sway issues with xlr 27hfs

[ibjon]

Has anyone had sway issues with the xlr 27hfs??? I an loading two full dressed harleys, (2006 Electraglide and 2012 Streetglide), i am using the E2 hitch and pulling with a 2012 Ford F-150 Max Tow Ecoboost. The harleys weigh in at about 800lbs. each. We have tried putting water in the front tank of the trailer, adjusting the hitch and have had no luck. If you have a problem or had a problem wtith this please let me know. My phone number is (712) 253-2378 and my E-mail is IBJON@yahoo.com thanks..

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by ibjon

Has anyone had sway issues with the xlr 27hfs??? I an loading two full dressed harleys, (2006 Electraglide and 2012 Streetglide), i am using the E2 hitch and pulling with a 2012 Ford F-150 Max Tow Ecoboost. The harleys weigh in at about 800lbs. each. We have tried putting water in the front tank of the trailer, adjusting the hitch and have had no luck. If you have a problem or had a problem wtith this please let me know. My phone number is (712) 253-2378 and my E-mail is IBJON@yahoo.com thanks..

What tires do you have on the truck? If they are P, they need to be replaced with LR E.

[ependydad]

What weights have you had done? Meaning - what's your tongue weight and its percentage to the overall trailer weight?

[mark0224]

The ideal weight distribution would be 60 percent on the front, and 40 percent on the rear. If all this is taken care of, and you still experience trailer sway, you will have to get a more aggressive sway control system. Do you have Sway brakes on your trailer, if not they have sets at harbor freight you can install. 1st make sure trailer and truck are level when hooked. I had a trailer that I couldn't get rid of the sway,leveled it, changed tires, made sure it was level when loaded and all the other crazy stuff you could come up with when I added sway brakes it stopped and could drive 70 if I wanted.

[camper1999]

People have already mentioned most of this: tongue as a percentage of the total weight of trailer, use of sway control, tires on your truck passenger vs LT, use of an extended hitch/ball mount will cause sway, overall tongue exceed max of truck, trailer tire and/or suspension.

[ibjon]

o.k. here's the deal, my truck is capable of towing 11,300lbs i told the rv dealership what i was putting in the garage, they picked out the hitch and installed it. I told them that each harley weighed in at 800 lbs. Why would it be my problem to adjust anything and weigh the camper the truck the toung and adjust anything... the problem is that the camper sways at 50 to 55mph. What im getting at, is it my problem the set up is wrong or should the dealer fix the problem?

[meandmylabs]

I think the majority of your problem is the heavy weight in the garage combined with the softer suspension of an F150. Yes, I know it is "rated" to handle it but there is a BIG difference with the more heavy duty suspension and E tires.

I pulled my 27 HFS with a 2006 F150 before switching and was able to set up ok with about half of that weight in the garage. Now with the 3/4 ton, the sway has gone with the same E4 hitch and more weight in the garage.

Yes, the 27 HFS is half ton towable but if you really want to pull in most types of weather conditions with 1600+ lbs in the garage and relax in the process, you really don't have enough truck!

[Batts-toy]

Originally Posted by ibjon

o.k. here's the deal, my truck is capable of towing 11,300lbs i told the rv dealership what i was putting in the garage, they picked out the hitch and installed it. I told them that each harley weighed in at 800 lbs. Why would it be my problem to adjust anything and weigh the camper the truck the toung and adjust anything... the problem is that the camper sways at 50 to 55mph. What im getting at, is it my problem the set up is wrong or should the dealer fix the problem?

Unfortunately the problem is now yours, the dealer sold a trailer and a hitch they thought would fit your needs. Weighing, loading, rigging and generally speaking making sure you have a safe rig setup properly is on you. Several people above have mentioned the things you need to look at like tongue weight as a percent of total weight, TV ability to handle the load, axle weights etc. are all on you. I suggest you go to a scale (CAT scales preferred) and weigh axles etc. and post them here there are a lot of forum members with lots of experience dealing with what you are faced with that are more than willing to help deal with the issue.

[Ministry]

Could you post a picture of your setup? Also, I would head over to the F-150 tow forums if you haven't already...Towing/ Hauling/ Plowing - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans great advice there on optimal setup...

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by ibjon

o.k. here's the deal, my truck is capable of towing 11,300lbs i told the rv dealership what i was putting in the garage, they picked out the hitch and installed it. I told them that each harley weighed in at 800 lbs. Why would it be my problem to adjust anything and weigh the camper the truck the toung and adjust anything... the problem is that the camper sways at 50 to 55mph. What im getting at, is it my problem the set up is wrong or should the dealer fix the problem?

I heard you and agree that the dealer should be helpful in fixing this- but, unfortunately I doubt that they're going to step up. I've read enough horror stories on here about dealers incorrectly adjusting weight-distributing hitches that I would never trust them with my rig.

IMO- the best and safest thing for you and your family is to get educated in this stuff, get weighed and dial in the hitch to the best of your ability. Next is to look at the tires on your truck and opt for a LT tire instead of P. And finally, if you're still having issues, likely consider a truck upgrade.

[OldCoot]

As I posted before, if you have P tires on the truck, you will continue to have sway problems regardless of the tongue wt. I have always gone by 55% of wt on tongue -45% of wt on trailer.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

As I posted before, if you have P tires on the truck, you will continue to have sway problems regardless of the tongue wt. I have always gone by 55% of wt on tongue -45% of wt on trailer.

OC is right! I can speak first hand with P tires on 2 F150's The 2009 with P Stock Perellis was horrible for sway. The new F 150 2013 King Ranch same stock tires and Max Tow was much better with heavier suspension. I just put on Michelin LTX A/T2 tires. There are two tires that fit my 20 inch wheels that where recommended. the Michelin and the BFG All Terrain, both made my Michelin. I know there are others, just what I had availible to me on a employee purchase plan.

LTX A/T2 | Michelin Tires

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

As I posted before, if you have P tires on the truck, you will continue to have sway problems regardless of the tongue wt. I have always gone by 55% of wt on tongue -45% of wt on trailer.

And there you have the difference between book learning (me) and real life (OC). My money is on OC!

[BOBFIDY]

Originally Posted by ibjon

Has anyone had sway issues with the xlr 27hfs??? I an loading two full dressed harleys, (2006 Electraglide and 2012 Streetglide), i am using the E2 hitch and pulling with a 2012 Ford F-150 Max Tow Ecoboost. The harleys weigh in at about 800lbs. each. We have tried putting water in the front tank of the trailer, adjusting the hitch and have had no luck. If you have a problem or had a problem wtith this please let me know. My phone number is (712) 253-2378 and my E-mail is IBJON@yahoo.com thanks..

I assume your hitch is an equalizer hitch When we bought our trailer we were supplied with a hitch and equalizer bars as part of the package.
We had some sway issues, and after talking to a number of folks on our first trip we determined that the dealer had supplied us with equalizer bars that were rated to low.
I may have the numbers wrong.....but if they supplied #800 bars, we needed at least #1000 bars. When we brought it to their attention after our first trip , they replaced the bars and we had no sway issues after that.
Just my .02 cents worth.

[Brother Les]

You should ask the Moderators to remove your phone number and e-mail. People can get a hold of you by Private Messaging on this forum. (do you want people to call you years from now when they see these posts)

What does your unit ride like with No bikes in the back.... If it runs good... then add one bike and see how that does. Adjust as you go..... are your bike as close to the axles as possible or are they to the back. Is your unit level going down the road. My first trip my 'ball' was too high and had sway.... lowered it down and reduced it a lot. How fast do you drive down the road. Work with this a little and you will find your sweet spot.

[1l243]

The trailer is designed to be towed with that kind of wieght in the back. You got to find out what your weights are. Find a comercial scale that is closed but working. Weigh the truck empty, then weigh all the axles of the truck and loaded trailer loaded. It would be a good idea to measure the distance from the top of your wheel wells of the truck unloaded and loaded, you will be able to tell how your weight distribution hitch is doing it's job. Once you know your weights then you will know what you need to do (ie) air bags, friction anti sway, tires or bigger truck.

[youroo]

First you (MUST) have (10-15% Tongue Weight) if it still sways,find a friend with a 3/4 truck with LT tires and pull your trailer for a Test! Youroo!!

[ibjon]

o.k. i should have put in all the info. that i done with this... the reason i opened this thread is to find out if anyone has issues with sway. My truck is a 2012 F-150 Max Tow with air bags, I am running the GoodYear Wrangler tires 275/65R18 The truck was cert. scaled at 5980lbs the camper without bikes, just normal camping items that stay in camper was 7200 lbs. I Load one bike approx 800lbs run down the road at 70 to 80 mph no problems, i took it to sturgis from iowa that way, even with the cross winds on I-90 i had no porblems. I add one more full dressed harley approx 800 lbs and cannot go 60 mph without auto sway control comming on. (very Scary) I have adjusted every position on the E- 2 hitch, added and released air from air bags, filled water in front tank for extra tounge weight...and cannot get it to tow straight at 55 to 60mph. From what i can tell, when you add the extra 800lbs in the garage of the camper, their is too much weight behind the axles and not enough weight on the toung. any Ideas??

[ibjon]

oh. i forgot to mention that i spoke with three other xlr 27 hfs owners while i was in sturgis, the first had sway issues, he owned a hail repair company and used the garage to store his tools while on the road, he said he had to put tools in the bed of the pickup in orer to run down the road without sway issues. the tools weighed in at 1850lbs.. the second person i spoke with at the camp ground hauled an atv, it had an approx weight of 790lbs and he said he had no problems with sway... the third camper that i spoke with could not load his honda gold wing and his harley without having sway issues. I'm guessing that there is too much weight behind the axles, therefore....sway issues

[Brother Les]

My first idea as one who has done this and paid the price.

Stop driving over 70 mph. It is not a matter of if, but when one of your tires explodes. You may dodge the results of an exploding tire once, but know there will be a time of catastrophic results.

The forum police will say to stop being so blunt, but as I age I always revert back to safety first and always.... and the speeds that I used to drive and that you are driving.... are not safe.