The importance of anti-sway and correct weight distribution

[CoventryKid]

Here's video worth watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-hUX8memY

[yycwrangler]

Yikes..I'll be weighing everything when I build my trailer next month

[low277]

That is a very good demonstration video! Something to keep in mind.

[IndyTom]

so far, I know that most of my weight is forward of my axle, but I have not started my galley yet. Will be interesting to see what that does to my balance.

Tom

[ae6black]

When I was a kid I actually witnessed this happen. You are always conscious of the situation after that. That said I had a coleman popup that was a real bear to carry anything in. I hated driving with a load in that thing. If not loaded right, it was very skittish.

Art

[working on it]

so far, I know that most of my weight is forward of my axle, but I have not started my galley yet. Will be interesting to see what that does to my balance.

Tom

I kept a trailer balance worksheet (see Design Resources) while building my TTT, to track weight going fore or aft to keep tongue weight (or lack of) manageable, because a side view of my trailer looked like it was rear-heavy. It was. Especially since I had major heavy items like ice chests, water jug, A/C unit, and generator all located in my galley area. To counteract that weight, I intended to put a battery and electrical, maintenance, and miscellaneous storage in a large tongue box, which I eventually found (thanks again, Prem). With that box, loaded, I found my balance not yet optimal at 10-15% on the tongue, but just under 10%. I even used the front of my cabin to haul extra coolers and water jugs to add forward weight.

e-track cargo location.png (141.77 KiB) Viewed 3315 times

So, when travelling, I used my old standby, a weight distributing hitch. I always have one ready to go on both my trucks. I won't leave home (intentionally) without one. I constantly have to explain why I really depend on them. A personal preference, but it makes me more confident that my trailer isn't going to come off the ball, or wig-wag going down the road (I tow my trailers slightly nose-up, contraventing standard practice). On my big trailers, I use it to help manage large loads, sometimes a little aft of ideal, and on the little trailer, it imparts a load to the tongue, a simulacrum for true tongue weight. I adapted the one I use for my big trailers, to work on my TTT, by using only one spring bar, instead of two (my trailer has a single drawbar, 3" square tubing x .1875 thick). Here are links to a discussions of why I trust them:http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=57723&hilit=+weight+distribution and here:http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67947#p1196907 While I later moved some weight forward, and didn't load the trailer with the heaviest coolers and water jugs until reaching camp (I load them in the truck bed), finally achieving the magic balance ratio, I still trust the WD hitch to control downforce.

single-bar WD.jpg (67.06 KiB) Viewed 3315 times

using single round-bar as WD hitch.png (190.84 KiB) Viewed 3315 times

[lrrowe]

I showed this once before here. Been there. Done that. Did not make it. I think I was balanced correctly, but the truck suspension was not that great. I did have an weight distribution hitch but no stabilizer. A logging truck had passed me and sent me to the side of the road and it was all over after that.

[working on it]

Is the red truck yours? The trailer frame looks still attached to the hitch, yet the truck didn't roll. So, I assume the trailer didn't roll over, either. If it just swayed so violently that the wheels tucked under, then the trailer upper ripped loose from the frame from the motion. I believe that your cargo conversion should be more firmly attached than that. I know that mine should be (I hope).

[lrrowe]

Yes, it is my truck. This was back in 1989 and I used both lanes on my side of the divided highway to try and bring it under control. I was involved in one of those 100 year floods and had water up to the door sill for awhile. I am of the belief that the wood base was weakened because of that and over the next 4-5 years slowly rotted the base plate wood. So as the swaying forces acted on the trailer, the upper part just sheared or ripped off. I also believe that I was fortunate to lose the trailer that way because otherwise it may have flipped the trailer and truck.

[flboy]

Wow, looks like you were lucky to walk away from that and also not involve other vehicles.

I just put the anti-sway on my load balancing hitch last week. It made a big improvement on crosswinds and as trucks pass by. I won't do it any other way going forward.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

[lrrowe]

Wow, looks like you were lucky to walk away from that and also not involve other vehicles.

I just put the anti-sway on my load balancing hitch last week. It made a big improvement on crosswinds and as trucks pass by. I won't do it any other way going forward.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

Yes, very lucky and I had two young boys, my son and his friend, with me. I typically do not drive much more then 60 mph today on interstates and so far have not noticed any issues from passing trucks and I do not use either a weight dist. system or a stabilizer. But maybe I should start looking at least the stabilizers.

[low277]

WOW! I can't imagine being in situation like that! I hope I never experience anything like that myself or witness it happen to anyone else.

You must have very good driving skills!!!

[aggie79]

I like the idea of Dexter's electronic sway control. It controls sway using a sensor to detect direction and then applying braking to the side of the trailer that necessary to bring the trailer back in line. I believe it is currently "dealer install only" so it wouldn't allow DIY installations although it wouldn't be too hard to install.

https://www.dexteraxle.com/products/actuation/sway-control

[lrrowe]

I like the idea of Dexter's electronic sway control. It controls sway using a sensor to detect direction and then applying braking to the side of the trailer that necessary to bring the trailer back in line. I believe it is currently "dealer install only" so it wouldn't allow DIY installations although it wouldn't be too hard to install.

https://www.dexteraxle.com/products/actuation/sway-control

Interesting. Wonder how much it costs?

[Socal Tom]

so far, I know that most of my weight is forward of my axle, but I have not started my galley yet. Will be interesting to see what that does to my balance.

Tom

I kept a trailer balance worksheet (see Design Resources) while building my TTT, to track weight going fore or aft to keep tongue weight (or lack of) manageable, because a side view of my trailer looked like it was rear-heavy. It was. Especially since I had major heavy items like ice chests, water jug, A/C unit, and generator all located in my galley area. To counteract that weight, I intended to put a battery and electrical, maintenance, and miscellaneous storage in a large tongue box, which I eventually found (thanks again, Prem). With that box, loaded, I found my balance not yet optimal at 10-15% on the tongue, but just under 10%. I even used the front of my cabin to haul extra coolers and water jugs to add forward weight.

e-track cargo location.png

So, when travelling, I used my old standby, a weight distributing hitch. I always have one ready to go on both my trucks. I won't leave home (intentionally) without one. I constantly have to explain why I really depend on them. A personal preference, but it makes me more confident that my trailer isn't going to come off the ball, or wig-wag going down the road (I tow my trailers slightly nose-up, contraventing standard practice). On my big trailers, I use it to help manage large loads, sometimes a little aft of ideal, and on the little trailer, it imparts a load to the tongue, a simulacrum for true tongue weight. I adapted the one I use for my big trailers, to work on my TTT, by using only one spring bar, instead of two (my trailer has a single drawbar, 3" square tubing x .1875 thick). Here are links to a discussions of why I trust them:http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=57723&hilit=+weight+distribution and here:http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67947#p1196907 While I later moved some weight forward, and didn't load the trailer with the heaviest coolers and water jugs until reaching camp (I load them in the truck bed), finally achieving the magic balance ratio, I still trust the WD hitch to control downforce.

single-bar WD.jpg

using single round-bar as WD hitch.png

A WD hitch is designed to reduce sag on the tow vehicle from the tongue weight. It is not intended to substitute for proper tongue weight. If you are tail heavy, they may keep the hitch on the ball, but it risks lifting the rear wheels of the TV off of the ground. So, its also important that light TVs have some weight in the back of the TV as well has having proper tongue weight. As weight shifts during travel, negative weight can be applied to the hitch.
Tom