Trailer Sway Control

[AH64ID]

Oh yeah, if Grizz takes one foot off the scale and puts it on a skate board the scale will read less and he becomes a combination

Nick

Now that's pretty funny

 

[RUSSELL5000]

If I put one foot on a skateboard and the other foot on something else there would be swift weight transfer to my butt as it hits the ground.

Fellers, we digress from the subject at hand.

My travel trailer is in storage for the winter, but I am pretty certain that only one wire run goes to the brake drums. I don't see how the magnets in the drums of one side of the trailer can be energized versus the other. I thought they were always energized at the same time. One thing I plan to do in the spring is run parallel feeds to each side with connectors - and 10 gauge wire.

I have also thought that RV travel trailers were the most likely to sway because you can't do much to change the loading: all of the appliances and furniture are fixed in mine. In a cargo trailer you can redistribute the items and change the load.

It looks like these are new items and folks have yet to come across them.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Russell5000,

I'm familiar with sway, not the specific devices you are asking about. It seems logical that they could help, but if you are getting sway in the first place, there is an issue with the loading/distribution of weight, or tow set up. As some others have said, I would not want to rely on such a device to control sway.

I have towed with 4 different tow vehicles, the same TT. The tow vehicle does matter! Clearly a heavy tow vehicle and stiff suspension is preferred over a lighter one. The distance from the axle to tow point is also a big factor. My tow vehicles were a 1/2 pick-up, a Land Rover SUV, 3/4 truck, now a 1 Ton Dodge.

The last being by far most stiff suspension, heaviest and extremely stable, I can't induce sway, even if I try. With the 1/2 ton, I'd see it at times, but speed was limited by engine HP, so it was not too bad. The SUV, it was short wheel base, and very long axle to tow point, soft suspension thus very unstable. An equalizer hitch was vital, yet specifically NOT advised by the owners manual. That one normally was rear axle heavy, so the trailer amplified this more, taking so much weight off the front wheels it was almost unable to turn! Sway could come on quick, and thus I only used this vehicle a couple of times, and for very short trips!

With a cargo trailer, as some have observed, distribution of weight is critical to prevent sway, in my cargo trailer I have % markers so I can calculate when I load it to keep 10-15 % on the hitch, that is key.

All that said, as insurance I have the Blu Ox True Center (gas piston) anti-sway device, it is very effective, but no longer sold. It uses 2 stage gas pistons to provide resistance which favors straight alignment, so any sway is dampened if it begins. With this and the 1 ton, I never see sway. It is rock solid. Probably overkill in fact.

I should also point out, during the times I did see sway on the prior tow vehicles, application of the manual operation of the trailer brakes (both sides) did near instantly stop the sway. Look at sway as a pendulum swinging back and forth, the brakes on trailer only pulls on the tow point, thus forcing the rig to go straight and dampens sway, the opposite would happen if one applied tow vehicle brakes, with no or minimal trailer brakes, that amplifies sway and often ends in loss of control and jackknife as has been described earlier.

As far as addition of these technologies to new RVs, probably a liability thing to cover for less informed people buying and towing such rigs, if you are aware, and have good loading and maintenance, just a quick use of trailer brakes in manual mode should be all you need to eliminate sway.

One last note, it is true that much of RV weight is pre-determined, but not all. In mine the fresh water tank is just aft of the axles, the Black and Grey forward.. When Fresh is full, others empty, the effect is noticeable, that and depending on what and where one loads gear and groceries.. it can change the dynamic considerably. Mine puts some of that weight aft, bad for sway, so I'm sure to keep heavier items in the front of the trailer, I'm not going to exceed axle limits on the truck, not even close!

Hope something in this is helpful.

 

[GAmes]

The tow vehicle does matter!

Has anyone said it doesn't? It is a no brainer that an inadequate tow vehicle will be unstable. It is a no brainer that putting enough weight on the rear of the vehicle that the steer axle is unloaded will make the rig unstable. Don't confuse instability with sway. They are two very separate things.

 

[slowmover]

The TUSON trailer mount electronic antisway reacts faster than the current crop of TV ones. It's likely the one being offered by Jayco and others. Cheap insurance.

 

[GAmes]

The TUSON trailer mount electronic antisway reacts faster than the current crop of TV ones. It's likely the one being offered by Jayco and others. Cheap insurance.

I googled it. The very first sentences confirmed the fact it is just another huckster gimmick. " [FONT=&quot]Evasive maneuvers are part of towing trailers in traffic. Cars coming up on-ramps, can cut you off in your right towing lane, side winds can push your trailer hard, and then there’s bad weather" [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Guess what, none of those things cause sway, none of them. Only the gullible believe that tripe. Cheap insurance is loading the trailer correctly and using an adequate weight distribution hitch. There isn't any insurance that prevents people from improper weight loading or dropping so much dead weight on the hitch that the front tires of the tow vehicle are barely on the ground.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[slowmover]

I googled it. The very first sentences confirmed the fact it is just another huckster gimmick. " [FONT=&quot]Evasive maneuvers are part of towing trailers in traffic. Cars coming up on-ramps, can cut you off in your right towing lane, side winds can push your trailer hard, and then there’s bad weather" [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Guess what, none of those things cause sway, none of them. Only the gullible believe that tripe. Cheap insurance is loading the trailer correctly and using an adequate weight distribution hitch. There isn't any insurance that prevents people from improper weight loading or dropping so much dead weight on the hitch that the front tires of the tow vehicle are barely on the ground.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

You're right of course. Crosswinds never have an effect on travel trailers, nor do pavement changes etc.

Give your "crusade" a break. Problems due to TW and trailer weight balance aren't the same as wind loads. The latter may magnify the former, but corrections to a trailer moving out of alignment to the TV are beneficial.

Next you'll be arguing that 5ers don't snake or sway.

Sway is a word commonly used to denote a problem. Which may be of more than one source. You want to use it in a special or defined manner, then you need also provide words definitive of those other problems. SAE uses "snaking" You're welcome to use your own.

 

[AH64ID]

I never seen a crosswind have a negative effect on a properly loaded trailer. That includes 30mph gusty crosswinds on a trailer with a 26' box at 70+ mph which took one hand to control.

He's not wrong, they are a gimmick that caters to those in fear of improperly loaded trailers.

 

[RVTRKN]

The point is that the pin/tongue weight is transfered to a more stable platform. Trucks suspension and designed weight distribution setup is alot more stable.

 

[GAmes]

You're right of course. Crosswinds never have an effect on travel trailers, nor do pavement changes etc.

Give your "crusade" a break. Problems due to TW and trailer weight balance aren't the same as wind loads. The latter may magnify the former, but corrections to a trailer moving out of alignment to the TV are beneficial.

Next you'll be arguing that 5ers don't snake or sway.

Sway is a word commonly used to denote a problem. Which may be of more than one source. You want to use it in a special or defined manner, then you need also provide words definitive of those other problems. SAE uses "snaking" You're welcome to use your own.

Of course those things have an effect on a trailer, regardless of it's hitch type. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAND, no gimmick hitch or device in the world will prevent them. If you have ever pulled the same trailer with a simple WD hitch and a "sway control" hitch you would know that the towing experience is exactly the same. My definition of sway isn't something I made up to save people from being duped into buying a product that serves no purpose. My definition requires using common sense. Here is the basis;

Trailer Sway[FONT=&quot] – Oscillating tow angles. This last definition is important in our discussion here. A tow angle created by turning a corner IS NOT trailer sway. Trailer sway is defined as OSCILLATING TOW ANGLES. That is multiple tow angles over a period of time. The trailer continues to oscillate away from the centerline of the tow combination at various amplitudes. Clear? I hope so because this is where most of the discussions I have witnessed break down.

[/FONT]https://www.propridehitch.com/towing-definitions/

 

[RVTRKN]

I'm sorry I posted out of sequence, I didn't read the other pages. But I still stand behind my theory, your attached weight is transfered to a more stable truck platform. The trick to towing heavier trailers than the TV, is to SLOW DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION. I can't count on both of my hands how many unstable combinations I've seen heading to the Dunes with the tail wagging the dog, and then even pass up responsible drivers that drive their combination as designed. My little Tacoma pulls my boat in my signature just fine. But I slow it down and pay attention to my distance behind other vehicles. It is within the GCWR but is at its limits, so I just drive slower and pay attention. If the road permits I'll speed up a little but when other vehicles are around me I slow it back down.

 

[cojhl2]

One quick note re any device that sets the brakes automatically, that would be a disaster on slick roads.

 

[GAmes]

One quick note re any device that sets the brakes automatically, that would be a disaster on slick roads.

Yup. Then we would be arguing over the definition of jack-knife. :-laf

 

[slowmover]

I've yet to come across a thread of this sort where "sway" isn't the commonly used term.

Integrated anti-sway helps no matter how well the trailer is designed and loaded. To say otherwise is foolish.

You want to beat this as your autistic dead end, have at it.

Side to side oscillation is but one problem. The problem is more easily understood as the trailer being out of alignment with the trailer. What devices may reduce or eliminate that tendency are all to the good.

 

[mwilson]

Yup. Then we would be arguing over the definition of jack-knife. :-laf

I know the answer to that one...It's when you can see the trailer without having to look in the mirrors....

 

[GAmes]

I've yet to come across a thread of this sort where "sway" isn't the commonly used term.

Lots of people call koalas bears and think whales are fish. So do you let them live in their fantasy or give them the correct information?

Integrated anti-sway helps no matter how well the trailer is designed and loaded. To say otherwise is foolish.

Helps what? Do you actually believe any device will stop a improperly loaded trailer from swaying? Now that would be foolish.

You want to beat this as your autistic dead end, have at it.

Surely that wasn't meant as a school yard taunt, so I'll interpret it positively and say thanks.

Many individuals with ASD show superior skills in perception and attention, relative to the general population.

Plaisted Grant K, Davis G (2009). "Perception and apperception in autism: rejecting the inverse assumption". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 364

If it was some sort of inappropriate taunt it only illustrates you have nothing of value to say.

Side to side oscillation is but one problem. The problem is more easily understood as the trailer being out of alignment with the trailer. What devices may reduce or eliminate that tendency are all to the good.

The trailer being out of alignment with the trailer? I'm assuming you meant tow vehicle and I'd love to hear how any hitch or electronic doodad would change the axle alignment. On top of that, as many of us have seen, a trailer that "dog-legs" doesn't sway anyway, it just goes down the road somewhat sideways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACGCTPgEHJI

 

[AH64ID]

I know the answer to that one...It's when you can see the trailer without having to look in the mirrors....

:-laf:-laf

 

[slowmover]

Oh, it's a schoolyard taunt. Because the assertion that antisway devices aren't worthwhile is stupid.

Take the "perfectly designed and loaded trailer" on the ball and flick the wheel hard left then hard right, power-on at above 60-mph.

That trailer will be out of alignment far enough to pull the TV rear axle tires off their contact patch. With not much force.

Won't matter which of the vehicles tips over first.

Or get a better hitch. A Hensley or ProPride won't allow a problem like that for general purposes.

Years back I recall your never used one. I have one. Will run circles around your rig with a "superior" trailer.

Can't shake the trailer off at 55-60 from right lane to shoulder to left lane and median and back to right lane. Hard as hell maneuvers.

They'll all sway. Snake. Etc. Doesn't matter what it's called. Doesn't matter how it's designed or loaded. There's a limit in speed to every trailer. A decent antisway device, mechanical and/or electric is beneficial to tow rig stability. Same with fully independent suspension on either tow rig or trailer.

Trailer side to side movement (misalignment) is where the trailer HD traveling faster than the tow vehicle. What causes it is another thread. How fast it becomes a hazard is the only point.

And a semi with a dog legged trailer is on OOS violation. Dangerous as hell depending on what it is and how it's loaded. I thought you'd driven CDL-A OTR.

 

[GAmes]

Oh, it's a schoolyard taunt. Because the assertion that antisway devices aren't worthwhile is stupid.

Take the "perfectly designed and loaded trailer" on the ball and flick the wheel hard left then hard right, power-on at above 60-mph. {/QUOTE]

You do that and call ME stupid. ROTFLMAO

Or get a better hitch. A Hensley or ProPride won't allow a problem like that for general purposes.

You need to work on that memory of yours. I have used a "better hitch" several times, same trailer. Not one iota difference in how it towed. Then again, I've never had a "problem' with sway, either using the correct definition or your definition. I'm much more likely to buy a mongoose to save me from a King Cobra attack. Both the attack and attempting to pull a trailer that sways are equally likely.

Years back I recall your never used one. I have one. Will run circles around your rig with a "superior" trailer.

Now there is a boast without meaning. I'm glad you have one, the hitch manufacturers rely on suckers to stay in business.

Can't shake the trailer off at 55-60 from right lane to shoulder to left lane and median and back to right lane. Hard as hell maneuvers.

Honestly, you do that?? For what purpose? I can't match that, I'm not stupid.

They'll all sway. Snake. Etc. Doesn't matter what it's called. Doesn't matter how it's designed or loaded. There's a limit in speed to every trailer. A decent antisway device, mechanical and/or electric is beneficial to tow rig stability. Same with fully independent suspension on either tow rig or trailer.

Repeating the same myth, that is nothing more than a sales pitch, over and over doesn't make it true. How about some evidence? Show me some safety statistics, with and without a "anti-sway device". I'd like to see the formula that shows the massive amount of friction your magic hitches can exert to counter-act the leverage of a 10,000 pound 30 foot trailer. Tell me how I, and thousands of other trailer pullers, can drive incident free for hundreds of thousands of miles if "sway" is so rampant.

I thought you'd driven CDL-A OTR.

You thought wrong. I transport trailers and because I don't exceed 26,000 GCWR I'm not required to have a CDL. I do drive OTR, coast to coast, US and Canada.

So tell me, since you are the subject matter expert, it seems. What hitch would you recommend for a construction trailer I recently pulled. I encountered cross winds, large trucks passing me, both on the free way and on two lane roads. I had to avoid a moron that cut in front of me and slammed on his brakes in Dallas on the I635 loop. Pretty much the gamut of things the "sway control" purveyors claim the magic hitch will control. Remember, I can't do any cutting, welding or drilling, so the hitch has to be transportable.

Edit; One other thing, the trailer was empty, so it was a big sail in the wind.