Trailer sway

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Rostam
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Trailer sway

Post by Rostam »

Saw this at Airforums:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f540/ru ... ost2298156

One thing that caught my attention: When the semi was aggressively passing the Airstream, I saw lot of side to side movement (looked like the initial stage of a sway event, that luckily did not happen).

Two things:

1) The Airstream owner has a ProPride hitch. My intention is not to bash ProPride (which is a very good hitch), but the fanboys at Airforums claim that ProPride eliminates the possibility of any sway event and makes it physically impossible. The video shows lots of side to side movement, which surprised me. I think the claim of the fanboys (which just parrot the marketing material) should be taken with some grain of salt. Again, I think ProPride is a very good hitch, but as an engineer I also know that every physical device has an operating range.

2) Is that much side to side movement normal? I don't have a rear camera, but I have many times looked at the trailer in the tow mirrors, right when a semi is passing, and have not noticed much if any side to side movement. I attribute this to Avion being a more stable trailer than Airstream. What is the experience of others?
1978 Avion 26-H
2021 Toyota Tundra SR5
silverloaf
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Re: Trailer sway

Post by silverloaf »

This thread was posted on the RV-Net Open Roads forum:

"Posted By: skipnchar on 03/23/10 02:48pm

What you're experiencing isn't trailer sway. It's the bow wave effect of the wind from the front of the truck pushing on first the back half of the trailer causing the front to move TOWARD the truck and the tow vehicle to move AWAY from it then as the truck passes the wind now pushes on the front half of the trailer and the process is reversed. It certainly CAN be worse on a windy day and especially so when the wind is from the side the truck is passing on. for what it's worth, trucks do this to each other also. It's generally not dangerous as long as you're alert and takes only the slightest steering correction to hold things straight. Make sure your anti sway system is adjusted properly to minimize the effect. Can't help with your set up because there is no photo showing in your post. Read the sticky about posting photos or ask a moderator for assistance.
Good luck / skip"
" Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised when God hands you a shovel.”


Silverloaf (Bob)
Dawsonville, GA
1988 30P
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KYAvion
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Re: Trailer sway

Post by KYAvion »

I watched the video waiting for something violent to occur, and about halfway through some mild movement took place. That didn’t look like sway to me. I was pulling a long trailer (long relative to my tow vehicle) loaded with fence posts and rails once, and I was using a vehicle that had too short of a wheelbase. No special hitch—just riding on the ball. I experienced trailer sway and it was terrifying. The trailer literally pushed my tow vehicle around. It was the tail wagging the dog.

I use a Propride, and I suppose like a lot of the fanboys, I’ll probably never own another trailer without one. Yes it’s expensive, but I just look at it like paying for insurance. From my experience, it has done exactly what it is suppose to do.

I don’t have a rear camera, but depending on the wind, trucks passing, my speed, etc., I have noticed side to side movement before. Not sway, but side to side movement. With the Propride, this movement is felt in the vehicle as a unit. That is, the tow vehicle and trailer move as a unit, versus the trailer moving the rear of the tow vehicle around.
KYAvion
1984 Avion 30R
Rostam
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Re: Trailer sway

Post by Rostam »

You are right. This was not a trailer sway as the title suggests. I am not questioning the value of ProPride, which is a superior hitch. I was just surprised as there seemed to be a lot of slack between the trailer and the tow vehicle. Some members at Airforums had suggested that would be impossible.
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Re: Trailer sway

Post by KYAvion »

Yes, I wouldn’t call it slack though, but side to side movement. The entire Propride hitch head rotates side to side, versus pivoting on a ball. It really is a secure connection between the tow vehicle and trailer, and makes for a really comfortable towing experience.
KYAvion
1984 Avion 30R
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