With all the talk about sway and weight distribution

polishdon · 04-30-2016, 08:26 AM

How is it that the guys that deliver these camper from the factory to dealers just hook up and go?

I must have seen 100 new trailers being delivered on my ride to pick mine up. From what I saw none of the "bumper pulls" had an anti sway or WD hitch. Almost all of the guys were driving 3500\F350 duallys, but how do they not worry about sway??

KingFisher · 04-30-2016, 09:33 AM

If you have the correct proportion of tongue weight then fish tailing shouldn't be a problem.
It's not all about the length. I had a 12 ft utility trailer almost get away from me from fish tailing when the load of deck lumber I had on it shifted towards the rear and took my tongue weight away.

I prefer the term fish tailing to sway. Sway seems to me to denote side to side movement from the top, like when a gust of wind hits the trailer. I know everyone calls fish tailing sway though, and sway bars are called sway bars, not anti fish tailing bars.

DaveSchwartz · 04-30-2016, 09:49 AM

Well, your second paragraph pretty much hit it... they're all driving 1-ton, long-bed duallies.

A TV with such a long wheelbase and stiff rear-end is almost immune from contributing to the oscillation that can contribute to sway building up to dangerous levels. Also, these trailers are completely empty so, besides being at minimum weight on tires that have just been checked, they are going to have a good tongue weight proportion with no need to consider the proper distribution of the many hundreds of pounds of stuff that us civilians add. Also, being a pro, they would be aware of how to use their TV and trailer brakes to dampen out any sway that does occur.

Also, a WD hitch and/or sway control is going to involve attaching something to the a-frame and that's going to leave marks that the destination dealer and/or customer may not be happy with.

raspivey · 04-30-2016, 10:30 AM

I've known a few of the guys that pull these to the dealership, usually as a side job. As stated, most have a lot of truck but, primarily, it's not their trailer and they have insurance.

polishdon · 04-30-2016, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveSchwartz

Also, a WD hitch and/or sway control is going to involve attaching something to the a-frame and that's going to leave marks that the destination dealer and/or customer may not be happy with.

Yeah I figured neither the driver nor dealer want to worry about setting up a hitch, that's why I was curious how they get away without using one. You're first paragraph helped explain that, thanks!!

CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT · 04-30-2016, 02:31 PM

The trailers are empty(no pay load) yes ? no ?

Canadiancrew · 04-30-2016, 02:47 PM

Yes as stated one ton trucks with long whelel base. I did sell a WD setup a few year ago and sold it to a fellow that does deliveries. He stated he had never used one but it some cases could use it.

I don't use our WD system either when I bring it away to storage and I can feel the difference empty or loaded.

The other thing I noted is that some of the deliveries the trailers are not riding level because they just hook up and go. I just have to wonder if this is causing some of the tire and axle issues on some of the new trailers. As discussed in other topics the axle ratings and tires are so close to capacity pulling out of level means an overloaded axle as well as two of the tires.

raspivey · 04-30-2016, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadiancrew

The other thing I noted is that some of the deliveries the trailers are not riding level because they just hook up and go. I just have to wonder if this is causing some of the tire and axle issues on some of the new trailers. As discussed in other topics the axle ratings and tires are so close to capacity pulling out of level means an overloaded axle as well as two of the tires.

I've also seen the speeds some of these guys roll at on ST rated tires. Makes you wonder if it's really the tires failing or the fact they've been run at 80 mph for 1000 miles.

**bikendan** · 04-30-2016, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT

The trailers are empty(no pay load) yes ? no ?

The trailers are empty but there's still tongue weight.
Should be close to the brochure/website "dry" hitch weight amount.

Jakieboy · 04-30-2016, 05:17 PM

If the issue is whether or not you should use an anti-sway feature on your travel trailer hitch, the answer is emphatically "YES"! We have been towing travel trailers with a variety of vans and pickups since 1993, and would not be without an Equalizer hitch system. We now have a Silverado 2500 HD Diesel and a fifth-wheel, and the towing experience is absolutely blissful.

Oaklevel · 04-30-2016, 05:49 PM

4 rear wheels equal less sway............ 4500 plus cargo capacity equals no problem with tongue weight.......a truck that out weighs a 1/2 ton by 2000lbs............. equal WDH not needed.

Rugman1952 · 04-30-2016, 06:30 PM

I believe that the vast majority of towing problems are directly related to improper camper loading and " not enough truck "! My inlaws get po'd because I won't let them borrow our TT. Tough cookies, I've spent too much time on hitches and cat scales, making sure i'm safe to be on the road to let some yahoo just hook up and " borrow it for a weekend".

Oaklevel · 04-30-2016, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rugman1952

I believe that the vast majority of towing problems are directly related to improper camper loading and " not enough truck "! My inlaws get po'd because I won't let them borrow our TT. Tough cookies, I've spent too much time on hitches and cat scales, making sure i'm safe to be on the road to let some yahoo just hook up and " borrow it for a weekend".

Sounds like you are calling your inlaws yahoos. Here that could be a compliment......... (It really Wahoo before I get in trouble)

Why don't you tow it for them? Maybe they will like camping & get their own. Our son is using ours this weekend (No he did not tow it his Fit is a little too small)

satdog01 · 05-01-2016, 06:36 AM

Agree with Oaklevel, while I would not loan my rig to a person who has never pulled a 30 foot plus rig, I do pull and set up the TT for the kids so the grands can campout. Takes a couple of hours each way, small investment of time to get kids/grands involved with camping other than the little bit they get from girl and Boy Scouts. They love it. I have friend that does the same, they set up camp a few days, move out for the kids for a week or so, they love it and it insures the safety of the rig us retires have worked so hard for.
A great feeling to be in a position to share Gods gift of nature with others!!!

Big Red and 30WR · 05-01-2016, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rugman1952

I believe that the vast majority of towing problems are directly related to improper camper loading and " not enough truck "! My inlaws get po'd because I won't let them borrow our TT. Tough cookies, I've spent too much time on hitches and cat scales, making sure i'm safe to be on the road to let some yahoo just hook up and " borrow it for a weekend".

I agree , loaned out my trailer many years ago. When they brought it back it had 3 wheels . I asked where the hell is the 4th wheel . The reply was somewhere back on the four lane. So no more being mr nice guy.

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