Speed Towing on the Ball F350

[Ray Eklund]

My Equalizer Shank and Ball I set at FIVE Washers to angle the Ball. Just seems to work. Grease the Ball, well, and the wear appears to be evenly distributed.

Also from photos made in 2021 how it is set up. I do not use the 1000# bars the Dealer set me up with. They may have used THREE Washers and I cannot say how the Ball was set onto the Shank at that time. I was sold 1000# bars for the 27FBQ to prevent Sway and Weight Distribution.

I do not recall the date when I went 100% towing on the Ball. I will try to figure that out. I had reduced the WD bars to ZERO pressure on the L Bars for awhile as I worked out this... one step at a time. So Far... no sway with bars, with bars just attached or without bars. Any speed. So what speed becomes a Sway Issue?

I needed... neither apparently. So... What Speed Does Sway Begin and what speed does Sway quit?

Photos of towing the 2019 Oliver Elite II and the 2019 27FBQ. One with Sway Control and Weight Distribution. The other... On the Ball.

No Sway at any speed. Trust me. Drive I-25 north of Casper, Wyoming or Highway 191 East of Flaming Gorge in Wyoming. The strongest Cross Winds in the entire... well... they will blow your hat away.

What Speed does Sway occur? Tell me. I would like to know. Maybe 20mph? Maybe 60mph. Maybe 80mph? 100mph? Where are the Experts of Sway Control figures when Sway becomes an issue, if at all?

Think about it. Sway begins at what Speed. Does it vary from Airstream length and different with Tow Vehicle choices?

[Andy543]

The speed at which a trailer starts to sway depends on the geometry of the rig, the loading and the centers of gravity, and on the tire stiffness. If done right, there wont be any sway at highway speeds. The world record trailer tow speed is 142 MPH. There was no sway and no sway control hitch was used.

[Profxd]

Just to word it in a different way from above. The critical speed at which sway will occur is dependent upon the parameters and loading condition of both the tow vehicle and the trailer. Staying within mfg limits is a given then proper loading is the absolute #1 way to control sway at any reasonable speed. Sway control on a WD hitch is nothing more then a bandaid.

[Ray Eklund]

Warning Message:
Caution! Most advice given here is nothing more than a subjective opinion. Please reference the vehicles owner manual for instruction on towing and hitch use which is based on physics, facts, and research.

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I also find this very appropriate for myself. Read but you are at risk if you do not understand the physics of tow vehicle, travel trailer, hitch choice and settings. Do not attempt to do anything that contradicts the Service Department you have chosen. I am a Neanderthal. Not a #1 Airstream Mechanic or #1 Salesman.
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Andy543 and Profxd are competent and understand. We also have our limits and understand how loading and towing experience factor in safe travel.

After trying to assimilate among other Travel Trailer owners, it is obvious to me that some travel tailer owners, have unsatisfactory judgement of their choices being made. Competence is not taught in a book, reading texts on a Forum or a magazine article.

It is done by experience, testing and making different choices. Risk always exists, more for some. Less for others. But always exists depending on a situation that takes seconds of quick decisions.

The 'learning curve' for some does not exist. They are prone to accidents that cannot be explained or find blame onto someone else. You take your own risks and if it works, that is your choice.

Tire Pressures are discussed ad nauseam: Repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome.

Hitch Settings... ad nauseam. What is THE correct Hitch and Settings?

Tow Vehicle and Travel Tailer combination... ad nauseam.

Since this is a New Year I Renounce ALL of MY Suggestions since 2006. They are my opinions and argued and debated Ad Nauseam.

YOU are your own risk as it is in your best interest to be safe. Profxd... you and I now in 100% complete agreement. Andy543, ditto.

If you take MY Advice without knowing me or my showing you my changes to my Airstream towing and upgrades: DON'T even touch the PSI in your tires.

Free advice is only worth what you paid for it. Nothing. Zero... Zip.

I am done trying to add some depth in choices. I quit as of this sentence.....

There are many towing travel trailers that have no clue.

[FMSports]

Good question as...
Speed increases the "gain", energy or force available to cause oscillation or sway.

Just spit-balling here: We are trying to control the TT with the TV. If we hit unity gain K=1.0 the output (TV) feeds-back into input (TT), creating an unstable loop.

K = Speed * (TT weight cog + TT Axle alignment + TT Aerodynamics)

You need to have something amiss with your weight, axles or wind loading to kick off the cycle at speed = X MPH

This is the problem I have with SOB's they sit too high on underdamped springs, the aero load is too high and behind the axles, and the TW is quite low too. What are these guys thinking?

Airstreams have low COG, axles are good, and aerodynamics seem to be very stable.

I wouldn't install a lift kit. Keep weight low. High TW is a good thing as it counterbalances aero-load behind the TT axles. And keep a check on speed. We went up to 75MPH but cruise at 60-65.

Hitch friction bars lower that loop gain, but man they impact handling on turns, making the truck want to go straight

[Ndcctrucks]

Round trip from Southern California to Juneau, Alaska via Banff and then Vancouver; 2004 International CCD loaded to approximately 6,000 pounds.

TV’s: SoCal to Spokane 1973 Dodge W200, then 2019 RAM 1500 crew cab; 4 adults plus generator, tools, two extra spare tires, 30 gallons of gas & water.

Ball only!

Mountain grades, wind, storms, nutball drivers.

The only instance of sway was near Whitehorse with heavy gusting cross-winds; and only above 55 mph. Completely stable at 50 mph until we got past the storm.

BUT:


Equalizers seem to be causing damage to Airstreams both to frames and frame-body joints.

Make your own decision, but beware those people who will tell you that it is all but illegal to pull without the towing accessories which are not actually sold with the trailer by the dealers. Huh.

[Daquenzer]

Most pickup manuals state the maximum hitch ball weight without a weight distribution hitch. I guess I would start there to see if I'm within the specs.

[FMSports]

We've been discussing the issue of (how bad) OEM shocks are for trucks. That certainly plays into the sway & control problem.

In track-car setups there's nothing wrong with balanced weight distribution. However, I can hear the trailer frame creaking under the stress of the bars.

And the part I don't like, as I mentioned above, is turn-in on highway curves. The truck wants to stay straight due to the hitch friction. Then it breaks loose at that joint and the rig starts the turn proper, which is weird handling.

I backed off my Equalizer bar pin bolts, greased it, and have the plastic pads so it is a bit better.

If on snowy roads, lookout - the front wheels might not have enough grip to break that friction sway control. So def worth backing off under those conditions.