Common Causes for 5th Wheel Trailer Sway

Updated 06/04/2018 | Published 05/30/2018

Question:

My 5th wheel pin box is at 50,truck fith wheel @ 49,when hooked the camper has a 1nose dive 40campergetting trailer sway about 60mph.what else should I look for?thank you

asked by: Matt

Helpful Expert Reply:

Trailers tow best when level and when loaded so that they have an appropriate pin weight, which for a 5th wheel trailer will be 20 to 25% of the gross (GVWR). Trailers with too little pin weight (or too little tongue weight if they are the bumper pull type) will tend to have too much weight in the rear and this can lead to sway problems.

Other common causes for trailer sway are worn tires and a worn or misaligned suspension. If for example, only one leaf spring on an axle were replaced this could cause a misalignment that could cause the sway since both ends of the axle would not react the same way to bumps. Also, trailers that have had an axle over-under kit installed, which lifts the trailer's height, can have more sway issues due to the higher center of gravity.

expert reply by: Adam R