SWAY PROBLEMS, Advice please

PBallie1602 · 10-23-2012, 07:52 AM

We are new and are having a lot of sway. After taking it back to the dealer (which by the way all the techs there seem to know very little) and a couple of adjustments it was still swaying bad, BUT it was also extremely windy driving it home. We have a 32 ft (including hitch) Salem 227BH that is being towed by a 2006 Ford F250 Diesel w/ a EZ Lift Sway Control Bar. How much sway should be expected. The wind was bad and it way swaying all over the place.

MilCop4523 · 10-23-2012, 07:59 AM

Tire pressures?
Bias Ply tires?
Make of tires?
Wind played havoc with ours but my tires were bias ply China junk, the dealer had 40 lbs in each tire (supposed to be at the max of 50)

We also purchased a air deflector and I've noticed a huge differents in stability with and without wind blowing.

MtnGuy · 10-23-2012, 08:02 AM

Hmmm.....I couldn't find any information on a 227BH.

Make sure you have at least 10% tongue weight compared to the overall weight of the trailer. 12-15% would be better.

Make sure that the WDH is setup properly. Too little or too much distributed weight could cause problems.

You may need to add a 2nd sway control bar.

PBallie1602 · 10-23-2012, 08:09 AM

Thanks! Since we are not experienced at all I am thinking of taking the whole set up over to a place that specializes in hitch installation and see if they can take a look at it. It was scary.

MilCop4523 · 10-23-2012, 08:12 AM

when I had my first stream of Tractor trailers pass us coming home and they jsut about sucked teh trailer off my truck at 50 miles an hour, its the reason my wfe refused to haul long distances now.

SaskCampers · 10-23-2012, 08:23 AM

Chap hit it right on. We had some exciting moments the first time out with our current TT until we got the hitch setup right and now it tows like it's on rails, Even semis closing fast from behind are a non issue anymore.

**bikendan** · 10-23-2012, 09:43 AM

do you have a WDH with a sway bar or just the sway bar?

ironj · 10-23-2012, 09:46 AM

it took me about 4 trips with the trailer to get it all set up juuuuuuuuust right.....but the difference between my final setup, and what the dealer sent me "down the road" with is NIGHT AND DAY.....

coming home from the dealer i had a ridiculous ammount of sway and rear end bounce with an unloaded trailer....i mean so bad to the point i was SURE something on the hitch was broken! LOL...everytime i saw a semi coming at me i sighed and got ready for the ensuing attack and battle i was about to incurr..

at one point i stopped and picked up a couple of more links on the wd chains and that seemed to help a little...

so when i get home i take the whole wd hitch apart and start all over with new measurments (ball height, fender ect) and end up adding an additional 2 washers to the head....a trip to the scales and its pretty good....tows a lot better.....

then after the 2-3 trip and my wife has finally put all the "stuff" she likes to take in the camper, i hit scales and am heavy in the back again, and the nose of the truck is up...

when it was all said and done, i had to add 4 washers total to the head for tilt, and had to lower the head one set of holes in the shank as compared to how the dealer sent me off....NIGHT AND DAY difference, and NO SWAY on even the windiest west texas days or with big bully semis trying to suck my 36ft "wind sail" into them....

im using just a basic reese wd hitch with a single friction bar...i know at 36ft i would be better off with 2 bars, but hey...it tows freaking GREAT now and is a pleasure to pull behind the new 6.7 powerstroke....so its staying as is untill it becomes an issue.....if it aint broke then dont fix it and all that...haha

PBallie1602 · 10-23-2012, 01:37 PM

Yes we have the WDH also (the 2 bars w/ chains right??) and yes my DH did pull over and take one more chain link up and it helped a bit, but I was still white knuckling it w/ my 10 year old son in the back seat. Since my DH is not handy at all, he cannot take it apart and readjust anything. So I am going to take the whole set up to a place that does hitches exclusively and pay WHATEVER they want to do WHATEVER they need, because if we don't get into an accident by the grace of God, I will surely have a heart attack. And yes I too felt like it was broken. This dealer has been super nice, but they have taught us several wrong things, just because they don't even know themselves!!

ironj · 10-23-2012, 02:29 PM

Just make sure you have it loaded for camping or as close to when you have it adjusted...and a trip to the scales will give you all the info you need to make sure it's adjusted right and is no more difficult than hooking and unhooking your trailer and paying the nice lady....

If everything is adjusted correctly and you still have issues then it may be time to consider a Hensley or propride style setup....that is the only way I know to ELIMINATE sway.......honestly, a properly adjusted bar style wdh hitch is 85% as effective as a Hensley assuming the TV is not maxed out or near it......

PBallie1602 · 10-23-2012, 02:53 PM

Thanks you! I am def taking notes so I know what to ask when I take to the hitch pros!

Mark and Linda · 10-23-2012, 07:17 PM

Be sure to do a follow-up after you take it in for adjustment. I always like to know the outcome. I have been tweaking on mine..even added an extra friction sway bar. I have a Proseries with SC, big bars. I have begun to notice what trucks give me the big push and which ones don't.

DDC · 10-23-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBallie1602

Yes we have the WDH also (the 2 bars w/ chains right??) and yes my DH did pull over and take one more chain link up and it helped a bit, but I was still white knuckling it w/ my 10 year old son in the back seat. Since my DH is not handy at all, he cannot take it apart and readjust anything. So I am going to take the whole set up to a place that does hitches exclusively and pay WHATEVER they want to do WHATEVER they need, because if we don't get into an accident by the grace of God, I will surely have a heart attack. And yes I too felt like it was broken. This dealer has been super nice, but they have taught us several wrong things, just because they don't even know themselves!!

Don't fight to control sway, eliminate it completely by using a Hensley, look for a used one if you find it expensive, I've had mine for a long time and find it's the only way to go. I know others will argue but I don't need to control sway because I don't get any.

kozzy · 10-23-2012, 08:12 PM

Def check the adjustment. I have the Reese dual cam setup with a lacrosse 318 which is about 35 feet. Took it to flordia right from the dealer( 1600 mile trip) and it was terrrible. When I got there I spent about 2 hours one day with the instructions, Reese website, and readjusted everything myself..

Was 200% better and has been great ever since.

I still have the cheap china tires that came with it, pull with a 1/2 ton truck. The only time I get any sway is if it is really really windy or I get caught between 2 tractor trailers, and even in those instances the sway might just be a a quick flutter and that's it..

Sounds like u just need to tune yours in that's all

PBallie1602 · 10-24-2012, 07:47 AM

Does anyone know where there is someone who not only sells but installs Hensleys in the Austin Tx area?

OldCoot · 10-24-2012, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBallie1602

Does anyone know where there is someone who not only sells but installs Hensleys in the Austin Tx area?

No, but get ready to drop around $3,000.00 for the hitch.

PBallie1602 · 10-24-2012, 07:55 AM

Well I have a 10 yr old in the truck, so honestly if we we can't get the WDH and sway control we have on adjusted I'll put it on the CC and pay as I go. His safety has NO price tag.

OldCoot · 10-24-2012, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBallie1602

Well I have a 10 yr old in the truck, so honestly if we we can't get the WDH and sway control we have on adjusted I'll put it on the CC and pay as I go. His safety has NO price tag.

You should be able to get what you have to work just fine. Thousands, if not millions of others have made them work just fine. Don't get discouraged.

PBallie1602 · 10-24-2012, 08:17 AM

Thanks! Its hard not to be discouraged. My husband is not mechanical at all so he can't start adjusting this himself and when we spent $25000 on a new TT I had no idea this would be an issue until after the fact. And my son was in the truck the other day and I was scared out of my mind. It was no fun.

DeRosa2013 · 10-24-2012, 08:47 AM

I have noticed that if you keep your tow vehicle tire pressure at the max pressure (that's listed on that tire) it helps with swaying. Also make sure your truck tires are rated for towing. Usually C,D,E ratings are best for pulling loads.

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