Overloaded or poorly loaded trailers are a frequent cause of trailer fishtailing, as are towing vehicles that are not capable of pulling the weight, so ensuring that you load your trailer properly and within the appropriate limits will make your towing experience a safer one (regardless of whether you're towing a flat ...
Immediately let off the gas pedal and avoid stepping on the brake pedal! Your natural instincts may make you want to step on the brakes right away, but braking suddenly can make the sway worse and cause you to lose control. You should remove your foot from the accelerator, so your speed reduces gradually.
If you don't have enough weight on the trailer tongue, the trailer may be prone to swaying from side to side, making it difficult to control. Conversely, if you have too much weight exerted on the hitch ball, the force could overload the rear tires of the tow vehicle and push the rear end of the vehicle around.
Going faster than 65 mph or the max speed your trailer is rated for greatly increases the chances of trailer sway. The wind is a huge cause of trailer sway. Sudden strong gusts of wind can hit your trailer from the side and cause it to start rocking from side to side.
Some drivers with half-ton trucks also prefer to use a 10-ply tire for increased towing capacity. Higher load carrying capacity tires make towing easier because their stiffer tires help stabilize loads and reduce sway at speed.
Using Appropriate Speeds
Reduce your normal speed by 10 to 20 miles per hour when towing a travel trailer. That means doing 60 instead of 70 on major highways and reducing your speed even further on smaller, windier roads. The tires on most travel trailers are rated for 60 to 65 miles per hour.
The best way to stop your travel trailer from rocking is by using a combination of leveling jacks which reduce up and down motion, stabilizers that reduce side to side motion, and wheel chocks to reduce any movement of the tires.
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. Any less weight forward may pull up on the tow vehicle's rear wheels just when you need more traction and control.
Ease off the accelerator to reduce your speed if your trailer starts to swing from side to side. Do not brake harshly or steer sharply if you notice your trailer snaking. Instead, ease off the accelerator to gradually reduce your speed and regain control of your trailer.
If the hitch is too high for the travel trailer, it will tip backward, creating a slanted profile and an unbalanced weight distribution. You'll be less aerodynamic this way and your trailer is more likely to catch the wind and begin to sway.
When loading a trailer, where should you put the weight? The simple rule to follow is to place 60% of the weight in front of the axle and 40% behind.
Sway control or sway bar hitches are optional pieces of equipment that you can add to your camper or hitch to prevent sway. Although they're not required, adding a sway bar will provide a much more comfortable and stable towing experience and give you peace of mind.
To recover from a fishtail, drivers should stop accelerating and steer in the direction of the skid as best they can. The wheel should not be yanked or jerked, as this can cause the fishtail to get worse. Sharp or sudden braking should also be avoided as this can make the skid worse too.
“Put your foot on the brake, but don't hit them very hard. Very lightly touch the breaks, then you want to look and steer in the direction you want to go.” Ingram said the worst thing you can do when fishtailing is jerking the steering wheel or slamming on the breaks or accelerator.
Snaking is most commonly caused by incidents such as sudden swerving, travelling at high speeds, being overtaken by larger vehicles and strong crosswinds, as well as blown-out tyres and overloading the nose of the caravan.
Too much tongue weight could overload the rear tires of the towing vehicle, pushing the rear end of the vehicle around. When this happens, the vehicle is difficult to control; corners or curves may become more difficult to maneuver and your vehicle may not be as responsive when you try to brake.
Your goal is for the hitch and vehicle's receiver to be riding high enough from the ground to avoid scraping, even on potholes and bumpers. In order to achieve this, a trailer hitch should be at least 17 inches off the ground. If you put weight on the travel trailer, it will lean on the front area.
Most likely there isn't enough tension on the spring arms/not enough weight transferred back up to the front axle of the tow vehicle. Usually that will be remedied by adding spacer washers, raising L-brackets, and/or lowering the hitch ball.
The most common causes for trailer sway are improper weight distribution, tight turns, steep roads, high-speed driving, a tall truck passing, crosswinds, over-steering, and under-inflated tires.
Slide the manual lever over slowly and allow the trailer brakes to engage and the sway control to put the trailer back on a straight course. If trailer sway becomes severe, reduce your speed gradually, avoid using the vehicle brakes if possible and manually apply more trailer brakes.
There are four different hitch stabilizer methods you can use to secure a towing connection. These include using a cushion hitch, a weight distribution hitch, a sway control unit and an anti-rattle pin. Some additional options exist for 5th wheel and pintle hitches.
Going too fast can cause sway
When towing a bumper-pull or a car on a trailer, driving fast can lead to the trailer swaying back and forth. If this sway gets too rough, it can actually take control of your vehicle, swinging you back and forth, and potentially even causing your tow vehicle to spin.
Towing – Low gear is excellent for towing a heavy load like a trailer or boat since it gives you extra engine power to safely and confidently tow. It's best to refer to your owner's manual for any speed limitations while using your low gear.