Last Updated on October 14, 2022 by Douglas
There are many things you can do to minimize the swaying of your travel trailer. You can use a weight on the hitch or use a stabilizing device like a weight distribution hitch or sway control bar. Using these devices, you should be able to keep your trailer from swaying.
How do you respond to a trailer sway?
If you notice sway beginning, immediately let off the gas pedal to reduce your speed. You should slow down to and maintain a speed at least 10 miles per hour below the speed at which sway or whipping was first noticed. Do not apply your brakes or speed up.[1]
Do I need a sway bar for my travel trailer?
Sway bars are important pieces of safety equipment for RVs. They help prevent swaying on the highway and they can even save your vehicle from a dangerous crash or rollover. Some drivers find that sway bars make it harder to turn, but overall, the extra safety is worth it.[2]
What should you do if a trailer starts to swing from side to side?
Explanation: Strong winds or buffeting from large vehicles can cause a trailer or caravan to swing from side to side (‘snake’). If this happens, ease off the accelerator. Don’t brake harshly, steer sharply or increase your speed.[3]
How do I stop my trailer from fishtailing?
Proper Trailer Weight Distribution. Ensure that your trailer is loaded to the appropriate weight and is properly balanced to reduce trailer sway. Ensure your Trailer is not Overloaded. Use a Tow Vehicle with a Longer Wheelbase. Use a Tow Package. Avoid Sudden Movements. Slow Down.[4]
What’s the difference between a sway bar and a stabilizer bar?
Stabilizer bar and sway bar are the same thing. If you are in the engineering world where these are designed, they are shortened to Sta-bar. This was adopted as a sway bar in conversation and aftermarket, as that describes what the purpose is better in lay men’s terms.[5]
Can you backup a trailer with sway bars?
Friction sway control bars are designed to work fine going forward when turning or not but not designed to turn when backing up (backing up straight is fine). It can and likely will damage them because apparently the force being applied to them is different when going in reverse.[6]
Can too much tongue weight cause trailer sway?
If you don’t have enough weight on the trailer tongue, the trailer may be prone to swaying from side to side, making it difficult to control. Conversely, if you have too much weight exerted on the hitch ball, the force could overload the rear tires of the tow vehicle and push the rear end of the vehicle around.[7]
What causes a travel trailer to fishtail?
Any trailer towed with a hitch set behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle can sway or fishtail while driving. The hitch acts as a pivot point in-between the centers of gravity of the two vehicles. Any trailer sway or side-to-side force will turn the vehicle and create an unexpected steering force.[8]
Why does a trailer sway back and forth?
Trailer sway occurs when the side forces on the trailer cause the trailer to move side to side behind the tow vehicle. We call it “fishtailing.” Two factors are involved here: (1) the side forces on the travel trailer and (2) the location and type of pivot point that the trailer is linked to.[9]
Do trailer brakes stop sway?
*Do not use the tow vehicles brakes to control excessive trailer sway. This will usually make it worse. Manually apply the trailer brakes to regain control.[10]
Why does my camper sway so much?
Wind is the most common cause of trailer sway. When there is a strong force pushing your trailer from one side or the other, it can cause it to sway from side to side. This is usually the result of strong gusts of wind or passing a high-profile vehicle such as an 18 wheeler who is traveling at high speeds.[11]
Is it better to have the trailer tongue higher or lower?
If a trailer is nose up too much, the tongue weight is low enough that the trailer may begin to sway. So in short, level is best. If level is not possible, then try to go slightly nose down.[12]