Towing a travel trailer can be a difficult endeavor if you encounter high winds. You’ll feel your trailer begin to sway back and forth, even though you’re keeping the steering wheel perfectly straight, and this can create a sense of unease and make you feel like you’ve lost control. The threat of trailer sway looms large, but it can be combated! You want to do everything you can to reduce or eliminate trailer sway, since it can be dangerous and even cause an accident if left unchecked.
Long View RV Superstores in Windsor Locks, is proud to be your Connecticut travel trailer dealer. Here are our best tips for reducing sway while towing your travel trailer on the highway.
Prevention
You can prevent trailer sway from occurring by taking some precautionary steps before you even head out. Inspecting your trailer thoroughly can help you to spot problems like uneven weight distribution or low tire pressure, which may contribute to sway. Make sure that your tires are up to snuff and aired up to the psi levels recommended in your owner’s manual, since this will be the most likely issue that crops up.
As you’re driving, don’t go over the speed limit. Instead, try to stay five to ten miles under it. Avoid making very sharp turns or lane changes. Slow and steady driving will keep your trailer from bouncing around.
Cause: Hitch Weight
One primary cause of trailer sway is placing too much weight over the hitch. You should aim for no more than 10 to 12 percent of your cargo weight on the hitch. Putting the heavier cargo up front and centering it can help reduce sway significantly. Distribute weight evenly in your trailer from left to right and from front to back. Put more weight towards the hitch than you do at the back (60/40 is considered a good ratio). Tie down items that may shift around to maintain balance.
Cause: High Winds
The second cause of travel trailer sway is wind, which is your enemy when you’re towing. If you check the forecast and see high winds on your route, you may want to wait to travel until they die down. If you’re already on the road when the wind picks up, however, you’ll just have to deal with it as best you can.
Don’t slam your brakes if you need to stop in windy conditions (or in general, really). Decelerate your vehicle slowly while you apply the trailer brakes ahead of your vehicle brakes. Keep the vehicle in a straight line and don’t allow it to jerk around. You can always pull over to the side of the road or at an exit if you need to wait out a windstorm.
Solution: Upgrade Your Trailer
Aside from performing inspections and keeping your tires maintained and your weight balance, you can also look into upgrades for your travel trailer that will help to reduce sway. There’s a device you can install called a friction sway control device, which places resistance on the trailer and the towing vehicle to reduce the impact of high winds or sharp turns. You can adjust these devices for peak performance in difficult conditions.
This guide should help to put you at ease so that you can tow your travel trailer with confidence. Still in the market for the perfect travel trailer? Come see us at our location in Windsor Locks, CT, to check out the selection of travel trailers for sale here at Long View RV Superstores.
