Tips To Prevent Trailer Sway
Every time you head out on the road with your trailer, you’re at risk of experiencing trailer sway. It can be a frightening experience for even veteran drivers. Your unit will sway back and forth and leave you feeling helpless and out of control. Trailer sway is dangerous, so it’s important to know what steps you can take to prevent it, which is why we put together the following guide to help you reduce sway. If you have any other questions or you’re ready to check out some cargo trailers for sale, visit us at Van Alstyne, Texas. We proudly serve Dallas and Fort Worth, so stop by and we’ll get you on the road safely and confidently!
Prevention Strategies
Prevention is one of the most important strategies for avoiding or minimizing trailer sway and taking a few proactive steps can go a long way. You should start with a pre-ride inspection of your unit to make sure everything is in working condition. You want to catch any issues before you hit the road. Check the tire tread and air pressure and make sure they are both up to standards.
Another important step is to pack your cargo so weight is evenly distributed. It’s also important to stay within the bounds of your tongue weight (which we’ll go into more below) and avoid overloading your vehicle. There are limits for a reason!
Tongue Weight
One of the most common instigators of trailer sway is misplaced weight on the tongue. You should shoot to rest 10 to 12 percent of your unit’s weight on the tongue. Take your trailer to a commercial scale at a truck stop. Then, you can adjust the weight accordingly. You should load heavier cargo at the front and center it from the left to right. Make sure to tie all of the cargo down to prevent items from moving around and thus negating your intentional weight distribution!
Trailer Upgrades
Some people may find it valuable to upgrade their trailer with features to prevent trailer sway. You can invest in a friction sway control device. This will place resistance on the trailer and the tow vehicle too. This decreases the impact of wind and sharp turns. However, these devices work best for units with a low tongue weight percentage. Trailers with a higher tongue weight should use this device on both sides of the hitch. You can also adjust the device so you can get the ultimate performance.
Dealing With The Wind
Another major cause of trailer sway is wind. Try to avoid driving during heavy winds whenever possible. Check the weather forecast before you hit the road. If you see a high chance of wind in the forecast, you may want to just stay home.
However, you can’t always wait out the storm. It may not be possible to postpone your trip. In this case, you’ll need to adopt some defensive driving strategies to minimize the effect of trailer sway. Don’t slam on the brakes if possible. It’s better to gradually decrease speed instead. You should also avoid making sudden turns. If the wind is really bad, it may be best to pull over and wait for it to die down.
We hope this guide was helpful and you feel prepared to confront trailer sway. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to avoid it forever, but that’s why it’s important you know what to do in the event of trailer sway. If you have any questions about trailer sway or you’re looking for your next cargo trailer for sale, feel free to stop by TSI Trailers in Van Alstyne, Texas. We proudly serve Dallas and Fort Worth, so give us a visit today!