Trailer Sway

[CooperGuy]

I bought an '04 Wakesetter 23 LSV with a dual axle trailer (I think it's a Road Runner) a couple of months ago. I get a lot of sway at speeds over 65 mph. My last I/O with a single axle trailer never had this issue. Is there something I can do to solve the problem?

[CumminsBu]

I would try to air up the tire to the max pressure on the side wall and "maybe 5 lbs over" , but the safest thing would be to slow down.

Trailer tires don't last long speeds above 65mph.

[Soon2BV]

Check the weight distribution on the axle and tongue.

If you have too little tongue weight it can cause this.

You should have about 10% of the total weight on the tongue. So if the whole set-up is 3000 pounds, about 300 pounds on the tongue.

You can check this at a truck scale.

If the boat is sitting too far back or there is too much gear in the rear it can cause this.

tongue weight

[DONTW8]

Tongue weight is the remedy as Soon2BV has pointed out.

There are lots of posts in the Off Topic forum about this. Do a search under "tow vehicle" for more info. As I have posted previously I increased my tongue weight up to about 12% and my trailer will not sway even in the tightest curves in the Cascade Mountain Range.

I moved my trailer axle to the rear. I adjusted my winch stand forward. I moved up a wheel size and load range to have overkill on my trailer tires.

If you are unable to move your boat forward on your trailer then at the very least you can load your portable cooler or extra soda or other heavy stuff to the bow area of your boat when towing.

[CooperGuy]

Thanks for all the great info. If tongue weight is the issue, is it OK to travel with the front ballast filled? Is it bad to keep water in the tank for long periods of time?

[Ndawg12]

Thanks for all the great info. If tongue weight is the issue, is it OK to travel with the front ballast filled? Is it bad to keep water in the tank for long periods of time?

Are you getting the bow all the way up to the roller? Even an inch or so can dramatically change your weight distribution.

If your fittings are all tight and it won't leak then I wouldn't think that's a problem. But that extra weight will completely change your loading procedure. I wouldn't leave it full, you might only need 50-100 pounds to achieve 10-12% tongue weight.

[Soon2BV]

is it OK to travel with the front ballast filled?

The only problem with this is that the water will move underway, and then you have this huge weight effectively rolling around in your boat. This could cause more problems than just the swaying.

The bad effects of a shifting load is why truck drivers are so careful about having loads strapped down or strapped to the walls in a trailer. A large box slideing side to side on a turn can create a real control problem, leading to a trailer rolling.

Edited June 2, 2010 by Soon2BV

[CooperGuy]

The only problem with this is that the water will move underway, and then you have this huge weight effectively rolling around in your boat. This could cause more problems than just the swaying.

The bad effects of a shifting load is why truck drivers are so careful about having loads strapped down or strapped to the walls in a trailer. A large box slideing side to side on a turn can create a real control problem, leading to a trailer rolling.

Thanks for the info, that makes a lot of sense.

[rodman]

What type of vehicle are you towing with. I have the same setup a year newer. That boat weighs 3800 lbs empty 55 gallons of fuel and gear could easy add another 1000 pounds. You should only have 10% of what you are towing on the ball. There is no way of changing the balance the axles are welded to the frame. A tandem axle trailer should travel very straight and true at higher speeds. ONE THING TO REMEMBER IF IT GETS TO BAD DON'T HIT THE BRAKES. MORE SPEED WILL CORRECT IT TILL YOU CAN SLOW DOWN.

Edited June 3, 2010 by rodman

[CooperGuy]

What type of vehicle are you towing with. I have the same setup a year newer. That boat weighs 3800 lbs empty 55 gallons of fuel and gear could easy add another 1000 pounds. You should only have 10% of what you are towing on the ball. There is no way of changing the balance the axles are welded to the frame. A tandem axle trailer should travel very straight and true.

I tow with either a Yukon XL or a Sierra 1/2 Ton, basically the same vehicle. I get the sway with the boat full of fuel and 1/4 tank. I have wieghed the tongue yet to determine the %.

Thanks

[rodman]

I tow with either a Yukon XL or a Sierra 1/2 Ton, basically the same vehicle. I get the sway with the boat full of fuel and 1/4 tank. I have wieghed the tongue yet to determine the %.

Thanks

WE are at least on the same page here I have almost the same outfit using a 1/2 ton suburban and also have a dually. At least you trucks weigh more than the boat so that eliminates a lot of discussion. My suburban is under powered with that 5.3 ltr the same as you have. Other than the power issue it tows like a dream no swaying at all at speeds around 70. I am not a big fan of that trailer I had to add brakes on one of the axles and what a nightmare it was. You can not change the balance of that trailer about the only thing you could do is put anti sway bars on it. How does it tow with the PU truck?

[rodman]

I bought an '04 Wakesetter 23 LSV with a dual axle trailer (I think it's a Road Runner) a couple of months ago. I get a lot of sway at speeds over 65 mph. My last I/O with a single axle trailer never had this issue. Is there something I can do to solve the problem?

Cooper I responded to you a while ago about having the same boat,trailer and suburban and said that there were no problems. Well thinking back today I did a long haul this weekend over 100 miles each way. We were traveling at around 70 MPH a full tank of gas in the boat 5 people in the suburban and gear. Other than a power issue things were fine.

The only issue that I could see was if we had to panic stop or sway out of the way real quick it felt like it would be a can of worms to control. That boat is heavy on the back but no real big issues. I would hate to see some one towing with something lighter or smaller. God Bless them.

Edited June 22, 2010 by rodman

[Sixball]

I pull with the fuel tank low on fuel on any of my trailers. I don't want the extra weight on the trailer. If there is a emergency on the road I want my rigs as light as I can get them. I stop and fuel just before I arrive at my destination. It also saves fuel on the tow.

Just a safety thing in my eyes.

PS check your hitch I had the sway thin start on a trailer I never had a problem with and kept increasing the tongue weight but it did not go away. I found a broken weld on the hitch.