Travel Trailer Sway Control Tips

Whenever you take your travel trailer out on the road, there’s a chance that you might experience it swaying. It can be a nerve-wracking experience for newer drivers to feel their RVs start to move back and forth and be unable to control it. This isn’t a safe situation so you should learn what to do to minimize it as well as how to respond if it does start to happen.

Prevention

You must have heard of the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’, and that certainly applies here! Being a little proactive before you leave can help you minimize trailer sway. 

Inspect your camper before you use it so you can catch any issues before they become a problem. Check your tire tread and air pressure and ensure both are up to the standards outlined in your owner’s manual. Pack your camper so that the weight is evenly distributed. Stay within the bounds of your tongue weight and avoid overloading your travel trailer or tow vehicle.

Tongue Weight

One of the major reasons behind travel trailer sway is putting misplaced weight on the tongue. Aim to rest around 10-12% of your camper’s weight on the tongue. Take your trailer to a commercial scale at a truck stop or material supply. Then remove or adjust your weight as needed. Load heavier cargo at the front of your camper and center it from left to right. Tie down the cargo to prevent the items from moving around and undoing your careful weight placement.

Travel Trailer Upgrades

There’s also a specialized customization upgrade that can help you minimize the risk of swaying. A friction sway control device places resistance on the travel trailer and the tow vehicle. This helps reduce the impact of gusts of winds and sharp turns. These are best suited for RVs that have a low tongue weight percentage. 

If you’ve got a travel trailer with a higher tongue weight, you should use friction sway control devices on both sides of the hitch. You can adjust them until they’re tweaked for the best performance results.

If you’re still looking to buy a travel trailer, visit RVs and Boats For Less in Chubbuck, ID, to check out our selection. We welcome all our patrons visiting us from Idaho Falls and Pocatello.