Travel Trailer Sway Tips

While camping in your travel trailer can be a great way to spend a weekend or vacation, getting there can be a challenge. This is especially true if you’re not used to driving big units or towing trailers of any kind. While practicing is going to be vital to getting better, there’s one challenge in particular that plagues all trailer towers: sway. Trailer sway can not only make driving more difficult, it can also be incredibly dangerous if it gets bad enough. That’s why Howdy Ranch RV has provided you with some tips on how to prevent and handle sway. If you need additional advice, stop by our location near Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Laredo, McAllen, and Rockport, Texas.

Prevention

Controlling sway is mostly about prevention. There’s only so much you can do in the moment, so you’ll need to take full advantage of the time you have around your travels. Start with a pre-ride inspection. Inspect your tires, checking the air pressure and looking for any damage or signs that it might be underperforming. In general, check the entire rig for signs that something is either damaged or needs to be looked at before you hit the road. 

Tongue Weight

Good practice dictates that you shouldn’t be overloading any part of your unit. Check out some of the weight limitations for your tow vehicle, travel trailer, and hitch and make sure that you’re well within these limits and there’s no risk of going over. 

Also remember that weight distribution is key to safe towing practices. You’ll want at least 10-12% of the total trailer weight resting as close to the hitch as possible, and to follow the 60/40 rule, meaning 60% of the total weight is in the front half of the trailer, closer to the hitch, and the remaining 40% tapers off the back half. From side to side, simply distribute all the cargo weight evenly, and tie down anything that might move around in transit so you don’t have rolling cargo triggering sway.

Trailer Upgrades

Unless you’re towing a particularly small trailer, you’ll probably need what’s called a friction sway control device. These get installed right next to the hitch and stop sway before it starts. Think of it as stiff-arming your trailer. You’ll want to get a device that suits the size of your trailer and you may even want to look into adjustable ones.

Windy Conditions

Wind is going to be a major challenge, as even small, short gusts can present a sway risk. This can either come from passing cars or the natural wind around you, which means some of it won’t be avoidable. When you find yourself getting pushed around by the wind, avoid panicking and slamming on the brakes or over correcting. This can make the situation much worse. If the wind gets bad enough, consider pulling off the road for a little while. 

In fact, you’ll want to check the weather report every morning before you roll out. The high wind warnings that you might have ignored in the past need to be taken seriously. Don’t make your task harder by braving the storm. Consider making an extended pit stop somewhere during the time the wind will be picking up or finding an alternate route.

Here at Howdy Ranch RV, we’re committed to helping you get the most out of every camping trip, but first we want to help our customers be safe. If you need more help controlling sway, or if you have other safety questions, come talk to our experienced staff. You can also check out some of our travel trailers for sale if you’re still looking for the right rig for your family. We proudly serve Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Laredo, McAllen, and Rockport, TX.