Do I need a WD hitch?

[J. Morgan]

The idea is to get the sway under control before the oscillations get so violent.

By the time that trailer is visible in the drivers window the last thing you want is MORE SPEED.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

The idea is to get the sway under control before the oscillations get so violent.

By the time that trailer is visible in the drivers window the last thing you want is MORE SPEED.

Very true...that guy in the video was so screwed by the third or fourth wag, that there probably wasn't any way out. Understand, when I said "moderately accelerate" with the trailer brakes applied, I am not talking about increasing speed. I am talking about increasing tension on the "string". More like matching the braking of the trailer.

[J. Morgan]

If the guy in the video had started slowing as soon as the trailer started swaying, would it have ended the same way?

In my estimation, it does not appear to me that he slowed until the trailer was way out of shape. He wasted the time that might have made the difference between a wreck and an "oh shot" moment.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

If the guy in the video had started slowing as soon as the trailer started swaying, would it have ended the same way?

In my estimation, it does not appear to me that he slowed until the trailer was way out of shape. He wasted the time that might have made the difference between a wreck and an "oh shot" moment.

Don't know...have never been in a sway that was more than one or two small events...just enough for me get the alarm signal in my head....probably no more than a wind gust. That was with my SOB, WD applied and a friction sway bar. But, I agree, reducing wasted time at inception is key.

[J. Morgan]

Last summer after I completed my first trailer build I immediately hooked up my trailer and started a two thousand mile round trip.....

I learned a few things from the trip, first.... Don't make the rear of the trailer too heavy,,,,, second, sway is closely tied to speed. Third, when trying to get this under control there is only time to do so much, plus, I think having a foot already on the brake pedal is a good thing if things go worse.

It may be that speeding up is the right thing to do , but I drove this whole trip never accelerating out of a sway event. I just wanted to be going slower...

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Last summer after I completed my first trailer build I immediately hooked up my trailer and started a two thousand mile round trip.....

I learned a few things from the trip, first.... Don't make the rear of the trailer too heavy,,,,, second, sway is closely tied to speed. Third, when trying to get this under control there is only time to do so much, plus, I think having a foot already on the brake pedal is a good thing if things go worse.

It may be that speeding up is the right thing to do , but I drove this whole trip never accelerating out of a sway event. I just wanted to be going slower...

We are not in disagreement...and much of it is situational, and instinct comes into play.

The only event I can share, and I don't know how it comes into play with a strict definition of sway went this way:

1972 Venture pop-up, no brakes, heavy by today's standards; 1500# dry ~2000 loaded with bikes and all gear. Friction bar sway control, no WD.

Towed by Astro with 3 channel ABS, no ESC, nor stability control (not invented yet)

I75 in MI, bumper to bumper at 65 mph.

A multi-car pileup ensued less than 100 yards in front of me and I had no choice but to hit the brakes hard (abs activated). The camper pushed HARD and caused an out of line condition. By this time, I am headed to the shoulder, not as an evasive maneuver, but as a "keep it straight" effort, not over steering the situation. I was headed right to a car which was still in motion, but broadside to me, sliding into the grass. I saw my opening in the carnage and punched the accelerator. I straightened out and ran out of the rest of the still in motion wreckage.

Skill? maybe. Luck? maybe. Does it relate to sway reaction, I don't know.

[dannydimitt]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Tell me why accelerating AND applying the trailer brakes isn't like pulling both ends of the string at the same time. I'm trying to understand this, and there are many slight variations of the same methodology expressed above. Why is it different to not pull from the front while dragging the rear?

it would be the same except forward speed needs to be reduced immediately by the use of the trailer brakes

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by dannydimitt

it would be the same except forward speed needs to be reduced immediately by the use of the trailer brakes

That's pretty much my position, post #62

[J. Morgan]

You are right about it being situational... There are very few instances where there is a single right answer.

"improvise, adapt, overcome".

[dznf0g]

Yeah, but it would be really nice to have a game for the son's X-box to simulate this with his steering wheel and pedal accessories!

[J. Morgan]

That would be cool!!

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Last summer after I completed my first trailer build I immediately hooked up my trailer and started a two thousand mile round trip.....

I learned a few things from the trip, first.... Don't make the rear of the trailer too heavy,,,,, second, sway is closely tied to speed. Third, when trying to get this under control there is only time to do so much, plus, I think having a foot already on the brake pedal is a good thing if things go worse.

It may be that speeding up is the right thing to do , but I drove this whole trip never accelerating out of a sway event. I just wanted to be going slower...

I think what you say here is really important. Barring any sudden event, like an accident, oil spill, mechanical failure, or weather event, you have to recognize when things just don't feel right at speed. For, me, it feels like riding just on the envelope (where race drivers live) where any small thing puts you in a handling problem.

In that case...slow down before something happens and check why that little voice in your head (who is always right, it seems) is nagging at you.

[dannydimitt]

at least practice applying the trailer brakes in your own vehicle while moving until it becomes as comfortable as stepping on the brake pedal .

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by dannydimitt

at least practice applying the trailer brakes in your own vehicle while moving until it becomes as comfortable as stepping on the brake pedal .

Done that....and I would say the tendency in an emergency situation is to fully apply them. Until you know the feel of hand application, skidding will probably be the result. And that probably isn't good either.

For my setup, I think no more than half depression of the trigger is where I'd like to be if the situation ever arises. But, everyone's setup is different, so yes, practice as best you can.

[youngpeck]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

In that case...slow down before something happens and check why that little voice in your head (who is always right, it seems) is nagging at you.

Couldn't have said it better!

[J. Morgan]

I know why my first trip was filled with sway.....

I built the back of my trailer too heavy... I remodeled my remodel and everything is cool now.

[mhilley]

I have posted this before but I would like to post it again. My wife and I had a 20 Safari with a 2008 4runner TV. (Questionable combo now that I look back). We towed the Safari many, many miles. One day a speeding tanker truck came over in our lane and his right rear wheels bumped the trailer. The trailer started swaying. Eventually the car and trailer both went over a full revolution. If you think you can reach down and activate your trailer brake controller I wish you luck. Both trailer and car were destroyed. My wife was physically uninjured and I spent the next month in the hospital. The truck was a hit and run. Later in the box of stuff (only one box was left!) from the trailer I found two sway bar brakes. Both had one end broken off. I don't know if this happened before, during, or after the accident but I no longer have any faith in that type of bar. We have a HAHA now and wouldn't change it with anything.

[J. Morgan]

Ok, I thank you for the post, sincerely, that is a manner of sway getting started that I never really thought about much.

But, I really want to know what a HAHA is.

[xrvr]

Speed kills. Jim

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Ok, I thank you for the post, sincerely, that is a manner of sway getting started that I never really thought about much.

But, I really want to know what a HAHA is.

HAHA = Hensley Arrow

PP = Propride

PPP = pivot point projection, the operating principle of HAHA and PP