BlueBarchetta

The problem: my truck/trailer get pulled in by passing cars and trucks. It's not really a sway, but more the whole unit being pulled. I can also get some movement in windy conditions that I would not consider "high winds". Maybe 15 mph. Again moves the whole as a unit

The truck: 2012 4 wheel drive super crew, EB, max tow. 20" wheels, 1625lbs payload, 11,200 lbs tow rating, 7650 gvwr, front axle limit 3750, rear 4050

The trailer: 24 ft box, 30 ft overall length, 9 ft high, enclosed all aluminum car hauler. 225/75/15 tires (if I remember correctly)

The hitch: equalizer brand, 4 point sway/WD. 1600 lbs bars

The measurements: took to CAT scales, weighed 3 things.
Truck only, full fuel; front axle 3340, rear axle, 2900
Trailer (with car, tools etc); tongue weight 980, axles 6820 total weight 7800
All hitched: truck 3180 front, 3820 rear, trailer axles 7040

I normally only add myself and maybe one other plus weekend luggage to these weights, so maybe 350-400 lbs into the truck cab.

When hitched, the load is very level, truck and trailer. Certainly my tongue weight seems proper at about 12.5%.

The questions:
Are the issues I'm having normal, just because I'm using a 1/2 ton to pull this load?

Could this be related to tires not being up to the task?

It appears to me that although my load is level, the hitch is really only levering about ~200+ pounds off the rear axle. Do I just need to get some more distribution going?

Too close to rear axle weight rating?

Any other ideas?

packplantpath

Yikes. That s quite a trailer. I'm going to guess it is due to a half ton truck doing a 3\4 tons job.

But check the tire pressure and maybe upping tongue wt might help.

At what speed is it noticeable?

EcoboostKev

Sounds completely normal to me. If the truck and trailer are moving as one unit then the Equal-i-zer is doing it's job. I feel the same thing towing my 33' 7500lb trailer which is a 30' box, 33' overall and 10' 11" high. All my weight #'s are almost identical to yours If it's windy or if tractor trailers are passing i get a slight push or pull but nothing major and certainly nothing severe enough to set off the built in sway control the truck has. What speeds are you travel at? I usually have the cruise set between 60-65mph. I'm also assuming you have the P rated tires? If so i would pump those up to there max 45psi to improve the ride a little bit.

BlueBarchetta

I do have the P tires. When on the freeway, I do 63-66 mph. Traveling in 70 mph zones, generally people blow by u even at 65-66

BlueBarchetta

Are your loaded axle weights similar?

Mechanik

If you're saying you can feel cars and trucks passing you, then that's to be expected. I may be misunderstanding the problem but you can push/suck a semi off course with a lot less trailer! Pass a semi while watching clearance closely. As you pass the rear of the trailer on the left, you will push it onto the shoulder. After you go by, you will suck the entire rig into your lane. You are moving a huge volume of air.

terpfan122

I agree with Mechanik. We use all this fancy technology to maximize our towing capacity as safely as possible but in the end you are still hauling *** down a highway with **** ton of weight. My trailer is small and next to large vehicles I def feel it.

BlueBarchetta

This is a pretty good way to explain it. Also, I am getting pushed by cars passing. The whole unit is moving together, so real "tail wagging the dog" issue

I'll just consider it normal

Thanks

EcoboostKev

My axle weights when hooked to the trailer are front- 3480lbs rear-3880lbs. I almost think you can add a little more tension to the bars and transfer more weight to the front axle. How does your truck sit when hooked to the trailer?? does it squat in the rear and does the nose of the truck seem higher?? When hooked up you want the trucks front fender within a 1/2" of original height when unhooked.

EcoboostKev

If your truck and trailer move together as one unit when being passed that is normal.. If your truck is going straight and you see in your mirror that the back end of the trailer is swaying back and forth than that is the tail wagging the dog...