A Lot of Trailer Sway Using Reese Strait-Line System on 2015 Ford F-150 and Jayco Jayflight 28BHBE

Question:

I have a Jayco Jayflight 28BHBE . Unloaded weight is about 7400lbs. I am towing with a 2015 Ford F150. Supposedly capable to 11k towing I thought that it would be able to safely pull the trailer. I currently have a Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Round Bar , but the trailer was all over the place this weekend while towing. I had the bars pulled up so tight that a bar popped off when I hit a dip while taking a slow turn. I am not sure what if anything can be done to correct the sway on the unit. I had thought about putting on a friction sway control and I had wondered if the head of the hitch may also need adjusting. I am not sure if I need to buy a new truck or if I can figure out another safe way to make this work. Our next trip is in a few weeks so I need to make a decision soon.

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

The important thing to remember about a Strait-Line weight distribution system is that dual-cam sway control is very effective as long as you have it fine-tuned. Since you were getting so much sway that can mean that you need to make some adjustments.

You also need to have a system that is appropriately rated for the total tongue weight which is the combined weight of the loaded trailer tongue weight and the weight of anything carried behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle.

If your trailer weight 7,400 pounds empty then it is going to weigh more and have a higher tongue weight when loaded. Trailer tongue weight is usually 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight. With the trailer empty that would make the tongue weight 740 to 1,110 pounds. Of course that range will be higher once the trailer is loaded and ready to tow.

Depending on the system you have it may not be rated high enough for the total tongue weight. You will likely need the 800 to 1,500 pound tongue weight system. If the system you have has spring bars rated lower then you can upgrade the spring bars using # RP58369 (sold in quantities of 1 bar so you would need 2 of them).

But, if your current Reese Strait-Line system uses round bars instead of trunnion bars then you will also need to upgrade the head using # RP58167.

Too much or too little tongue weight can also result in trailer sway. This can happen if the trailer isn't level while towing it. If the shank you are using with your weight distribution system does not offer the proper amount of rise or drop needed to tow the trailer level that could be the issue. Other shanks are available, see link, if you need more rise or drop.

What I would do is first try to fine-tune the dual-cam sway control and go from there. If other, higher rated components are needed them be sure to get them as well because if the system is not rated properly for the total tongue weight of the trailer then it will not be effective.

I would not go to a friction sway control system because with the weight of your trailer you would have to have 2 of them for effective sway control, you would not be able to back up with the friction bars engaged, and you couldn't use them in inclement weather because they could slip or lock up.