His F150 has automatic sway control built into its trail erring package. When the truck sensed the sway, it automatically applied the trailer brakes and lights up
the dash panel with bright warnings. It sounds like the culprit here is too little weight on the tongues. I use my F150 to haul cargo trailers, even heavier than his. No WDH and no problems at highway speed (except for the time I learned about the automatic sway control when I fell asleep).
His F150 has automatic sway control built into its trail erring package. When the truck sensed the sway, it automatically applied the trailer brakes and lights up
the dash panel with bright warnings. It sounds like the culprit here is too little weight on the tongues. I use my F150 to haul cargo trailers, even heavier than his. No WDH and no problems at highway speed (except for the time I learned about the automatic sway control when I fell asleep).
Thanks for the info on the sway control lights.
Stay awake man camping season is upon us
His F150 has automatic sway control built into its trail erring package. When the truck sensed the sway, it automatically applied the trailer brakes and lights up
the dash panel with bright warnings. It sounds like the culprit here is too little weight on the tongues. I use my F150 to haul cargo trailers, even heavier than his. No WDH and no problems at highway speed (except for the time I learned about the automatic sway control when I fell asleep).
It also works faster than the driver ever could. I've had some serious side winds in the columbia river gorge and the truck's active sway control came on and kept everything straight.
For the OP.
I tow a much larger and heavier trailer ( FR 268rks ) and after putting on airbags, rear sway bar, and LT tires the difference in towing is night and day. I of course always use a WDH and sway control. The cost of the tires, bags, and sway bar will be FAR less than the hit on buying a new truck. I figure at right around $1500 for the whole shebang. I am also running a 2014 F150.
Had a 25' Land Yacht for years hooked to a Suburban ("the" tow vehicle of choice-period) and only used a weight distributing hitch(WDH) with it. No sway control needed due to the perfect combo of TV and towability of the Airstream(dual axles and slipstreaming!).
Never, ever, had any problems with sway going through the Smokies...or...the W. Va.
turnpike many a time. Would get "pushed" a little from dirty air produced by the faster
semi's but not pucker inducing. MY question to you...do you have dual axle's or the
single variety?? I started out with a small 15' single axle and vowed NEVER to do that
again...was like pulling\backing a juvenile squirrel most of the time...bad bad bad.
Just completed a 5,000 mile (plus) trip towing a 26 ft Wildwood, using a 2006 Ram 2500. I use a Weight distributing hitch, with 1,000 pound trunion bars, and a antisway bar. I drive at 65 most of the time, except when I have to make time, or the fuel is less in that state, when I bump it up to 70. Passed by many trucks, and we rode solid like we were on a rail. Never a twitch or sway.
The force of air being pushed by the front of the big rigs is more noticeable when we were towing a 33 foot trailer, but even them I just tightened the sway bar some more, and rode steady.
When I was a paramedic, in the mountains of California, I saw way too many RV's on their side from sway problems after being passed by trucks. NEVEr drive without antisway and WDH. Ever.
I pull a Salem Hemisphere 282RK with an F150. I have the Equalizer hitch and love it. Not only does it distribute weight, but contols sway. I had to make an emergency stop on I70 last week at 60mph due to an accident up ahead. Stopped with no problem and trailer stayed in line. I meet semis without issue.
I highly recommend the equalizer. Best $550 I've ever spent.
Quote:
Originally Posted by txredfish
You are right. You do need a WDH. Reese is OK. I used a Reese dual cam for several years before going to a motorhome about 10 years ago. I was also pulling with a 1998 F150. Trailer weighed about 7000 lbs. Trucks going by still bothered me. Now, I have went back to a TT a couple of months ago and pull with 2014 F150 and 5.0. I purchased a Equalizer WDH, but I have not been on an interstate and passing trucks so I cannot vouch for it yet. But I would never pull a TT without a WDH.
ST tires are rated for 65 mph, regardless of ply rating.
LT tires may help the on the tow vehicle a bit, but other things seem to be at play here.
Not to hijack the thread, but these are my Carlisle ST LRD tires and the speed rating is 87mph. Not that you'd want to do that....just some info for everyone.
Not to hijack the thread, but these are my Carlisle ST LRD tires and the speed rating is 87mph. Not that you'd want to do that....just some info for everyone.
I had heard that some ST tires were rated for more than 65 mph......good to know.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
I remember my first pull with my Mountaineer and 26' TT and it was ugly. The TT came with WDH and no instructions because it was used. In the first mile I hit a bump and SUV was all over the road. When I pulled up the equalizer bars and it put weight on the front wheels all was well.
__________________ Ed & Ruthann / Toby and Tucker
2014 GMC Sierra Crewcab 2500 Duramax
2014 Wildcat 327ck
Not to hijack the thread, but these are my Carlisle ST LRD tires and the speed rating is 87mph. Not that you'd want to do that....just some info for everyone.
[QUOTE=J.Fallon;952742]they put the 2-5/16 ball on my hitch and said I would have no problem pulling a 4,000 lb trailer. I didn't as long as I didn't go over 55. Lol[/QUOTE
My 21fbrs uses a 2" ball.
__________________
Ohio
2016 Cedar Creek 36ckts
2015 Ford F-350
4WD SRW Diesel
Took off down I-77 from Mooresville NC to Hunting Island Sc. 2014 Ford F-150. Reg cab 5.0 with a 6.5 bed. 2015 21FBRS. No wdh. Thought I was going to wreck the first time a semi went by. Go the death wobble and the dash was lite up like a Christmas tree. Go it slowed down. Got off interstate and took US 21 all the way 7 hrs. Any how. Have a good friend down here gonna hook me up with a Reese WDH. Please don't ever to without one!!!! Or at least test run the interstates before hand.
I pull the same trailer with a 2014 toy tundra and i'm always being passed by semi's. I went to harbor freight (i know i'm cheap) and bought their wdh and their sway control now i get no sway when being passed by semi's and i have p rated tires.
See a lot of stupid idiots on the highway hauling just on a ball. If they had an accident would they be ticketed for improper equipment ? They should be .
One more plug for Hensley-type anti-sway: I pulled our 35' V-Lite with a normal 3-point hitch with WD bars, friction sway bar, etc. Way too much trailer for that nonsense, especially with a light truck (2012 F-150 eco-Boost pimped out to tow)! Just bought a friend's Hensley Arrow & installed it. Instant gratification! No bother with semi's or crosswinds, etc. In distant past I pulled 2 much smaller trailers before with an old F-150 and didn't have much trouble, but the big trailer requires a big hitch! $$$$ but, IMHO, worth it!!
Might be stupid or naive question but how do you tell if tires are LT? Have F150 pulling 22' micro lite and have had no problems. I have the Reese set up.
__________________ Ford F-150 4X4
2015 Flagstaff Micro Lite FRBS
2013 Flagstaff "A" Frame - Traded Up.
Camping Days 2013 - 24
Camping Days 2014 - 21
Projected Camping Days 2015 - 30
Might be stupid or naive question but how do you tell if tires are LT? Have F150 pulling 22' micro lite and have had no problems. I have the Reese set up.
If your tire size starts with letters LT its a light truck tire, If it starts with P its a passenger tire.
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright
Posts: 970
We towed our trailer to Granbury without our sway control attached. Trailer tires were properly aired. TV rear tires had their standard inflation (35 psi). Passed a semi going the opposite direction and it was interesting.
I was towing a loaded Rockwood Ultralight 2602 with an F-150 coming from Colorado back to Texas and the tail tried to wag the dog in a gusty crosswind. Almost got dumped into the ditch! Used the brake controller to straighten out and pulled off the road into a Walmart parking lot. I didn't have a Friction Sway Control attached and Walmat was out of stock. I tightened the spring bars one link and that helped to stiffen the TV/Trailer enough to reduce the sway. I am sold on friction sway control and sway stabilization. Our 2014 Tahoe has sway stabilization (it activated last year when we're towing a rental and a gust of wind caught us). It was a real surprise but a relief as well, knowing we had it.
Make sure the tires are properly inflated, and get a proper hitch.
Next time you get that sway activate the manual trailer brakes slowly to pull the TV tight with the trailer. Just using the TV brakes as the main still makes the trailer move faster than your TV.
X2
Elko, Va.
2012 Ram 3500 DRW Cummins High Output
2012 Cedar Creek 36B2
Ed & Ruthann / Toby and Tucker 
Ford F-150 4X4
Linear Mode
