Troubleshooting Sway With An Enclosed Car Hauler Trailer

Updated 09/19/2023 | Published 09/18/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Shocker Hitch HD Air Cushioned 2-Ball Mount - 2-1/2" Hitch - 4-1/2" Drop - 20K

(15)

$749.99

Tuson Trailer Sway Control System - Electronic - Up to 4 Axles

(44)

$492.94

Question:

good afternoon, interesting problem. just got a 24 foot enclosed car trailer, went on a trip , had to move car three times to get it to tow at speed on interestate. once i got car set, towed fine. truck was loaded with approximately 1000 lb.. no problem with control/sway of trailer on 600 mile trip, towed good. so now i unloaded truck, and trailer does not tow as well. have excess sway. Question , electronic sway control or hitch sway control system ? Truck: 2020 RAM , full tow package and 35 heavy springs. thanks you.

asked by: James A

Expert Reply:

Unloading the bed of your truck changed your tongue weight so you would just need to shift the weight in the trailer forward a bit to get the tongue weight back and prevent the swaying you're experiencing. Electric sway control will typically just cook your brakes so it's not really the best option but would be a last resort if you can't use a weight distribution hitch. Enclosed car hauler trailers typically either have a very short tongue, making it impossible to install a WDH, or will have an aluminum tongue/frame and can't use WDH.

You'll want to load the trailer and measure the tongue weight using a scale like part # e99044. It's best choose a WDH where your measured tongue weight comes in around the middle of the hitch's tongue weight range. Once we know what yours is we can look at the available options in this weight class and then measure the bracket placement to see which would work with your trailer's tongue.

If you have an aluminum frame then you'd have to use a electronic sway control system like the Tuson Asymmetric Sway Control # 335TSC-1000 .

expert reply by: Kevin C