Avoid Trailer Sway! Learn the Truth About Hitch Weight

Welcome to our channel, fellow travelers! 🌍 If you're an RV enthusiast or planning your next road trip with a travel trailer, you've come to the right place. In today's video, we're diving deep into the crucial topics of travel trailer sway and hitch weight.
Join us on this educational journey to become a travel trailer towing expert! Whether you're heading to the mountains, the beach, or anywhere in between, mastering travel trailer sway and hitch weight will enhance your RVing experience and provide peace of mind.
*Commissions earned on purchases
Link to Equal-i-zer 4-Point Sway Control & Weight Distribution Hitch:
amzn.to/3LHmWli
Can You Tow an RV with a Half Ton Truck? Video Link:
• Can You Tow an RV with...

[@dennisl6198]

I destroyed my entire rig in 2022 due to trailer sway started by starting to pass a big rig. I thought I had done a good job loading,balancing, and using weight dist/anti sway bars. I even made sure my truck didn't squat more than half an inch and the trailer was perfectly level. At the time of the wreck I was well under the speed limit. We went from no problem to upside down on the road in less than 5 seconds. Here's my point--- the more sure you are this could never happen to you, the more you should think twice.

[@kevkamo6289]

So what was your mistake?

[@jabroni6199]

⁠@@kevkamo6289probably limiting his squat to half an inch which means not enough tongue weight. Sway happens when you don’t have enough tongue weight or when the trailer wants to go faster than the tow vehicle. In which case you just manually squeeze the trailer brake controller for a second

[@betterwithrum]

And this is exactly why I bought a propride. Glad you’re ok

[@Gubers]

That sounds horrifying! So what caused your wreck? If you had properly configured WDH, anti-sway, loading etc, what else can you do? Were you over weight for your truck? Was there a tire blowout? A slightly unbalanced weight isn't going to put you upside down towing a properly attached trailer with all those precautions.

[@Gubers]

@@jabroni6199 That's a good point. Glad I researched all of this. I bet a lot of people think reducing hitch weight is always a good thing when in fact it isn't. A "good" hitch weight is more of a window of between x lbs and x lbs, not a lower is better thing.

[@dazknight9326]

Weight to front, tap brakes to slow sway, tiny steering corrections, let vehicle just coast no gas, to regain control. Speed increases steering corrections, stay around 55 or 60 tops.

[@bobthrasher9799]

You are not in a race, ensure your vehicle is rated for the trailer you are towing, blance the weight of your gear in your trailer, place most of your weight over the trailer wheels, slow down and use anti-sway devices.

[@philipethier9136]

In addition to friction, another thing that helps is proper tires that resist side-flex. I just bought from a Ford dealer a 2021 F-150. Dealer had put new tires on it. Car tires with maximum pressure 44 PSI. First thing I changed was to put Load Range E tires on it the truck. I tow with 80 PSI in my rear tires. Interestingly, my 8.1 suburban came from the factory with Load Range E tires. The Chev door-sticker actually specified 50 PSI front, 80 PSI rear. (Of course, medium-duty motorhome runs 95 PSI all around.)

[@user-rc2mb1ky9w]

I used 2 tow a caravan/travel trailer for many years , and perhaps the most simple and accurate way 2 get the nose/tongue weight of the caravan is 2 load it as you would for for your trip , then when its still in your driveway go grab your bathroom scales (most domestic scales will go 2 around 300 lbs these days) so at a 10% ratio thats enough for a fair sized caravan ) and a short piece of wood ! put 1 end of the wood in your towing eye and the other end on your scales ! and that will give you a pretty accurate tongue weight reading , and then adjust as required

[@erickessler6094]

Very well done! Thanks

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you too! We appreciate your comment.

[@josephpalisi3295]

Great job... love the treadmill.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks for watching

[@allpronutritioninc]

Great video!

[@karentignor6567]

Thanks for sharing this really important information about the sway bar and breaking the trailer when the trailer starts to sway, very interesting video have a blessed day😊

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you so much! We appreciate it.

[@thevigarfeeling]

Great video. With lots of useful information. Can’t believe how bad the trailer was at the start. Have a great week. Chelsea and Mike

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you! We hope you have a great week as well.

[@vincenthyland8048]

Good information to ponder! Thanks

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

You are welcome. Safe travels! ~Two Traveling Teachers

[@cchambersglenn]

Thank you very much. This is excellent information

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

You’re welcome, and thank you for watching our video.

[@gatersontour]

Really good information in this vlog. I'm so glad we are Motorhomers now.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

LOL. I don’t know much about driving a motor home, but I’m sure that it has its own issues. Come to think of it, I’ve noticed that most rentals I see are Class C motor homes. Maybe there is less of a learning curve with they. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Fatboylo1980]

Keep it under 70, town 15-20% under your max tow capacity, watch your payload, remember tongue weight needs to be subtracted from your payload. Lastly, if you feel sway, tap your break controller to straighten the trailer out.

[@muscleymancomics]

I'm glad these videos exist 'cause I'm a bit paranoid about going out on my first camping trip. Luckily it's very local so I won't need to drive on the freeway at all. But I'm getting a WDH with sway bars installed regardless.

[@dougwarren5471]

Don't feel like your the only one. We all have the jitters at first but it gets easier with every trip. Drive safe!

[@Macros1971]

Awesome video about trailer sway! Thank you so much for your insight 👍

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting.

[@HelterSkelter117]

I noticed one thing in common in the videos you clipped in where extreme sway caused accidents, and that is the driver was overtaking another vehicle. Excessive speed while towing is never a good thing.

[@JacobKrebsbach]

I also noticed that almost every tow vehicle in the intro is a SUV towing

[@henryford2736]

Weight distribution bars are a double edge sword 🗡️. They transfer weight to the front axle 100lb in my case but by doing so they stress the frame...more weight you transfer more stress on the frame.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Exactly. I worry about this too, but I’ve decided I’d rather take my chances with the stress on the trailer frame. 🤷🏻

[@TheSkite575]

Stress on the tv frame or trailer frame? My VW Touareg manual states not to use weight distribution as it will stress the cars frame which is why I don't use a weight distribution hitch.

[@henryford2736]

@@TheSkite575 both truck and trailer

[@Judge_Dredd]

The recommended Nose Weight (Tongue or Hitch Weight), was a rule of thumb guidance here in the UK, but it used to be between 5 to 7% of the MTPLM (Laden Trailer Weight). That was before EU Type Approval, for example pre-Type Approval, a manufacturer would make a recommendation, and it was up to the Owner whether they followed it. So my 1973 VW 412LS Variant (Station Wagon), is 1120kg Kerb Weight (fuel/oil/water and a Driver included), with a max Laden Weight of 1665kg, and VW recommended a maximum Towing Capacity of 900kg, with a Drawbar (Hitch Weight) on the tow bar of 50kg maximum. Which meant the Nose Weight (Tongue Weight) had to be no greater than 50kg. You decided whether to take the risk of going beyond those weights. The Caravan Club decided to introduce Guidance as well, called the 85% Rule, and 100% Rule. Again, not the Law. The 85% Rule was for new drivers to towing, and the 100% Rule was for experienced drivers of towing, they decided that the fully laden caravan had be a percentage of the Kerb Weight, so 85% of 1120kg is 952kg, with some leeway on the Nose Weight of between 5 to 7%. Neither matters with regard to the VW recommended 900kg though. The experienced were recommended up to 1120kg. However, even though we have left the EU, we still have Type Approval in Law for newer cars, and my 2018 Toyota Avensis Estate (Station Wagon) has figures for max Laden Weight of 2100kg, max Goods Train Weight of 3900kg, giving a max Towing Capacity of 500kg/1800kg (unbraked/braked), and a Drawbar of 75kg max, all legally enforceable. The now Caravan & Motorhome Club still recommends the 85% Rule & 100% Rule, again not enforceable, and still suggests a Nose Weight of between 5 to 7%. Note that they no longer state a Kerb Weight as above. However, trailer/caravan standards are also now Type Approved, with my 2008 Swift Ace Celebration 620 being plated these days 1450kg MRO (Mass in Running Order), full gas bottles but no water on-board, and a 1700kg MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass), which means I have a maximum legal user Payload of 250kg, including water. Oh and the maximum Nose Weight of the caravan is 100kg, although this last figure not legally enforced, except in mitigation arguments in Court when apportioning blame to serious accidents, and also by Loss Adjusters in Insurance Claims. Under the Law they use Max Laden Weight, Goods Train Weight, and MTPLM, rendering the 85% Rule, 100% Rule, and 5 to 7% Nose Weight guidance all just hearsay. However, back before Type Approval there were no passive Hitch Stabilisers (the industry standard here is the passive ALKO AKS 3004 Stabiliser), and no active Automatic Trailer Control (the active electronically controlled ALKO ATS Anti-sway Trailer System is the best on the market here), on trailers/caravans, and cars did not have Anti-skid Braking Systems (ABS), or Electronic Stability Control (ESC), indeed, there were most likely drum brakes, and tyre technology and roadworthiness legislation (UK is MoT, Europe is TuV, both now compulsory annual tests), for tow vehicles and trailers/caravans were less developed, or strict. These Laws are pretty much standard across Europe, whether your country is an EU Member State, or not.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

You’ve got a lot of great information here. Thanks for sharing!

[@someytchannel.9046]

Just a tip, I am trying to take this video serious that has very good info on the subject but the back ground music is kinda loud and distracting, as I said just a tip.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll consider correcting this in future videos.

[@davidpowell6012]

I don't know where you live but my suggestion would be to find a grain elevator with a scale readout on there building. You can go there after close or on a weekend. Stop in during the week and make sure its ok . Offer them a few bucks and you would have all the time you need

[@markward7416]

I pull with a Ford truck, would think the other US makers would as well, but the towing package has anti sway built in. It’s better suspension plus electronic monitoring that will apply trailer brakes if sway is detected. I’ve pulled with an Expedition, a suv, but it had a heavy tow package as well, never had a problem. People if you are going to tow, don’t just slap a hitch on a vehicle, get one with a towing package and know the parameters of your vehicle.

[@Soupy_loopy]

I have F250, bought a 27' travel trailer. Camping World automatically sold me the stabilizer hitch. The truck doesn't even squat a little when hooked up. They told me to turn the sway control off on the truck since the hitch is supposed to prevent sway. The trailer does sway more than I like, probably not too dangerous, but it's stressful driving. I think I will try towing with the sway control turned on.

[@grumpy7724]

Your two weights are correct in that the vehicle axle weights should a 740 lb difference between the first two weighs. A third weigh with weight distribution engaged would show weight transferred to the trailer axle and weight restored to the front axle. Based on the Ford owners manual, you want 50% of the weight restored to the front which would make your front axle at least 3100 lbs. Take the combined weight of the vehicle axles from the third weigh of the vehicle and subtract the first weight of the vehicle combined axle weight and you get the ‘distributed’ tongue weight which will be less than 740 lbs to the tow vehicle. The third weigh vehicle axle weights (weight distribution engaged) subtracted from the tow vehicle gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) will give you the available payload. The key is to not over load the tow vehicle axles along with not exceeding the tow vehicle GVWR Make sense?

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts.

[@CaseyQ]

Im a new camper owner and im towing a smaller 22 footer with a 2023 Tacoma trd. I got the weight distribution hitch with sway bars and I've been told that given my small setup not to worry but im such a novice I still cant help but imagine im going to fly off the road with my family in it. This video was immensely helpful and although it doesnt necessarily ease my mind, I at least know what to look for now and how to better prepare with each trip. Thank you!

[@Thedumbtruckdriver]

V6?

[@CaseyQ]

@@Thedumbtruckdriver yes

[@Lennybird91]

I feel you there. I'm in a 3rd Gen taco, too. Towing a 6x12 dual axle with added height and definitely a little nervous for our maiden voyage. Manual states sway bar over 2000lbs and hitch distribution over 5,000. Going to start with the sway bar and see how the tongue sits loaded.

[@candycarton]

I've been towing a 23 ft jayco recently with my 20/20 Taco off-road. I've got some research to do. Driving on the highway is an absolute nightmare when trucks pass. First they suck you in and then they blow you out. If you don't time your steering adjustment well enough you feel like you would certainly lose control. I'm sticking to the side roads for now and maximum speed of 50 mph.

[@CaseyQ]

@@candycarton do you have the distribution hitch and sway bars as well? And did you install them yourself

[@darrylswanson1199]

I worked in a travel trailer rv lot back in the 70’s. Back then they sold anti-sway bars that were part of package for the hitch. Dont they still use?

[@komebeaux3877]

Thanks for these informative vids. We just purchased an F150 as a tow vehicle as we are planning to start full time travel next year, so your vids are especially helpful 👍

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you so much for your feedback. Best of luck!

[@An_Appeal_To_Heaven]

You mean an F350? F150 is what women drive to go get a few bags of potting soil for their planter box.

[@PC-tc5je]

@Falling_Down_1776 Although, I believe F150 owners can write a simple sentence without having to edit it..

[@jeepwk6.5L]

​@PC-tc5je but he's sorta right. Just said it like a dik lol

[@user-gq5mf6yj6i]

Super nice job

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ShawnPatterson402]

Exceptionally informative. I agree with you that your second weighing can be with or without weight distribution. Ideally both is nice to have simply as you also get to see how much weight your hitch is actually distributing to your front axles. I only did mine with the bars attached, but still the same math to see how much of the added weight is on the truck. I notice that your front axle weight without wd was down 300ish pounds. I also tow with an F150 and tow a trailer that is somewhat heavier at a total of 7940. 6800 of that on my trailer axle and obviously the other 1140 on my truck, which is right around 14% of 7980 so that part is good. With my weight distribution hitch attached I am able to bring my front axle weight right back to its just the truck weight, thus ensuring that neither my front axle, rear axle or trailer axle is overloaded, and with the weight returned to the front axle handling is actually quite amazing. No sway at all it seems, and I have towed this set up for about 28000kms ( about 17350 miles). it would be interesting to see what your weights are like with the wdh fully set up, for the knowledge of how much weight you are managing to distribute to the front axle. Safe travels.....

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks so much for watching our video and sharing your thoughts. With the wdh fully set up, the steer axle is about 180 lbs lighter than the truck when not towing. You’ve got me thinking I should adjust the hitch to throw more of the weight on the front axles. Thanks again for your input. ~Two Traveling Teachers

[@ShawnPatterson402]

@@TwoTravelingTeachers I have found that set up to work the best. My original target had been to get my front fenders back to the same height off the ground with the trailer as they were without the trailer, thinking that if they were lifted at all then clearly they must be lighter, as things don't go up when they are heavier, and sure enough when the front fenders are basically back to starting point, or maybe an 1/8" lower, then the CAT scale confirms that I have kept my weight on the front axle which is great for handling. My F150 when loaded for travel but without the trailer (wife included....even though she was not that keen on multiple CAT scale passes) actually has the front axle loaded to within a few hundred pounds of axle capacity anyway, so I did not want to add too much weight there, but it handles superb when I can set up the hitch to basically not remove any weight from the front of the truck either. If you do decide to experiment, I would be very interested to hear how you make out with it. take care.

[@henrybenson1348]

Front end alignment and anti sway bars.

[@billdavis5483]

I use vectors to calculate the pin weight. I have confirmed my calculation works by measuring the pin weight on a Catscale. So now that I know my vector system works I can move the load around as needed. I no longer needn to use a catscale much now I just calculate things. A vector is a mathmatical thing composed of two values, in this case it is the weight of something and its place's distance from the pivot point. I give vectors behind the pivot point a negative value because they subtract from the pin weight. Multiply the two values together and add that product to the pin weight to see how it changes.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Great info! Thanks for sharing!

[@175726]

great job

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks for watching and sharing your kind comment!

[@SaltyOldBaldurian]

Isn't this essentially just harmonic frequencies at play. The change in pitch begins with a shift at the steering wheel (front) and translates to the end. When overloaded at the rear, the recovery results in a push that lifts the rear of the vehicle and causes the wave to return back up the axis. ...correct me if I'm wrong, because it's probably not the safest maneuver, but I've heard that one way to overcome trailer sway before it gets really bad is to punch the accelerator and add more forward momentum, this snapping the trailer back in line. BUT, adding more force to the equation could also add more force into the accident.

[@briang4583]

Thanks for the informative video. Can you share your truck's payload and tow capacity? I also like the XLS 22MLE but think my margins will be tight.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks for watching our video. The payload for our truck is 1783 lbs. Our GCWR is 18200 lbs. and our towing capacity is 12500. If you're interested, we produce a video about towing with a half ton truck (specifically about towing our 22MLE with our F150). It's titled is "Can You Tow an RV with a Half Ton Truck? We Tow Our Grand Design Imagine 22 MLE with Our F-150" Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/laOrf3Z8ZcySbcU

[@charleswesley9907]

Sway requires timely trailer brakes deployment . Then have a big enough tow truck with class E { Heavy Duty Tires } tires . Side wall flex can aggravate the situation . A 3/4 ton or 1 ton / dually will do a much better job. A half ton truck is a car with a box on it that has heavier springs . You just cant get too much truck! ******* And inspect your trailer frame regularly for cracks .Yes especially the big expensive ones . Any trailer with 2 or 3 axles has tortional stresses that will break those frames . And it occurs regularly and the frames are made of thin low quality metal. They are not Chrome molly steel. On youtube you can find where these cracks occur , how to detect them and how to get them fixed . The most expensive 5th wheels literally breaks in the basement area and near the pinbox structure. My travel trailer with dual axles started to twist the I beams and split where the Cross Braces welded to the web of the 1/8th in steel I beam . Be aware !

[@wierpkevin]

This video should be. REQUIRED VIEWING for each person who purchases a travel trailer. And a discussion afterwards should be had also. The tapping of the in cab brake control and the explanation of the trailer TRAVELING FASTER THAN THE TRUCK is a crucial part of what is happening. Thank you sir. !

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you!

[@jimd7703]

Good video for what can be a confusing topic sometimes. You got the hitch weight correct (no weight distribution). If you did leave the weight distribution hooked up you'd have to account for that in the calculation. Weight distribution just moves weight from the rear axle to the front axle and the trailer axle, it doesn't decrease the hitch weight.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks so much for your comment.

[@pauleastham7999]

@jimd7703 If the trailer axle weight increases, and the trailer overall weight does not change, doesn't that imply that the hitch weight (or, more precisely, the weight applied to the truck) has reduced?

[@darrylbaron5004]

Good information sir. I would have liked more information on the side to side effects off an uneven load left to right. Does it also introduce sway or does it make it worse if you have an introduction of sway only?

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

It is my understanding that unbalanced side-to-side loads not only contribute to trailer sway, but may even cause it. Another major concern for unbalanced side-to-side loads is the possibility of pushing above an individual tire’s load capacity. You can still be within the trailer’s GVWR or axle ratings with an unbalanced load, but over the limit on any individual tire. An overloaded tire may cause a tire blowout, which could lead to serious problems. In my humble opinion, it is always better to properly balance the load and keep the weight lighter than you think you can allow. Best of luck and safe travels!

[@kevinbohn2024]

Equalizer hitches aren't there to stop sway that's the job of a sway bar that use's friction to stop left and right movement. A equalizer hitch takes the tongue weight and tranfers it to the front of the truck and to the trailer axles.

[@jerrytalley802]

My equalizer hitch also has 4 point sway control, so some hitches do control sway, just shedding some light.

[@philipethier9136]

@@jerrytalley802 Right. I have 20' enclosed car trailer. With a car in it, I expect it weighs about 6,000 pounds I don't use an equalizer. I do use a friction snubber when towing with my motorhome, as the overhang it is huge, and there is no aerodynamic drag on the trailer. I tended not to need it when towing with my 8.1 suburban, since the overhang is less and there is plenty of aerodynamic drag on the trailer. I retired the Suburban and now have an F-150 SuperCrew shortbox. The F-150 has longer wheelbase and shorter overhang than the Suburban, so I expect it will tow better.

[@dw7094]

If you have a properly rated tow vehicle, your WDH is correctly adjusted and you observe weight and balance in your RV you won't need the sway control.

[@Brew-qp3hv]

Great video! Thanks for the details. Looks like we have the same truck, just curious what engine do you have? I am thinking about an upgraded trailer, wondering how well you are able to pull your GD.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

3.5 ecoboost. We haven’t had a problem towing with this truck, but the margins are small. This means we have to be meticulous to be sure we don’t go over any of our numbers (GVWR, GCVWR, front and rear GAWR, etc). I will one day upgrade to a bigger truck, just to make things easier.

[@brew6164]

Thanks, I have the 2.7 Haven’t had any issues pulling a 4200 lbs trailer, except for the 10 mpgs 😂 was thinking about a similar trailer to yours.

[@randomspirit]

I would just add that when you squeeze that brake controller, keep your foot steady on the gas pedal because people will tend to let off on the gas without realizing it because they're focused on the trailer, which has almost the same bad effect as stepping on the brakes would.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks for sharing! ~Two Traveling Teachers

[@t.m.1986]

Well it’s a good thing I’m considering a class c rv then a tow trailer

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Lol. Thanks for watching.

[@tonyvokey7607]

Awesome video, love the mock up!!

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thank you! We really appreciate you watching and sharing your kind comment. Cheers! ~Two Traveling Teachers

[@dvldwg8961]

I've had 3 trailers . Proper weight distribution and anti sway bars are an absolute must. Proper install by a certified tech who knows how to st up the antisway system. Listen to what he's saying. Over 30000 miles some in heavy wind I've never had any sway issues. The proper set-up is absolutely imperative, That's why I've always had a pro install it. Proper weight distribution is a must as well. Do your homework before hooking up it will save you from tipovers

[@MrStrutus]

These travel trailers are huge. 8 wide and 12 high

[@gavinb6492]

Apparently it’s caused by a semi with a dashcam😂

[@Outlaws28]

Good content, nice job! My only issue is with the background music, it's a little annoying. I felt like I was watching an HR video welcoming me to my new company and it was distracting. I get the need for it, maybe just turn it down from 11 to 2. Thanks for putting it together. Everyone needs to see this information before packing for their first trip. Especially the part about slowing down. I do not understand why people are in a hurry towing an RV. There is nothing fast or quick when it comes to an RV trip. Take your time and enjoy the trip!

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks for the comment. I’ll look into improving the background music for future videos. 😆

[@jerrytalley802]

Oh, a hitch scale would be so much easier

[@yendis1168]

Here is a tip for all. If your factory frame hitch has been on for years use a probe camera to inspect the inside of cross bar(if ends are open like on my Super Duty.) Rust never sleeps. I Was 100 miles out on a 1200 mile trip when for no good reason I thought I would pull in to a rest stop jusr to make sure all was ok with my bew 16 ft. Enclosed trailer. I freaked out when I noticed the trailer was 4 inches from the ground and the ball on hitch was pointing to about 2:00 O'clock! The frame had rusted to the point where it just twisted down. Talk about lucky. New draw tight on the way. Condensation alone can cause rust on unprotected metal. New hitch is powder coated but I will be monitoring the inside of the cross bar for sure. Also ordered a tongue weight pole scale.

[@CynthiaGillis-le6vv]

Hey teacher, to be truely accurate shouldn't you have two weights on your demo with the force meter? You are showing a tandem axel at the CAT scales. Or include a demo for tandem axle. Great vid, but yes background music is too loud.

[@peterdragon6367]

People put too much weight behind too small of a vehicle. “The salesman told me it would handle my trailer”

[@jds2048]

Drive slower and use the right vehicles. Big helper.

[@Brockdorf]

There seems to be a rising movement to get air suspension and ditch the sway bars, any thoughts on this?

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Hmm. I have no experience with air suspension, but I can’t see how it would help with sway other than helping level the rig. Personally, I wouldn’t ditch the sway bars.

[@javierbravo5139]

What trailer are you pulling with your f150? I'm looking to get a Grand Design Imagine XLS

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

We tow a 22 MLE

[@AnameSomeonesDadSurname]

I can't imagine not using my weight distribution anti sway hitch with my RV. Most of those videos are old, and I'd like to think people know better now.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

I hope so. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Thedumbtruckdriver]

Just wanted to restate the gist for my own benefit...... It's better to pack the front end somewhat heavier to avoid sway and have proper balance? Am I understanding this properly?

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Yes, that is the gist.

[@dw7094]

The biggest cause is people towing these rid are driving like a bat out of hell. They're trying to reduce the distance between two points with speed. No plausible reason to tow at speeds above 65 mph.

[@jimcollins8097]

My Equalizer hitch increases my trailer wt by 128 lbs vs wt when wdh is not engaged. Static tongue wt is 975 lbs via Sherline tongue scale and trailer is 7800 lbs. So, the wdh does move some tongue wt back to the trailer. The real mystery for me is in assuming a double axle suspension is a simple fulcrum. With my tongue on the tongue scale, i can walk 31 feet back to rear bumper and stand on it (200#) and the tongue scale doesnt change. Apparently the geometry of the double axle really dampers wt changes behind the axle. I can stand between axles and tongue and see small change but not as much as a sum of the moments calculation predicts. Can anyone add insight to this?

[@KALLLIE98]

the reason some of the tongue weight moves back to the trailer is typically because as the WDH bars are applied the load on the rear axle of the vehicle is lessened (transferred to the front), thus the rear of the vehicle raises. As the tongue raises it also becomes lighter and the weight moves back to the trailer.

[@-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.-]

If I had seen this a few months ago, I'd still be here!

[@philipethier9136]

How can your weight-distributing hitch not matter?

[@WireEd1966]

Moral of the story: Do NOT keep your plumb bob in the back bumper!! 🤔 I had to move mine.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Ha ha! This is the best comment so far. Thanks for watching and sharing.

[@StephenGoldberg]

Thanks for great info. How would you rate your satisfaction with your Imagine trailer? We are thinking of getting the same model

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

I’d rate our happiness with the 22MLE as a 10/10. We haven’t had any real problems with it. It’s a great couple’s trailer and we’re empty nesters, so it’s a perfect for us. Not too big or too small. Also, we like that it has a dinette as well as the recliners.

[@jerrytalley802]

Wouldn’t a simpler way to check hitch weight, be buy an inexpensive hitch scale? A few trips through these Cat scales, you’ve spent enough to have bought a hitch scale, that’s what I plan to do. Not busting on anyone but just mentioning an option

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

We agree that a hitch scale would be easier and cheaper in the long run, but you still wouldn’t know the percentage of your trailer’s weight included in the hitch weight. Also, you wouldn’t know axle weights or gross vehicle weights. In my opinion these are also very important. We appreciate your thoughts and thank you for watching our video. Happy Trails ~ Two Traveling Teachers

[@williamsmardo1240]

The tread mill was going faster when you tested the load on the rear.

[@AskRemy]

#1 - most rv'ers speed - I don't care how you balance it

[@gerrysherman2007]

You missed the most important point. The job of a weight distribution hitch is to distribute weight to the front axle of the truck. The front tires act to resist the sway, so without enough front axle wieght there will not be enough friction with the road. In that case, a longer truck would also create more resistance to sway. I have a Propride hitch which, with proper weight adjustment to the front axle, eliminates sway comple.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Both of your points are sound. Thanks for sharing.

[@_DB.COOPER]

Nothing can eliminate sway completely.

[@kingrider75]

The most important part is proper loading of the trailer and having sufficient tongue weight. My advice is to buy enough truck for the trailer.

[@-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.-]

​@@_DB.COOPER It's completely gone as in it doesn't want to sway, it's self righting at this point.

[@_DB.COOPER]

@@-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.- NOTHING can eliminate sway completely, NOTHING! Glad I could help.

[@26DR715]

Thats the main cause is driving to fast, if you start seeing the trailer start swaying drop your speed. In the UK its 60mph - motorways and dual carriageways. 50mph - single carriageways. 30mph - built-up areas.

[@CynthiaGillis-le6vv]

Do not just slow down! That could actually increase the sway. Keep speed even and apply trailer brakes. If you don't have trailer brakes, get them!

[@6.7Pstroke]

Always get a 3/4 ton truck... Or bigger don't cut it close.

[@pizzapizza4991]

Thoughts on a Hensley Hitch?

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

We don’t have any experience with the Hensley hitch, so don’t have any firsthand knowledge. I have heard that they work really well to reduce sway, but are difficult to connect with the tow vehicle and cost about 3X the price of most other hitches. Sorry I can’t offer more than this. Thanks for watching. ~Two Traveling Teachers

[@jeffgunner1195]

My family has 4 of them. Once you tow with one you will never go back. Hitching up is a learning curve but becomes second nature. They don't control sway, they eliminate it. Pivot point projection gives you fifth wheel towing with a travel trailer. All others are pretenders.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

@@jeffgunner1195 thanks for sharing your experience. This is very useful information.

[@mattyb1030]

Drive slower, that will help

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

I agree. Like I said at 6:40 and 11:40 in the video. Safe travels.

[@chadoien4033]

We don’t need more idiots driving 45 😂

[@jeffstangl1471]

Like 5 mph? I know what you mean but, I've felt it occasionally, from outside forces at every speed with Ram 1500, 23'KZ empty, heaviest Equilizer.

[@mrshadow8096]

It means don’t speed and go slower in high winds, go the speed limit and or slower especially when empty

[@peterdragon6367]

@@jeffstangl1471I have a one ton srw diesel. I pull my 8k TT at 65 to 70 tops. I have people in half tons passing me with similar sized campers. I don’t get it

[@3DLasers]

60/40 weight balancing with 60% of the weight in the front... 🚗 🚘

[@06Pine]

Some are too much trailer for car.

[@basslastig7456]

In Germany you learn all of this in driving school. 1. maximum 100km/h. 2. don't overtake!!! 3. Always pay attention to the weight, never overload. 4. Pay attention to the tire pressure, never too little. Anyone who screws up is a complete moron and has to pay for the damage themselves. One of so many reasons why driving licenses are so more expensive in Germany. You learn to handle potentially deadly weapons.

[@rack9458]

Most of the videos show an undersized SUV pulling a trailer it was never designed to tow.

[@An_Appeal_To_Heaven]

Notice how they're all going much faster than the dashcam vehicle? Yeah...

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Speed is definitely a big part of it.

[@philipethier9136]

@@TwoTravelingTeachers I tow at the speed limit.

[@fred881]

enough with music , I am so confused 4 22 into and all I can hear is music and see you adding weights and rulers I am not the sharpest tool in the shed so hopefully your next one is for slow people who flunked math ::)

[@forexfrank4484]

i would have used the weight distribution hitch as they can be heavy as well

[@WireEd1966]

The cause of sway is due to the antenna on your truck flopping around!! 🤔

[@jamestopeka2236]

The worse thing you do if your trailer starts swaying is to hit the brakes , it's best to Floor the gas and get it straight then slow down and don't go high speed and drive straight to a place that sales proper hitches . I'm 63 and have towed many trailers . Haven't lost one yet , knock on wood . Lol.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

I idea is to get the trailer's speed to match the trucks speed. This can be done by slowing the trailer, speeding up the truck, or both. I prefer to not to speed up the truck (personal preference). Just maintain truck speed and slow the trailer.

[@sonnydayz2118]

True. It may not feel natural, but yes, hit the throttle to straighten it out. I'm a class A driver.

[@philipethier9136]

@@TwoTravelingTeachers Another way to explain this is to S T R E T C H the rig. Increase the tension between the truck and trailer. Hit the trailer brakes only. Hit the hit the truck's power. You don't get sway when pulling up a grade. When the trailer is pushing the truck is problem. The worst thing you do if your trailer starts swaying is to hit the TRUCK brakes without hitting the trailer brakes.

[@guillaumepare9651]

Weight, weight distrubution...and speed. You are not driving your vehicle. You are driving your vehicle with a trailer. And a heavy one sometimes.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

So true. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@Mikey507477]

Or just buy a ProPride hitch. Eliminate the possibility of trailer sway.

[@rustydusty1111]

Get a 5th wheel. Bumper pulls suck.

[@chrism711]

Maybe get the right vehicle to tow that much of a load, that's what we should be teaching.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

What the right vehicle is will be different depending on what you’re towing. Even with the “right vehicle,” proper weight distribution is still important. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@alexlindekugel8727]

get a heavyer truck or smaller unit there problem solved.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

A hitch scale is great if all you want is hitch weight. It still doesn’t tell you how much (%) of trailer’s weight is on the truck. It also doesn’t give you GVWR for truck or trailer. Also you’ll get no information about GAWR.

[@Alex-it2nn]

As a cdl driver, I'm always amused by the general public and they're lack of common sense.

[@caseysweat9449]

Drive slower and buy an actual truck not a little SUV,

[@user-rk8zc7xn6k]

turn your music down please

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Okay

[@newlion7013]

1. Drive slow 2. Overkill on the vehicle you use to pull, dont think you'll be ok with a vehicle max tow 10K & buy a trailer that is 10K empty🤣

[@JS-nk4re]

Stop speeding .

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Speeding is definitely a big factor. Thanks for sharing.

[@PaulJagerEngineering]

Poor trailer design. Airstream has proper chassis engineering, weight placement and COG

[@GarretKrampe]

This ONLY applies to Ancient "pig type " trailers not the more modern "dog trailers". It astounds me that van and trailer manufacturers add "features" and do not unload the ball on the vehicle which is a majour brake and instability issue, and make the trailers "weight distribution sensitive". About time the industry caught up with some modern tech to negate the down fall of ALL "pig type" trailers.

[@philipethier9136]

Please define pig and dog.

[@jeepwk6.5L]

Stop towing campers with suvs and jeeps also. Get a dang 3/4 or bigger and stop using your wife's car. 😅

[@mavanj1985]

Or just always pull with a 1 ton truck and you'll never have an issue

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

You ought to make a KZbin video to share this advice. 🙂

[@jamesnelson8715]

@mavinj1985 Glad to see that a 1ton does not have maximum axle weights ,a maximum payload weight limit or a maximum gross vehicle weight rating that you have to be concerned with!!!

[@Sabumnim666]

The 10 percent claim is utter rubbish as there is no scientific proof through real testing to prove this figure. Look at an empty trailer it has a tare weight and a towball weight where in most cases now days the tow ball weight is only about 7% of the tare. By your theory then towing it home say 50miles or whatever is unsafe because of the lack of weight. Correctly loading the trailer with the load over the axles is far more beneficial too much at the front or rear is very dangerous.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

We appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

[@cruze1953]

What proof do you have that 7% of tare is safer than 10%-15% of tare with regard to tongue weight? Same question to TTT, where is the proof? I tend to think that 7% contributes to sway.

[@barenekid9695]

IF you don't Tow a Trailer There Isn't a problem .. Wake up ?

[@bryanross2289]

This guy waste to much time.

[@kevinbohn2024]

If you really teacher do your research first .

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

The research has been done. Thanks for your input.

[@davidvasquez3564]

Save your money and don't buy one, that will avoid the swaying.

[@moe2470]

Just totaly ban them & get the effing things off the road. Problem solved.

[@TwoTravelingTeachers]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.