2020 Ford Explorer Tow Guide

[labans]

Here is what I said:
"I find it hard to believe that he had zero white knuckle experiences during that trip,"
That is just my opinion---not a fact I can prove and not a 'put down' and not a 'claim.'
Merely my opinion\observation. Maybe he never had any scary experiences!! Hooray for him and success in the future.

[Halford1]

Ya'll talk about WDH...

Weight Distribution Page 2 of Ford Explorer Towing Manual

For optimum handling and braking, the load must be properly distributed

Keep center of gravity low for best handling

Approximately 60% of the allowable cargo weight should be in the front half of the trailer and 40% in the rear (within limits of tongue load or king pin weight)

Load should be balanced from side-to-side to optimize handling and tire wear

Load must be firmly secured to help prevent shifting during cornering or braking, which could result in a sudden loss of control

Nothing is said about anti-Sway or WDH here. Just properly load stuff INSIDE the Airstream: 60% front of axle to tongue and 40% rear of axle to bumper. This precaution action prevents swaying. I have towed for 25 years without WDH and used this 60/40 loading method. Yes there are trial and error in moving stuff around until its appropriately set up for towing. This will probably only apply to Bambi 16', 19' and 20' footers.

[BayouBiker]

Indeed it applies to light trailers towed by heavy vehicles. It would be foolish to follow your advice for a 25-34' trailer. The kinematics cannot be fooled or outsmarted.

The undulations one experiences when you hook up an improperly loaded 16' to any reasonable sized vehicle is not the same as the unstable and downright dangerous white knuckle, harmonic, amplifying, sway of large heavy trailers that will ultimately roll your setup or send you off the road if the driver does not calmly and wisely act fast.

[Profxd]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

Indeed it applies to light trailers towed by heavy vehicles. It would be foolish to follow your advice for a 25-34' trailer. The kinematics cannot be fooled or outsmarted.

The undulations one experiences when you hook up an improperly loaded 16' to any reasonable sized vehicle is not the same as the unstable and downright dangerous white knuckle, harmonic, amplifying, sway of large heavy trailers that will ultimately roll your setup or send you off the road if the driver does not calmly and wisely act fast.

Proper loading and weight distribution is important to any size or weight trailer. Applying that logic to heavy RV TTs does work.

[BayouBiker]

True enough Profxd, I should have been more clear, thanks for the correction.

The logic of biasing trailer load forward of the axles is sound but the specific advice offered can give you a tongue weight of anywhere between 10 and 25% which is too imprecise for larger less forgiving arrangements. Balancing side to side and securing the load is of course good advice. Not bothering with anti-sway and weight distribution is terrible advice for larger trailers.

Trailers are most stable when the center of gravity is furthest forward of the axles. However there is a trade-off because the further away the load is from the axles the stronger are the forces the trailer exerts on the rear of the vehicle to resist cornering which increases tendency to oversteer and jackknife. 15% tongue weight is ideal, but lighter tow vehicles often can't manage that much tongue weight so they must compromise further and go lower, but never below 10%.

With large heavy trailers, the lighter your tow vehicle weight and your tongue weight, and the shorter your wheelbase, the greater is your need for anti-sway devices.

[Halford1]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

Indeed it applies to light trailers towed by heavy vehicles. It would be foolish to follow your advice for a 25-34' trailer. The kinematics cannot be fooled or outsmarted.

The undulations one experiences when you hook up an improperly loaded 16' to any reasonable sized vehicle is not the same as the unstable and downright dangerous white knuckle, harmonic, amplifying, sway of large heavy trailers that will ultimately roll your setup or send you off the road if the driver does not calmly and wisely act fast.

who said that one size fits all? You did... Not all AS have the same towing requirements.

[Halford1]

Originally Posted by profxd

proper loading and weight distribution is important to any size or weight trailer. Applying that logic to heavy rv tts does work.

very true