What Causes Intense Trailer Sway at a Certain Speed

Question:

I have a PR20 Triton trailer. The trailer is 7foot wide by 20foot long plus a 5foot V nose. with tongue the trailer is just shy of 30. It weighs 2400 lbs empty and fully loaded Im around 4800 lbs. When i weighed the trailer to get the 4800 lbs it was connected to my vehicle. I ordered the trailer with one foot extra height. The trailer catches the wind like crazy!!!! When i pull it with my 2015 F350 diesel you dont feel it as bad but it still sways a little. When i pull it with my 2016 Suburban it is damn near the most dangerous thing i have done in my life! I would like to pull this with my Suburban and a 1/2 ton pick up. what do you recommend i do. Being that the trailer is a aluminum pole tongue style?

asked by: Steve Y

Expert Reply:

The type of sway you are describing is not going to be fixed by a weight distribution system. You either do not have enough tongue weight forward in the trailer, your suspension is worn out, or your trailer isn't sitting level.

Weight distribution systems will help with sway induced by large gusts of wind or passing semi-trucks but not persistent sway that start when getting up to a certain speed.

Also nearly all aluminum trailers aren't rated for weight distribution per the manufacturer of the trailer's requirements.

expert reply by: Jameson C