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Old 03-17-2015, 10:48 PM   #1
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Sway Control

I am picking up a 2015 A122SXR on Friday! My tow vehicle is a 2006 Tundra DC 4x4. I pulled my old 2007 Starcraft 1701 (8 foot box and lifted w/13 inch tires) without any sway issues. Wondering what people are doing (if anything) for sway control.

Looking forward to summer in the new camper!
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Old 03-18-2015, 08:53 AM   #2
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As a general rule I Don't believe pop ups sway, at least I have not had any problems. It is because of their low center of gravity.
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Old 03-18-2015, 09:07 AM   #3
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Old 03-18-2015, 10:09 AM   #4
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I would recommend a friction sway device like the one Mark provided a link for. Even if your trailer doen`t sway, its good insurance if you need to make an emergency maneuver.
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Old 03-18-2015, 11:55 AM   #5
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My 2000 Coleman Westlake PUP (12ft box) - towed by 1992 Ford Explorer - had a pretty bad case of sway at anything above 62MPH. Dealer warned me in advance not to go over 55 with it.

When we picked up our 2014 A122 last year, I took it for a test spin around the dealer's lot. I was not happy with the ride behind our 2008 Hyundai Entourage (minivan). There was porpoising of both vehicles. I had the dealer install an Equal-i-zer 600/6000 weight distributing hitch with 4 point anti-sway built-in (cost $340, of which $240 came from deleting install of an unneeded xmsn cooler into the Entourage).

I am totally sold on WDH/anti-sway. With the WDH/anti-sway, the minivan rides like the excellent highway cruiser it is. Tows real nice through the Rockies. There are no white knuckle moments even going 75MPH with Colorado crosswinds, or on a mountain downgrade. More importantly, the wife doesn't get scared towing because there is no sway wagging the van. Connecting/disconnecting the Equal-i-zer adds less than 5 minutes at each end, with the hardest work being cranking the tongue jack up and down for each connect/disconnect.

just my experiences
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Old 03-18-2015, 12:23 PM   #6
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Fred, I would say that you are lucky to be alive! 75 mph ?? NO trailer tire that I am aware of is rated for speed above 65 mph. Read your tire sidewall! Just sayin......
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Old 03-18-2015, 04:59 PM   #7
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I've towed our T21 with and without mechanical sway control and didn't notice any difference. However, Ford now offers built in electronic sway control in their trucks and SUV's Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems when equipped with the factory tow package. So far I haven't had it engage.

For longer trips, especially crossing the windy Midwest, I carry a friction sway system, like the one Mark linked, to use as a supplement to the ESC.
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Old 03-18-2015, 08:07 PM   #8
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If it is anything like my A122s, you will never notice it is behind your Tundra. With the heavy tongue weight and long distance from the hitch ball to the axle, the camper will stay right where it is supposed to be. FR Aframes are not like those old tongue light Fleetwood campers that would buck and jump behind you. While passing an 18 wheeler will put some side pressures on your rig, it will not push or draw the camper away from tracking the TV. Even, I am sure, with your high wall.

So while I'd never say never, pick it up and drive down some lightly traveled road and give the steering wheel a good shake, slowly at first, of course. My bet is the your camper will stay right where is is supposed to be with no drama at all. If you feel the need for more control then a friction bar is easy enough to put on at any time.
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Old 03-18-2015, 08:13 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by pgandw View Post
My 2000 Coleman Westlake PUP (12ft box) - towed by 1992 Ford Explorer - had a pretty bad case of sway at anything above 62MPH. Dealer warned me in advance not to go over 55 with it.

Fred W
Those old Coleman's towed like a pig. The first trip with my Niagara, we had four bikes on the roof and wet roads. Anything over 55 was a quest for trouble. A fraction bar and more weight in the front trunk "solved" the problem for me. I never towed without the bar again.
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Old 03-18-2015, 08:21 PM   #10
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As a general rule I Don't believe pop ups sway, at least I have not had any problems. It is because of their low center of gravity.
I can personally refute that. When I owned it I had a scare towing my Coleman Mesa. It started the classic pendulum movement despite a Reese Mini-350 hitch. I stopped safely and redistributed the load. That stopped the problem but I have absolutely no doubt that it swayed.
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Old 03-19-2015, 03:40 AM   #11
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Fred, I would say that you are lucky to be alive! 75 mph ?? NO trailer tire that I am aware of is rated for speed above 65 mph. Read your tire sidewall! Just sayin......
There's a common misconception that PUPs and A-frames suffer from the same "China bomb" syndrome that the big boys do. We don't, even though we have the same cheap Chinese tires as OEM equipment. Very rare is the tale of blowouts among PUPs and Aframes with tires less than 6 years old - or at least I don't see them like I do for the big boys.

I suspect some of the reasons for that is
  • we are talking single axles for the most part. Not nearly the squirming in corners.
  • in the smaller sizes, the tires have more margin in their construction
  • there's not as much profit to be gained by putting absolute minimum capacity tires on a single axle with smaller price differences between one tire size and the next. Hence, the OEM tires supplied tend to have more reserve capacity at the small end of the RV spectrum.
  • it's harder to cram as much stuff into a PUP or Aframe due to its fold-down nature. Again, makes it easier to avoid overloading the tires.
In my specific case, I knowingly exceeded the 65 mph tire limit for a 20 mile stretch of interstate to real-life test vehicle and tow handling with the Equal-i-zer hitch. I had already driven 30 miles at 65 and below. I normally set the cruise control at 65 (actual 63 mph) on the interstate. I do exceed 65 occasionally to pass a slow-moving truck. Non-interstate is marked 65 and below in Colorado.


Since my Aframe is kept in the garage where I have an air compressor, tire pressures on TV and Aframe are always checked before wheeling the camper out and hooking up.

Even when the camper is fully loaded with our stuff (we are pretty minimalist) and a full water tank, the Aframe tires are at less than 80% capacity and inflated to full rated air pressure. I feel pretty safe with the OEM 14" LR C Trail Express tires to date.

I had similar experiences with PUPs and OEM tires in the past - I never wore them out or even suffered a single flat. The tires eventually aged out and needed replacement for sidewall crazing and cracking after about 7-8 years when stored outside (same is true of boat trailer tires).

FWIW, there are now trailer tires available with higher speed ratings in certain sizes.

Fred W
now: 2014 Rockwood A122 towed by Hyundai Entourage (minivan), Equal-i-zer 600/6000
then: 2000 Coleman Westlake (sold 2007) towed by 1992 Ford Explorer
1986 Coachmen PUP (sold 1993 after arriving in Juneau, Alaska) towed by 1992 Ford Explorer
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Old 03-19-2015, 08:23 AM   #12
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We've had three canvas popups and a hybrid. Our first had a 8' box, and it towed straight as an arrow...never a sway. Our next two had 12' boxes, and both needed sway control. The hybrid needed WDH and sway control.

Our A frame tows better than anything we've had. With the wheels moved as far back as they are by the manufacturer, and with our keeping the weight load balanced to keep the weight forward but not exceeding tongue weight, it's towing without even a wiggle. I was fully ready to invest in sway control, but the camper talked me out of it.

Like others have said. Load it with whatever you'll be hauling for outings and take it for a test drive. You'll then be making an educated decision.

I know it's obvious to some, but just remember when loading that your camper is a fulcrum. The more weight you add behind the axle the more you lighten the tongue...and vice versa. Adjust your load accordingly so that you're not lightening the weight on the tongue with a bunch of weight behind the axle, or you're not overloading the weight on the tongue with too much weight loaded in front of the axle.

I hope that helps.
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Old 03-19-2015, 09:32 AM   #13
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My A122BH also tows beautifully without any sway control.

I think having the deck up front, the wheels pretty far back, and some weight on the tongue does the trick!
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Old 03-21-2015, 12:50 AM   #14
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No sway, tows wonderfully. Purchased a Sherline tongue scale to be aware of the varying weight configurations I put on the toydeck and tongue. It's a useful tool, no more guesswork.
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Old 03-21-2015, 11:08 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by RichardEB View Post
As a general rule I Don't believe pop ups sway, at least I have not had any problems. It is because of their low center of gravity.
I have had no problem with my A194HW either, I read the manuals and they state to use a anti sway bar if you are towing above 3000 lbs and my unit is rated at 2400 lbs and even with water and propane and gear I have a 600 lbs buffer.
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Old 03-21-2015, 11:14 AM   #16
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...if you are towing above 3000 lbs and my unit is rated at 2400 lbs and even with water and propane and gear I have a 600 lbs buffer.
Only if your water, propane and gear weight nothing. 3000-2400=600 - water, propane, gear=600?

600# cushion for water, propane, gear. Right?
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Old 03-21-2015, 05:23 PM   #17
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Only if your water, propane and gear weight nothing. 3000-2400=600 - water, propane, gear=600?

600# cushion for water, propane, gear. Right?

Lets go thru the math for you, Water 26 gal X 8 lbs = 208 lbs, Propane container each weight 17 lbs X 2 = 34 lbs filled with 4.5 lbs each of propane = 9 lbs x 8.2 lbs = 73.80 lbs

so, 208+34+73.8 = 315.80 which leaves 284.20 left for other gear.
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Old 03-21-2015, 05:35 PM   #18
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Worst Car Accident Caught On Camera! Car Comes Off The Trailer! hope this download works. You will see what happens when you get sway.
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Old 03-21-2015, 05:37 PM   #19
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Lets go thru the math for you, Water 26 gal X 8 lbs = 208 lbs, Propane container each weight 17 lbs X 2 = 34 lbs filled with 4.5 lbs each of propane = 9 lbs x 8.2 lbs = 73.80 lbs

so, 208+34+73.8 = 315.80 which leaves 284.20 left for other gear.
I was just calling your attention to "3000 lbs and my unit is rated at 2400 lbs and even with water and propane and gear I have a 600 lbs buffer."

I know you have to subtract the wt of everything from the 600#, but that's not what your post said.
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Old 03-21-2015, 06:25 PM   #20
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incorrect ...

There's a common misconception that PUPs and A-frames suffer from the same "China bomb" syndrome that the big boys do. We don't, even though we have the same cheap Chinese tires as OEM equipment. Very rare is the tale of blowouts among PUPs and Aframes with tires less than 6 years old - or at least I don't see them like I do for the big boys.


of the the two past tent trailers that i have owned ... there has been both major issues with the tires ... first issue was tread separation ... on tires that were above 4 yrs old ... and the 2nd issue was again tread separation and chunk rubber loss from our next tires ....

im not one of theses dudes that prepare for everything ... but tire blowouts, and isssues are a large issue when towing something that are 1.5 tons .

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