How to Minimize Travel Trailer Sway
If you own a travel trailer, you will most likely encounter trailer sway when you hit the road. Trailer sway happens when the RV sways back and forth against your will. At best, it's a stressful experience. At worst, it presents a serious danger on the road. We've gathered up the following tips to help you reduce the chances of experiencing travel trailer sway. If you want more information or want to explore travel trailers for sale, visit Sumner RV. Our dealership is based in Sumner and Bremerton, Washington, and we also serve those in Seattle and Silverdale.
1. Check the Tires
Preventing travel trailer sway starts with checking your travel trailer's tires. If they are not up to their optimal performance, it can contribute to sway issues. Measure the air pressure and compare the reading to the manufacturer's recommendations, then adjust as needed. Check the tread levels to ensure the tires have enough tread to maintain traction with the road. Make sure the tires are ready for the rigors of the road.
2. Be Strategic with Packing Your Travel Trailer
The most common cause of travel trailer sway is due to misplaced weight on the tongue. Shoot for placing 10-12% of your camper's weight on the tongue. Try to keep the weight centered from left to right to help reduce sway. You'll also want to be sure to stick inside the weight limits of your travel trailer, tow vehicle, and tongue. The limits are there for a reason, so be sure you don't exceed them!
3. Consider Upgrading Your Travel Trailer
The more often you travel, the more you will want to consider upgrading your travel trailer to reduce sway. A friction sway control device places resistance on the travel trailer and the tow vehicle. This helps reduce the impact of wind and sharp turns in causing sway. This upgrade is best suited for travel trailers that have a low tongue weight percentage. Travel trailers with a higher tongue-weight will benefit from devices on both sides of the hitch. The friction sway control device can be adjusted, allowing you to get the best performance for each trip's unique travel conditions.
4. Adjust Driving on Windy Days
Another common cause of travel trailer sway is wind. Odds are, you won't be able to simply avoid traveling on a windy day. Maybe you've already booked your campsite and need to head out on a specific day. Or maybe the wind starts up unexpectedly halfway through your journey. Whatever the situation, it's important to know how to adjust your driving to reduce travel trailer sway.
Your best bet will be to keep your tow vehicle as steady as possible. Try to gradually decrease your speed, rather than hitting the brakes suddenly, as much as you can. When you need to engage brakes, apply your travel trailer brakes first. As you cruise down the road, focus on keeping your tow vehicle driving in as straight of a line as possible. Try to avoid any quick turns or jerks to one side. Limit the number of lane changes you make. Finally, use your best judgment if the wind gets bad. Sometimes it may be best to pull over and wait for the wind to die down rather than push forward on an exceptionally blustery day.
We hope you found this guide useful! If you have questions or want to shop travel trailers for sale, head over to Sumner RV. We are happy to chat with you and help you find the best fitting travel trailer for your lifestyle, so stop by and visit us today. We are located in Sumner and Bremerton, Washington. We also proudly serve those in Seattle and Silverdale, Washington.