11 Causes of Trailer Sway and How to Stop It – Myths Vs Facts

Trailer sway is the stuff of nightmares. It’s a classic case of the tail wagging the dog. It’s the number one cause of RV accidents in this country.

If you’re the sort of person who can’t help but rubberneck when driving past a car crash, there’s no shortage of nail-biting trailer sway footage on YouTube. Here’s one I curated for your horrified enjoyment:

Now that I’ve made your palms a little sweaty, let’s make sure you stay on the correct side of a dashcam recording.

6 responses to “11 Causes of Trailer Sway and How to Stop It – Myths Vs Facts”

  1. Dana

    I have a horse trailer we put a hitch extension on so that we can use a battery operated hitch and open the tailgate.I am wondering if this will cause it to sway. I am only using chains for sway now. How far away can the truck be from the trailer?

    1. There’s no easy answer to “how far away can the truck be from the trailer,” but yes, a longer hitch extension will amplify the negative effects of swaying. You’re giving the camper a longer lever to swing the tow vehicle.

  2. Dan

    The ball on my antisway hitch is positioned 6.5 inches farther behind my receiver than my standard hitch that I use for small trailers. Is there a reason for this? I could easily move my antisway hitch closer to my reciever (and rear axle) 2 inches or more. Would this be a mistake?

    1. As long as you don’t run into clearance or interference issues (such as when taking sharp turns), it is recommended to keep the hitch overhang as minimal as possible. So if you can move the hitch 2″ closer to your rear axle, do it! 🙂

  3. Karl Milhon

    In terms of performance, is a chain WDH or a bar WDH superior? Or is that even the right question?

    1. That’s a difficult question to answer, Karl! Different pros and cons of both: different setup times, weight ranges, ease of backing up, etc. Sometimes the construction of the travel trailer tongue and coupler makes a big difference, since some types of couplers aren’t approved for use with chain (Andersen) weight-distribution hitches. There’s nothing wrong with either one as long as they’re set up properly.

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