Wildwood Xlite - 26BH--fishtailing

GKMiller · 03-14-2011, 10:01 PM

I just bought a new 2010 Wildwood Xlite - 26BH, filled the fresh water tank & loading the BackPack ( est. 100#) & started down the road.
Pulling with a 2006 TrailBlazer with Weight Distributing Hitch. The trailer started fishtailing.. I slowed down & gentlely applied brakes & got it under control. Continued at about 60 MPH about 20 miles more, but with not great comfort....
Any suggestions?
Trading in 20 ft Coachmen & never had fishtailing issues.
Fairly new RV'er so any ideas are appreciated.
Thanks
Gary

scubieman · 03-14-2011, 10:20 PM

Tighten sway bars, either that or your over towing.

buckisland1950 · 03-14-2011, 11:01 PM

I had to move up to an Equalizer Hitch when I went to a larger camper. Never had an issue before but once you do the price for the new hitch is well worth the peace of mind.

crocus · 03-14-2011, 11:10 PM

What speed were you going when the fishtailing started?
Is the trailer sitting level when hooked to your tow vehicle?

LadyWindrider · 03-15-2011, 12:03 AM

How fast do you expect to tow? Your china bomb tires are only rated at 65 mph. Also, if you go by the wheel base chart, you need 130 inch wheel base to tow that camper. A 30 foot trailer, would require a 100 inch wheelbase. Suggestions, you need a new tow vehicle. A proper hitch set up might make you more comfortable, until stuff happens.

**Herk7769** · 03-15-2011, 07:13 AM

You said you had a WD hitch, but did not mention sway control. Two different things on some hitches. Other hitches have sway control built in.

Again, your TV is too short for your trailer length.

ST tires are NOT rated for speeds above 65 MPH regardless of who makes them.

You will also get MUCH better gas mileage below 65 in any case. Try holding up a 4x8 sheet of plywood in various wind speeds and you will get the idea.

DAISY BOYKIN · 03-15-2011, 07:15 AM

No one has ask you this question, Are you using a ANTI-SWAY bar? If not, you may try one---Maybe two. This my correct you Fishtailing problem. It did mine when I owned a 26 FT TT.

Make sure you have correct air pressure in you TV rear tires.

MtnGuy · 03-15-2011, 07:38 AM

Gary, you did not post which Trail Blazer you have. The standard Trail Blazer with a 113" wheelbase is probably much too short to pull a trailer that size. The EXT with a 130" wheelbase is still a little short, but should do a better job.

IMHO, the other responding posters are on track. You need a sway system if you don't already have 1. You need to do either weigh-ins or fender measurements to see if your WDH is properly set-up.

Another thing to check is your tongue weight. The dry weight of that trailer tongue is listed as 10% of the total trailer weight. Depending on how you load your trailer, you may end up with less than a 10% tongue weight, which makes a trailer tend to sway more. See if you can get the tongue weight up around 12% by redistributing your load.

**KyDan** · 03-15-2011, 07:40 AM

As mentioned by others, you need anti sway!!
Either trade your WD hitch in on one with built
in anti-sway or add 2 friction flat bar- anti-sway
bars.
(We had a single flat anti-way bar on our last 19' TT
and it made a HUGE difference. I'd definitely want 2
on a 26.)

I'm happy with my hitch after 3 years.

Rugged Brown · 03-15-2011, 08:28 AM

Slow down, you're going to fast.

**KyDan** · 03-15-2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

Slow down, you're going to fast.

He reported "Continued at about 60 MPH about 20 miles more, but with not great comfort...."

If he's uncomfortable at 60 there's more to it than just
"going too fast".

Rugged Brown · 03-15-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyDan

He reported "Continued at about 60 MPH about 20 miles more, but with not great comfort...."

If he's uncomfortable at 60 there's more to it than just
"going too fast".

Yea,, because he got scared.

crocus · 03-15-2011, 10:06 AM

That "Backpack" that you put 100 lbs in, was that on the rear bumper? If so, that would decrease your hitch weight, which would add to the instability.
Since you mentioned that you "slowed down" to 60 mph, it would appear that you were doing, what, 75 mph?
Kindof sounds like you were doing EVERYTHING wrong, but since you won't respond, we cannot help you.

**bikendan** · 03-15-2011, 10:42 AM

i would never pull a 26+ TT with a Trailblazer unless i had the best WDH made, like a ProPride or Hensley.
i'm a fan of the Equalizer but i'd never tow such a long trailer with such a short wheelbase TV unless i had the best WDH available.

need more info, though. I6 or v-8 engine? XL or regular TB?
anti-sway bar or not?

**KyDan** · 03-15-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocus

That "Backpack" that you put 100 lbs in, was that on the rear bumper? .....
Kindof sounds like you were doing EVERYTHING wrong, but since you won't respond, we cannot help you.

Hey, take it easy. This is a new guy. 1st post less than
24 hrs ago. Give him time to digest all the responses.
(And keep in mind he probably had a salesman who said
"no problem" towing this trailer with your rig!!!)

You are right about the backpack. I guess it is on the
back end. Bad idea to add weight on the back end of a
trailer this long.

Our first trailer was a little ultralite 16 foot.
We stuck 2 regular full size steel frame bicycles on the
rear bumper and took off on our very first camping trip
in a "real" trailer. Previous one was a small pop up that
towed effortlessly.
We hit 50 MPH and it started fishtailing horribly.
We pulled over on the side of the interstate and stuck the
bikes in the inside of the trailer.
We stopped at a dealer on the north side if Cincinnati
and bought a friction anti sway bar.
The guy on the parts desk helped me install it because
the mechanic was sitting in his car taking a nap on
lunch break. They charged me 2 times what I found the
exact same friction bar on the internet later on BUT it
solved our sway completely.
After that we made sure the water tank was half
full (it was in the very front) and we towed fine from
then on. We could fill the front tank completely full
and put the bikes back on the rear but only did that
a few times. We soon upgraded to a larger trailer
and new Silverado. We now carry the bikes in a bed
stand in the back of the truck.

Live and learn & Happy Camping!

crocus · 03-15-2011, 12:12 PM

I wonder where the fresh water tank is on that trailer?
With the 100 lbs on the "backpack", the hitch weight would only be about 300 lbs. So if the water tank was behind the axles, it would be far too light on the front end.

VTX Al · 03-15-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocus

I wonder where the fresh water tank is on that trailer?
With the 100 lbs on the "backpack", the hitch weight would only be about 300 lbs. So if the water tank was behind the axles, it would be far too light on the front end.

My thoughts exactly. If the fresh water tank is at the rear of this model (it is a bunkhouse, so might be under the bottom bunk) then when full 42 gal X 8 lbs = 336 lbs , plus the backpack of 100 lbs. Add the fact that the kitchen appliances/storage is essentially over the axles, therefor balanced, then the trailer could be seriously under-weight at the hitch. I would first make sure that the TV hitch is properly set-up for height and angle, and then check the trailer hitch-weight - it needs to be around 400 lbs or so. Lastly, when hitched up, the TV and trailer must both be level front to back and with each other. Hope this is helpful.

...VTX-AL

You may also like: