Towing Safely: What "sway" looks like.

[Rustic Eagle]

The importance of correctly matching a TV to a TT, HTT, PUP, etc., will always be a subject of discussion. A sway event can happen even with the best TV/TT, HTT, PUP, etc., combinations...., but would you know "instinctively" what to do if you had to handle one?

The video link below shows what trailer sway looks like, and how fast it can happen:

http://www.break.com/index/car-loses-control-from-fishtailing-trailer-2074155

I test the manual brake knob on my brake controller every once in awhile (without touching the brake pedal) just to make sure it's working properly and that I can reach it without looking for it.

Bob

[19H F250]

Your right Bob. I loaded my 1206 pup totally wrong on 1 trip, and it was doing a rumba behind my F250 & it started to do a dance, I really had to get on it to correct the problem. When I got to the cg and saw what I had done wrong I hyperextended my knee kicking mytself in the a--. Good thing it was only a pup, don't want to think about it being a tt. Larry

[clutch]

With that small tow vehicle it's no wonder they had a problem. Touching the trailer brakes would have prevented that accident.

[Double Eagle]

if it had trailer brakes

[FPM III]

...I test the manual brake knob on my brake controller every once in awhile (without touching the brake pedal) just to make sure it's working properly and that I can reach it without looking for it...

I always check my trailer brakes using the manual control as soon as I move after I connect the trailer. Here in hilly western PA you certainly want to know your trailer brakes are working before you decend your first steep hill-- and in my case, that occurs about 300 feet down the street from my house.

[dpwelsher]

Your right Bob. I loaded my 1206 pup totally wrong on 1 trip, and it was doing a rumba behind my F250 & it started to do a dance, I really had to get on it to correct the problem. When I got to the cg and saw what I had done wrong I hyperextended my knee kicking mytself in the a--. Good thing it was only a pup, don't want to think about it being a tt. Larry

How exactlly did you load the 1206 wrong? I have a 1406 with the tandom axles, so it tends to track really well. I try to keep it as empty as possible, and I'm talking empty, but I was going to put alot more in it this year to save room in the TV. You know the kind of stuff srictlly for camping. Should I just stick with hauling it in the TV or add more to the pup? Like to hear more of your experience for a better judgement.

[Rustic Eagle]

snip......Should I just stick with hauling it in the TV or add more to the pup? Like to hear more of your experience for a better judgement.
I'm sure Larry (19H F250) will follow with some specific comments on his 1206 PUP towing experiences.

Nothing wrong with loading the 1406 PUP with camping gear (or stuff), just as long as you stay under the 1406 PUP's GVWR, and that you have the loaded tongue weight at 10% to 15% of the PUP's actual loaded weight.

I assume that your TV and TV's receiver is also a proper match for your 1406 PUP as well under loaded conditions.

Bob

[19H F250]

dpwelsher-- Loaded some heavier items in the rear of the pup intending to do the same in the front except , like a dummy, I put those items in the back of my pickup. DUH. It was scary for my DW who was following me.So now I assume my" loading police" hat while packing.

[dpwelsher]

Makes you wonder why there is such a huge storage cabinet at the rear of a 1406.

[Rustic Eagle]

Based on the observation of a fellow RV'er in the MH, speed and sway were the cause of this accident.....,

http://i40.tinypic.com/4j3m2h.jpg

Additional comments and pics here: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/travel-trailer-accident-77607.html

Travel safe.

Bob

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Too little or negative tongue weight will not only cause sway, but will make backing nearly impossible. Even a little U-Haul with a stove in it hitched to a 1 ton van will be impossible to back if the tongue weight is negative (don't ask how I know).

[Turn2Racing]

I check my trailer brakes EVERY time I pull out of the driveway. Safety First.

[Rustic Eagle]

That's strange..., the photo reflected in my prior post isn't the original photo I placed there http://i43.tinypic.com/2egcsxe.gif, this was the pic that I posted:

http://i39.tinypic.com/2aiezh3.jpg

Bob

[smoothy]

I also check my brakes every time I hitch up.