Sway Control Tips For Travel Trailers
Whether you’re an experienced driver or not, every time you take your travel trailer out there’s a chance you might experience some swaying. It can be a particularly unsettling experience for newbies as the trailer starts to sway back and forth despite all efforts to control it. Trailer swaying is quite scary, and it certainly isn’t safe, so you’ll need to learn some methods to minimize it.
We at Jubilee R.V. Centre like to help keep our patrons safe in their RVs. That’s why we’ve compiled this short guide to reducing sway. If you haven’t yet found your perfect travel trailer, visit us at our location in Kamloops, BC to get a tour of our travel trailer inventory. If you’re looking for travel trailers for sale in Vancouver or Prince George, get in touch with us today!
Prevention
As you’ve heard many times before: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Being a little proactive before you hit the road will help minimize your trailer sway. Before the ride, visually inspect your travel trailer so you can catch any problems before you head out. Check your tire tread and air pressure and ensure both are up to the standards outlined in your owner’s manual. Pack your camper so that the weight is evenly distributed. Make sure you’re within the limit of your tongue weight and don’t overload the trailer, tow vehicle or tongue. Remember the limits are there for a reason!
Tongue Weight
One of the biggest reasons for trailer sway is misplaced weight on the tongue. Ideally, you should only rest about 10-12% of your travel trailer’s weight on the tongue. Take your camper to a commercial scale at a truck stop and then remove or adjust your weight as needed. Load heavier cargo at the front of your RV and center it from left to right. Tie down the cargo to prevent the items from moving around (and ruining your careful weight placement!)
Trailer Upgrades
You can get some specialized customization options for your travel trailer to make it more suitable for certain conditions. A friction sway control device will place resistance on the travel trailer, as well as the tow vehicle, which in turn will reduce the impact of high winds and sharp turns. These devices are most suitable for campers with a low tongue weight percentage. Any RVs with a higher tongue-weight percentage should use devices on both sides of the hitch. They can be adjusted so you can tweak them for ultimate performance and get that extra help on blustery days. Choose from three different styles to find the one that works best for your RV.
Windy Conditions
The second most common reason for swaying is, unsurprisingly, strong winds. The first thing you can do is avoid traveling when it’s very windy outside. Check the weather forecast before embarking on an adventure. If you see a high chance of wind, stay home. Unfortunately, this won’t work for everyone. Sometimes we need to keep moving even if it’s rather windy outside. Sometimes the wind will get furious when we’re already on the road. If that happens to you, you have to work to minimize the sway.
Though it might be an impulse to do so, try not to slam your brakes. It’s better to gradually lessen the speed while applying the trailer brakes first. Keep your camper wheel steady and try to drive in as straight of a line as possible. Avoid making any sudden turns or jerks to one side. If the wind is bad enough, it may be best to pull over and wait for it to die down.
We hope you find our tips helpful! Unfortunately, trailer sway is something all RVers will experience sooner or later. Remember that keeping a cool head can get you out of any tricky situation. Work proactively to keep your safety a priority! To ensure your travel trailer is ready for the trip, bring it down to Jubilee R.V. Centre and let our expert technicians whip it into shape for you! If you’re looking for travel trailers for sale in Vancouver or Prince George, visit us at our location in Kamloops, BC.