brakes. Nor does ANYTHING else. If you have insufficient tongue weight, the trailer is GOING to sway under some condition, and if the conditions are right, the sway will be violent enough to drag a 3/4 ton truck around like nothing, even with a trailer that DOESN'T outweigh the truck.
For those of you reading with interest, know this: IF you tow a trailer, and you see or feel it swaying back and forth, you need to IMMEDIATELY and carefully slow down and stop. (Using the trailer brakes only will stabilize the trailer while you slow.) Then move some weight forward on the trailer.
PLEASE ensure you have sufficient tongue weight when towing, and be aware that sway that seems to happen on it's own IS A WARNING that the trailer may try to kill you or others if the situation is not corrected.
FWIW, most 2011 or newer Ford/GM/Dodge trucks should have "trailer sway control" as part of the stability control system. This system is NOT meant to help in windy conditions, or to be a solution to towing trailers that are unstable, it is an emergency system that will activate to stabilize the system and SLOW YOU DOWN if it detects recurring trailer sway. If this should happen to you, take the opportunity to stop and re-load the trailer to keep the situation from activating again.
As many of you seem to know, there is only ONE reason that trailers sway constantly, and it is insufficient tongue weight. That sway may go away when you accelerate, or go uphill, but it will come back stronger when you then try to slow down, or when you go downhill.
The ONLY solution is to get more weight on the tongue. Tires don't matter, nor do brakes. Nor does ANYTHING else. If you have insufficient tongue weight, the trailer is GOING to sway under some condition, and if the conditions are right, the sway will be violent enough to drag a 3/4 ton truck around like nothing, even with a trailer that DOESN'T outweigh the truck.
For those of you reading with interest, know this: IF you tow a trailer, and you see or feel it swaying back and forth, you need to IMMEDIATELY and carefully slow down and stop. (Using the trailer brakes only will stabilize the trailer while you slow.) Then move some weight forward on the trailer.
PLEASE ensure you have sufficient tongue weight when towing, and be aware that sway that seems to happen on it's own IS A WARNING that the trailer may try to kill you or others if the situation is not corrected.
FWIW, most 2011 or newer Ford/GM/Dodge trucks should have "trailer sway control" as part of the stability control system. This system is NOT meant to help in windy conditions, or to be a solution to towing trailers that are unstable, it is an emergency system that will activate to stabilize the system and SLOW YOU DOWN if it detects recurring trailer sway. If this should happen to you, take the opportunity to stop and re-load the trailer to keep the situation from activating again.