new 2703SS sways wile towing

[VacaBill]

I am towing a 27 foot Rockwood 2703SS. I have a F150 with max tow package.
10,000 pound weight distributing hitch and sway bar. Trail sway is constant. trailer tire pressure is 50 psi. They look loaded tot he max, 1760 max load.
This trailer is 6100 empty, current loaded to travel about 6800. Tows worse when fresh water tank is full. Any idea's? Tandems seem to be out of alignment by 3/16 to 1/4 inch ( not parallel ) and I think this could be part of the problem. Trailer is new, less than 1000 miles towed.

[steeleshark2]

Not enough tongue weight is what sounds like the problem. Your fresh water tank is probably to the rear which makes the problem worse. Is the trailer level when towing? Is the wd hitch setup correctly to distribute the weight? Is your truck "squating" a lot when the trailer is on? Is your trailer loaded correctly? All of this can create this condition.

[caper]

What type of tire do have on the F150 LT or passenger?

[MIKE44460]

If you think 3K for a hitch is crazy, don't buy a Hensley. If you want to pass a semi with out thinking which way will the air push me, if you want to be relaxed and not have sweaty palms when you see a semi in the hammer lane and he is going to blow by you, if want to remind yourself there IS a trailer back there, spend the 3K.

I really, I mean really have to watch myself when I pass someone that I don't pull in to quick. It is very relaxed driving and only pushing down on the throttle reminds me there is a trailer back there, crosswinds, down hills with curves, I'm driving a sports car pulling a RV. On the long flat runs I can set the cruise at 80 and motor.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by steeleshark2

Not enough tongue weight is what sounds like the problem. Your fresh water tank is probably to the rear which makes the problem worse. Is the trailer level when towing? Is the wd hitch setup correctly to distribute the weight? Is your truck "squating" a lot when the trailer is on? Is your trailer loaded correctly? All of this can create this condition.

X2. The F150 can handle this trailer. Something is not right with your setup. Check your truck wheel opening measurements before and after hookup. The the WD should bring your front wheel measurement about 1/2 way back from the increase without WD. So, if your front end goes up 1 1/2 inches before WD, it should be no more than 3/4 inch after WD. And your trailer frame should be parallel to the ground.

[Dave_Monica]

What is your hitch/sway bar set-up?

It's suggested that you have about 13% hitch weight for good towing...that's 884 lbs if your est of 6800 lbs total is correct. The specs list the dry hitch weight at 474 lbs.

You're saying that the wheels are misaligned with the camper...how are you measuring this?

Dave

[Triguy]

Vacabill, what does the sway feel like? Is it a push-suck-pull from a passing truck or the push from a wind? If so, than some of this is normal. But it can be exasperated by a WDH that needs to be adjusted (e.g., light tongue or even too heavy of a tongue). As Bob said, the truck tires make a big difference, too.

I ask what it feels like because "sway" is a term thrown around a lot and used to mean different things. Real sway is unpredictable and can be best described as a rapid side-to-side oscillation of the trailer which increases with each swing. Very dangerous.

[Coops1]

X3 on steeleshark2's take on this. But this may be as simple as dropping the ball on the truck to level the trailer. Just so everyone knows Forest River's site shows this trailer as 32' long.

[caper]

A 32' TT should have two (2) friction sway bars installed. Any TT over 28' needs 2 friction sway bars if you are using friction sway control. Also if the TV does not have LT tires the walls of the TV will flex causing the TT to sway.

[VacaBill]

My F150 had factory tires until about 4 hours ago when I purchased LT Truck tires, 10 ply, load rated E. While the factory tires are rated to carry the load they are only P rated with a 2 ply side wall and I had to run them at max air when towing.

Second I took my truck and trailer into a new shop this morning, his first thought was to add a second friction sway bar.

We measured the truck and trailer disconnnected on level ground and he found the ball on the truck was too low. I raised the ball one bolt hole this afternoon. Otherwise he said I had things adjusted correctly. The trailer will be in the shop for a week or two on a warrantee issue so I will see how these changes help. I also plan to go to a scale and weigh out the axles when I hook up the trailer next.

I am new to this, the trailer is 32 feet from hitch to rear bumper.

Thanks to everyone who responded, you thoughts helped me sort this out.

[acadianbob]

Good luck. LEt us know how this turns out.

[BOBFIDY]

What would happen guys if he hooked up the WDH 1 more chain link higher?. Might that move some more weight to the front of the truck and help?

Or maybe the bars are not rated high enough?

Just a couple thoughts.

[VacaBill]

I wanted to update my posting. Weighed the unit, only 440 lbs on the hitch, water tank empty, 620 lbs water tank full, still only about 9% for hitch weight.
Confusing because it handled worse with the water tank full. Removed the spare tire from the back bumper and that actually helped. I am seriously thinking of taking the trailer into an alignment shop! I am also loading the trailer front heavy with our gear.:signh avefun:
I have the trailer level and about equal weight on both truck axles.

I want to thank mike44460, the Hensley is what has really made towing this trailer a joy, I understand what you where saying. The improved handling and control experienced is amazing.

Thanks to All who Replied.

[MIKE44460]

You are welcome. Enjoy and remember to grease it as they say. It only takes a short time to drop the weight bars and smear some grease around. I keep a pair of rubber gloves in the RV and a can of grease. Using a grease gun, I just don't see the grease getting to the places it needs to be when the bearing surfaces are under pressure.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by MIKE44460

If you think 3K for a hitch is crazy, don't buy a Hensley. If you want to pass a semi with out thinking which way will the air push me, if you want to be relaxed and not have sweaty palms when you see a semi in the hammer lane and he is going to blow by you, if want to remind yourself there IS a trailer back there, spend the 3K.

I really, I mean really have to watch myself when I pass someone that I don't pull in to quick. It is very relaxed driving and only pushing down on the throttle reminds me there is a trailer back there, crosswinds, down hills with curves, I'm driving a sports car pulling a RV. On the long flat runs I can set the cruise at 80 and motor.

And when a tire blows from excessive speed I will venture a statement of "those da-- china bombs, I checked the pressures and they were good."

[MIKE44460]

Goodyear's made in the USA, thank you.

[MIKE44460]

Let me also say, when I stop for fuel I always feel the tires to check the temperature. With the Hensley I find that both the TV and TT tires feel the same. Before the Hensley the TT were always warmer to the touch.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by MIKE44460

Goodyear's made in the USA, thank you.

If they are ST tires they are only rated for 65mph max.