Trailer Sway
Trailer sway is an occurrence that is inherent in many towed trailers. When a trailer is connected to a tow vehicle with a hitch ball it will sway when the trailer is acted upon by some force. These forces can be administered by winds, passing trucks, uneven loads or tow vehicle driver reactions into the towed trailer.
Winds from unsatisfactory weather may induce trailer sway. A wind gust that hits the side of thetowed trailer will strike to oscillate the trailer on the hitch ball. This results in the rear of the tow vehicle being forced to the side when the sway force acts on the hitch ball. When the stern of the tow vehicle is forced to the side the driver will have a habitual reaction to steer in a counter direction. This can be unfavorable.
A different type of wind that can apply a sway force to the trailer is from a passing truck. Large trucks push a bow wave that passes by the side of the trailer. The unstable pressures of this air will pivot the trailer toward the truck. Again, this may evoke a driver reflex that might start the trailer to vacillate.
A uneven load in the trailer may also cause trailer sway. When a load suddenly shifts or falls during travel that force could allow the trailer to begin to sway.
Whenever any of these conditions are present it's essential that you don't answer in a manner that will start the trailer to oscillate behind you. It is also important that you don't touch the brakes on the tow vehicle because that could evoke a jackknife.
Whenever trailer sway begins there are very clear actions to take to decrease it. The first thing to do is increase your speed lightly. This may seem counter to what you would want to do but it will make the trailer start to straighten out. The next step is to manually implement the electric trailer brakes. This will also straighten the trailer back in line with the tow vehicle.
Trailer sway might be limited with premier equipment. The first type of equipment that many people purchase might only be marginally adequate to control trailer sway. These are usually friction based hitches that'll only work during very light trailer movement. The premier type of sway control comes through a pivot point projection style hitch. This quality design will eliminate trailer sway through changing the location of the pivot point of the trailer. A pivot point projection hitch can control your trailer sway.
Winds from unsatisfactory weather may induce trailer sway. A wind gust that hits the side of thetowed trailer will strike to oscillate the trailer on the hitch ball. This results in the rear of the tow vehicle being forced to the side when the sway force acts on the hitch ball. When the stern of the tow vehicle is forced to the side the driver will have a habitual reaction to steer in a counter direction. This can be unfavorable.
A different type of wind that can apply a sway force to the trailer is from a passing truck. Large trucks push a bow wave that passes by the side of the trailer. The unstable pressures of this air will pivot the trailer toward the truck. Again, this may evoke a driver reflex that might start the trailer to vacillate.
A uneven load in the trailer may also cause trailer sway. When a load suddenly shifts or falls during travel that force could allow the trailer to begin to sway.
Whenever any of these conditions are present it's essential that you don't answer in a manner that will start the trailer to oscillate behind you. It is also important that you don't touch the brakes on the tow vehicle because that could evoke a jackknife.
Whenever trailer sway begins there are very clear actions to take to decrease it. The first thing to do is increase your speed lightly. This may seem counter to what you would want to do but it will make the trailer start to straighten out. The next step is to manually implement the electric trailer brakes. This will also straighten the trailer back in line with the tow vehicle.
Trailer sway might be limited with premier equipment. The first type of equipment that many people purchase might only be marginally adequate to control trailer sway. These are usually friction based hitches that'll only work during very light trailer movement. The premier type of sway control comes through a pivot point projection style hitch. This quality design will eliminate trailer sway through changing the location of the pivot point of the trailer. A pivot point projection hitch can control your trailer sway.
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