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RV glossary · Weights & towing limits

Sway

Also called: Trailer sway

Side-to-side movement of a trailer behind the tow vehicle, often triggered by wind, passing trucks or too little tongue weight. Sway control devices and correct loading reduce it; if it starts, ease off the accelerator and apply the trailer brakes gently using the brake controller.

Trailer sway is a side-to-side swinging motion that can become dangerous if it builds. Common causes are too little tongue weight (heavy items loaded behind the axles), gusty crosswinds, passing trucks, high speed and underinflated tires.

Prevent it by keeping tongue weight around 10–15% of trailer weight, loading heavy items low and over or slightly ahead of the axles, using a weight-distribution hitch with sway control and keeping speeds moderate. If sway starts, don’t brake hard or steer sharply: ease off the gas and apply the trailer brakes alone with the brake controller’s manual lever.

Related terms

Sway control
A device, usually part of or added to a weight-distribution hitch, that resists the trailer pivoting side to side. Types include friction bars, cam systems and integrated designs.
Hitch weight
The downward force a bumper-pull trailer puts on the tow vehicle’s hitch, typically 10–15% of the trailer’s loaded weight. Too little tongue weight can cause sway; too much can overload the truck’s rear axle and payload.
Weight-distribution hitch
A hitch with spring bars that shift some of a trailer’s tongue weight forward to the tow vehicle’s front axle and back to the trailer axles. It levels the rig and restores steering and braking. Many vehicles require one above a certain trailer weight.

More weights & towing limits terms

GVWR · UVW · Dry weight · CCC · OCCC · GCWR · GAWR · GVW

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