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Topic ClosedTrailer sway - Event Date: 06 May 2016
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AndR View Drop Down
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Joined: 09 May 2014
Location: Idaho
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Posts: 28 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Trailer sway
    Posted: 06 May 2016 at 12:26pm
History: have a 182g. Have towed it with a Chevy Tahoe for three years, no problems with trailer sway.
Problem: have a new F150 with a shell. I am now having significant trailer sway. Truck has built in tailer sway control. I have not changed anything in the trailer as far as loading is concerned. 
Does anyone have any ideas? I have been told that woe she'll, I might be having an aerodynamic problem that is causing lift on the back of the trailer, so try raising the tongue a few inches. I have also been told to get a W/D hitch. I am at a loss.

Thanks in advance for any advice. 
Thanks and Happy Camping!
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Mountainrev View Drop Down
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Joined: 22 Jul 2014
Location: Eagle, Colorado
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Posts: 193 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2016 at 1:25pm
It certainly does seem odd that you would have sway issues with an F-150 when you didn't with a Tahoe.  I'm no expert, by any means, but I have a hard time believing the topper on your truck would cause aerodynamic problems which would lead to trailer sway. 

Are you using the same draw bar as you did with the Tahoe?  If so, is your trailer level or just slightly nose-down?  If it is, don't drop the tongue.  If you're nose-high, then get a new ball mount with a longer drop.

At the very least, I'd purchase a friction anti-sway bar.  They're pretty cheap (well under $100).  See if that helps. 

Good luck!
2014 177
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel

"I lift my eyes to the hills."
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JandL View Drop Down
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Posts: 364 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2016 at 3:33pm
There are some good technical articles on this post about the Dynamics of towing. Does it make any difference when you turn the sway control off?

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7315&title=dynamics-of-towing
JandL
2013 Honda Ridgeline
2012 177
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AndR View Drop Down
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Posts: 28 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2016 at 9:03pm
Thanks for the responses. I adjusted my ball on the hitch. Raised it two inches. That left me with the front of the trailer being one inch higher than the back when on level ground. Seemed to make all the difference. Drove home in a horrendous wind storm and very little, negligible, sway! Hope that is the last of this issue.
Happy Podding!

Ron
Thanks and Happy Camping!
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Kantuckid View Drop Down
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Posts: 38 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2016 at 1:21pm
I had slight sway in windstorm towing with F-150 that has towing pkg. I'm adding a $35 sway control.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2016 at 9:49pm
Originally posted by AndR

Thanks for the responses. I adjusted my ball on the hitch. Raised it two inches. That left me with the front of the trailer being one inch higher than the back when on level ground. Seemed to make all the difference. Drove home in a horrendous wind storm and very little, negligible, sway! Hope that is the last of this issue.
Happy Podding!

Ron

The nose should be level or lower than the rear to prevent sway.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Craneman View Drop Down
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Posts: 387 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2016 at 11:37pm
Can anyone tell me exactly how to adjust a friction sway control ?.
          Moe
Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150

Jo and Gary
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AndR View Drop Down
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Posts: 28 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2016 at 11:37pm
Heading out again next week. Will keep everyone posted as to how the trailer performs.  Thanks for the responses.
Thanks and Happy Camping!
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2016 at 8:03pm
Originally posted by Craneman

Can anyone tell me exactly how to adjust a friction sway control ?.
          Moe

I believe on the one I used with my popup the handle turned 360 degrees to engage/disengage.  To adjust the tension applied while engaged, the official instructions say to turn the adjustment bolt 1/4 turn each time before test-towing.  But I believe I had to use smaller adjustments with mine.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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