Towing:Weight Distribution

[WaySlowWhitey]

Odd question but figured if anyone knows it's this group. We recently picked up a pop up trailer (1100 lbs dry). We contemplated a roof rack for the trailer to haul our bikes but decided on a hitch mount. When loaded with the bikes/rack (~75lbs in total) on the rear of the trailer there's some pretty notable L-R sway when going down the highway. I know that loading additional weight in the form of gear at the front of the trailer will offset that weight, what are my other options? Of note, without the bikes/rack on the back, the trailer tracks straight at speed.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Are you using any kind of anti-sway hitch at all or just dropping it on a receiver ball? I am surprised a trailer that light sways so bad and you should definitely make sure more weight is in front of the axle than behind it. I always used an equalizer anti-sway hitch when I used to tow my tv's behind my pickups and it made a huge difference. But we are talking about 30+' long, 7500 lb trailers. My rv is now setup permanently so I don't tow anymore. I am about to sell my equalizer hitch.

 

[WaySlowWhitey]

Before havingg the rear hitch installed/carrying the bikes there was no need for anything other than dropping the hitch onto the ball. Literally the trailer tracked straight and true even up to 80. Once adding the weight to the rear, the sway started (Which made sense). I added 80lbs of water and the sway was still there a bit so an equalizer hitch may be needed.

 

[philsey]

Odd question but figured if anyone knows it's this group. We recently picked up a pop up trailer (1100 lbs dry). We contemplated a roof rack for the trailer to haul our bikes but decided on a hitch mount. When loaded with the bikes/rack (~75lbs in total) on the rear of the trailer there's some pretty notable L-R sway when going down the highway. I know that loading additional weight in the form of gear at the front of the trailer will offset that weight, what are my other options? Of note, without the bikes/rack on the back, the trailer tracks straight at speed.

By mounting the bike rack as you have, you are "unloading/unbalancing" a critical factor in proper towing, and that is tongue weight. Inasmuch as 75# causes the problem, I assume you are already very close to "not enough" tongue weight.

Weight on the ball should be 10-15% of the loaded , repeat loaded trailer weight. Too little tongue weight causes this exact (swaying) problem. Plus, under hard braking you are likely to have the trailer swing around, out of its lane.

Inadequate tongue weight is not good. Do not tow under this condition.

ETA: You can easily measure TW with a 12" piece of 4X4 stood between the trailer's hitch-end on a bathroom scale. Again, with the trailer loaded as you'll pull it. Guessing you'll need more weight forward of the trailer's axle.

 

[Biggcrisp]

Get a sway control device as well.

 

[Swarty]

Before havingg the rear hitch installed/carrying the bikes there was no need for anything other than dropping the hitch onto the ball. Literally the trailer tracked straight and true even up to 80. Once adding the weight to the rear, the sway started (Which made sense). I added 80lbs of water and the sway was still there a bit so an equalizer hitch may be needed.

It may appear to help but it's only half the answer. The trailer is very light and you are changing the cg height and trailer weight. For safety you should add stiffer springs to your trailer, or at least more dampening to the suspension. Just my opinion though.

 

[1engineer]

Where is the 80 lb of water? For a trailer that little tongue weight is key. Try adding weight inside the trailer forward the wheels or even adding weight onto the "triangle" portion of the frame right behind the coupler. Propane tanks work great there and are heavy in this application.

 

[philsey]

I just saw this:

2012 SR5 Premium Package / Magnetic Gray Metallic / Katzkin Leather / Nav and Entune / OME Lift / 17 x 9 Black Rhino Imperial Wheels / Hankook Radial ATM R10 Tires / Baja Rack

When hitched, does your trailer sit level, front-to-rear? This too is important. It should NEVER be tilted high in the front, if so get a drop ball mount. A slight downward bias of the tongue is better than the opposite.

 

[WaySlowWhitey]

I just saw this:

2012 SR5 Premium Package / Magnetic Gray Metallic / Katzkin Leather / Nav and Entune / OME Lift / 17 x 9 Black Rhino Imperial Wheels / Hankook Radial ATM R10 Tires / Baja Rack

When hitched, does your trailer sit level, front-to-rear? This too is important. It should NEVER be tilted high in the front, if so get a drop ball mount. A slight downward bias of the tongue is better than the opposite.

The trailer now has a spring-over-axle conversion and sits level when loaded/hitched.

The 80lbs of water was located inside the trailer at the front-most point to mimic the weight of gear/coolers and the like.

The front triangle is loaded with the propane tank and battery leaving no room to add ballast unless I load (e.g weld weights inside the frame).

I chose the rear mounted hitch for ease of use while also avoiding drilling into the roof of the trailer (No rain gutters or other mounting points for a roof-mounted rack. Additionally, even with a fork mounted rack on the roof, I've increased the c of g while also adding additional drag. Even at 1100lbs, this trailer can slow down my 5th gen climbing I-70 or over Wolf Creek Pass here in CO.

All this leads me to believe that some external sway control may be in order.

 

[philsey]

Whitey, ^^^

I don't mean this to be rude, but everything you said above is secondary UNTIL you determine that your tongue weight is correct as per my first post.

This INCLUDES mounting some type of sway control. Just MHO, but sway control, while it most certainly won't hurt anything, should not be necessary for a small/relatively light trailer, IF it's set up properly.

Perhaps you have the TW set up correctly, but you did not mention it.

 

[Kmvreter]

The trailer now has a spring-over-axle conversion and sits level when loaded/hitched...

Just to clarify, did you do this conversion before adding the bike rack? How does it track if you remove the rack and water ballast? It's not just the weight but the drag from the bikes mounted that is also contributing to the concern. If it's that sensitive to 75 lbs then, as mentioned, I'm thinking your tonque weight is low. You should have the TW correct regardless of adding a sway control or not.

 

[WaySlowWhitey]

Just to clarify, did you do this conversion before adding the bike rack? How does it track if you remove the rack and water ballast? It's not just the weight but the drag from the bikes mounted that is also contributing to the concern. If it's that sensitive to 75 lbs then, as mentioned, I'm thinking your tonque weight is low. You should have the TW correct regardless of adding a sway control or not.

The trailer tracks straight and true without the bikes and ballast. The bikes cause minimal drag as they're hitch mounted and are essentially blocked by the trailer.

As was mentioned previously, I don't believe I need sway control but proper weight distribution. Adding the bikes moved my CG behind the trailer axle causing it to sway. Adjusting my weight distribution by moving the bikes to a roof mounted rack at the front of the trailer should resolve this.

 

[KidVermicious]

If the trailer tracked perfectly before adding the bikes, then I'd remove the bikes. Put them on the roof of your truck?