Is this normal?

[breul]

Is it normal to be sucked over toward a semi when he is passing you on
the interstate? Have a 26ft Flagstaff TT pulled with an F-150 ecoboost.
First few times this happened it kind of scared the --- out of me. Now I
just anticipate that I will be drawn over and hold the wheel a little tighter.
Just checking to see if this is normal or do I have something screwed up?
Thanks

[Old car]

Happens all the time with us too. It's amazing what air currents can do.

[ependydad]

Not for me- but apples and oranges comparison (dually and fifth wheel).

[timarti]

Do you have a weight distribution hitch with sway control? My trailer is slightly shorter but semis have no effect on me at all with my fairly basic WDH and 2 friction sway bars.

[Sirsea]

Yep, that's what usually happens when a big rig passes a bumper towed TT. The air wave from the semi pushes the rear of the trailer over which moves the tongue and the TV toward the semi. Just have to be prepared for that when one is coming up behind you. 5th wheels are mostly immune since the connection point and more weight is in the bed of the TV.

[Big Bad Allis]

Being pulled towards the semi really doesn't have anything to do with the WD or sway control. It a vacuum created by the turbulence. It pulling the whole rig. If you don't have sway control it can start you swaying though.

[breul]

Yes, I have weight distribution hitch and 1 friction type sway bar. Not sure what brand it is.Towing is no problem other than the semi passing business. It isn't a real big problem, just curious if this is normal.
Thanks

[steeleshark2]

One way to minimize that effect is to hug the shoulder when a truck passes if you are in the right lane.

[DDC]

It is referred to as white knuckle syndrome, I got rid of it years ago by installing a Hensley hitch, no suction and no sway either, expensive at the time but looking back its on its fourth trailer and I can drive relaxed with one hand on the wheel (if I want to) so it was worth every penny.

[kz08h5]

I used to have the same problem when pulling our current trailer with a Jeep Commander. Now I pull the same trailer with a Silverado Crew Cab. Night and day difference. The two things I know are different are the wheelbase and weight. The Jeep was lighter and shorter. I think the the longer wheelbase is the main difference.

[GASPEDDLER]

Nope, I've never had that happen.

[transamz9]

Run the same speed as traffic and it won't happen. You're driving too slow, you are going to get run over.

[Lucky Enough]

I too was a very white knuckler until I installed a Hensley. Expensive but works very well. Can't put a price on safety.
Windjammer 3008w
F150 5.4l

[ChooChooMan74]

It is normal. It doesn't happen all the time but I can feel the push/pull of semis and busses. It may just be me, but the less aerodynamic the rig passing me is, as in a bus, the more I feel it.

[Herk7769]

With my travel trailer I used an Equalizer brand hitch with 4 point sway control and did not have a problem. The hitch was over-sized for my camper at the time and the camper was stable as a rock.

With the 5th wheel I only notice it in cattle chutes when passed by large trucks exceeding the speed limit.

[OldCoot]

Air tabs greatly reduce the effect semis have when passing I would estimate by 75%. They are pricey but do work. I put them up both sides and across the top.
And it drives people nuts trying to figure out what they are. LOL

Airtabs For Transport Trucks

[TURBS]

Its funny I've seen these on a couple big trucks as of late.


Turbs

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Its funny I've seen these on a couple big trucks as of late.


Turbs

They claim on semi tractors they increase the fuel mileage from 1/4-1/2 mpg which would be greatly beneficial, but I didn't notice any difference in anything but the absence of the semi passing tail wag. To me they were worth the cost and effort installing.

[bradnailer]

With out old trailer and its set up, it happened mostly when the possum bellied cattle trucks passed. Something about the holes in their trailer created strange air currents. When I'm riding my motorcycle and get passed by one of these, depending on the direction of the wind, the air can go dead.

[Herk7769]

Any pilot will be able to talk to you at length on the benefits of vortex generators to increase fuel economy by decreasing wind drag.

Having said that, not sure how much effect it would have at the speeds we travel compared to a jet aircraft.

The slight tug on the aft end of the camper by the generators adds longitudinal stability (dampens sway) to the camper by resisting movement of the rear of the camper. It takes much less force to handle it there than at the nose of the camper.