Sway Issues | KZ Family Forum

whitey930
Newbie RV’er

Posts: 4

Sway Issues Oct 29, 2016 16:31:46 GMT -5

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Post by whitey930 on Oct 29, 2016 16:31:46 GMT -5

Hi all. Hoping to get some advise regarding trucks to pull our recently purchased MXT 303 Toy Hauler. I knew we'd need a different truck to pull it with our two large motorcycles. My current 2014 F-150 goes back off lease soon and although it can pull the 6500 lb empty trailer, the bikes put it at 8000 lbs, about 1000 lbs over the truck's tow rating. We just took a 2016 F-150 Ecoboost out for a test drive today with the fully loaded trailer. This truck has the max tow package and has a tow capacity of 10600 lbs. It had no problem pulling it with rpms rarely over 3000 even up grades. The problem was the swaying of the trailer and the pull it had on the truck. Pretty severe at times as it was a windy day.

The trailer has the Reese Weight distribution system with the anti sway cam system, which is supposed to be one of the best systems out there, but I do not have the hitch head and the trunion bars that go with the system as the previous owner of the trailer must have kept them. As a result our test drive was without any weight distribution or sway management. So my question is once I get these parts and am able to hook up the system will it eliminate, or lessen the sway enough to be able to pull it with this truck? I really don't want to have to get an F-250 for the small amount of time I'll be towing this trailer. Especially with the deal I can get on this F-150.

Does anyone have experience with this system or these systems generally as to how well they work?

Sorry for the long winded post. Any help much appreciated.

lynnmor
Professional RV’er

Posts: 1,695

Sway Issues Oct 30, 2016 3:24:53 GMT -5 michael79 likes this

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Post by lynnmor on Oct 30, 2016 3:24:53 GMT -5

An 8000lb toy hauler, loaded with mass in the rear, should have a hitch weight of about 1200lb. You need to weight the trailer and coupler when fully loaded. While the F150 might be rated to tow the weight, the payload is probably maxed out.

Weight distribution hitches are a good thing, but sway is usually caused by too little tongue weight, and masking the problem with sway control can lead to control issues. Get the weights and do the math first before deciding further action. Moving the weight forward might be all you need, but my guess is that you are well into F250 territory.

whitey930
Newbie RV’er

Posts: 4

Sway Issues Oct 30, 2016 8:25:41 GMT -5

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Post by whitey930 on Oct 30, 2016 8:25:41 GMT -5

thanks for this lynnmor! The tongue weight is listed at 980lbs in the brouchure. I'll be adding a 100lb generator and a second battery up front so that will help a bit. But by adding the 1500lbs of bikes in the back I'm decreasing the tongue weight even more, right? Are there actually weights you can get to increase it or will the WD set up do that anyway? Sorry, I'm a newbie at this and I appreciate you expertise.

lynnmor
Professional RV’er

Posts: 1,695

Sway Issues Oct 30, 2016 9:18:38 GMT -5

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Post by lynnmor on Oct 30, 2016 9:18:38 GMT -5

There are no weights to buy, you should adjust the personal items in the trailer as best as you can. Don't believe any specifications printed in a brochure, many are not even close. Take the trailer to a scale and get actual weights with the trailer loaded, ready for travel. Scales can be found at major truck stops, farm feed supply, stone quarries and other places.

With the bikes in the back, that will indeed reduce the tongue weight. To add to the misery, that weight mass being in the extreme rear has more ability to cause the rear to swing. Be sure that the truck tires are LT tires with an E load rating. Likewise, the cheap Chinese tires on the trailer may be very near the maximum load. All eight tires should be inflated to the maximum load on the sidewall.

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