When you are headed down the road with a trailer in tow, you want to be sure you are keeping any trailer sway under control with proper trailer sway management equipment. If you’re experienced with towing a trailer, you have likely encountered some trailer sway in your lifetime. It can catch you off-guard and quickly get out of control if you don’t have the proper sway prevention and sway management equipment. Whether you are a novice or seasoned expert, understanding trailer sway and how to stop it is crucial before you hit the road.
What is Trailer Sway?
Trailer sway, sometimes referred to as “fishtailing,” occurs when you are towing a trailer down the road and a force of some kind, usually wind or uneven road conditions, causes the trailer to begin swaying side to side. If you are traveling at a high enough speed, the trailer may gain enough momentum that it can cause you to lose control, and it could even tip your vehicle over. It is not something to take lightly or to assume it won’t happen to you. Even some of the most skilled drivers may experience trailer sway when they least expect it, so you should know what to do when trailer sway starts and better yet, how to prevent it.
How to Manage Trailer Sway
You can take some preventative measures before you hit the road, and while you are driving, to minimize the chances you will experience trailer sway. Avoid overloading your trailer by checking the maximum weight rating and staying within it. Keep the overall trailer weight and tongue weight in mind, along with your vehicle’s tow rating. Avoid sudden movement when traveling down the road. If you slam on your brakes, let off the throttle suddenly, or overcorrect your steering, you’re asking for trouble. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and keep a slow and steady speed throughout.
Install a Weight Distribution Hitch
Sometimes you can do everything right to prevent trailer sway from happening, but you can’t control big gusts of wind, passing semis, or bad road conditions from knocking your trailer off-center. That is why it is essential to install a weight distribution hitch to manage trailer sway such as a SwayPro weight distributing hitch, to keep your trailer under control.
TrackPro Trailer Sway Management
TrackPro provides two time-tested technologies; trailer sway prevention and friction sway control. It provides a system to manage sway under all driving conditions and offers built-in Soft Ride Technology. It uses spring bars mounted into L-Brackets to control the spring bars’ movement with friction in response to road surfaces, wind, etc. There is caster build into the hitch head. The trailer sway control is delivered by two points of friction in the L-brackets that work continuously to keep the trailer in line with the tow vehicle. Tapered spring bars augment the suspension of the trailer and tow vehicle to give you a superior ride.
Put Your Safety First with TrackPro
TrackPro by Blue Ox is a superior piece of equipment to help you and your trailer get to your destination safely. TrackPro has three models with tongue weight capacities ranging from 800 to 1,300 pounds. It is easy to install and allows you to back up without needing to disconnect so that you will save time and energy. Purchase a TrackPro trailer sway control and sway management system today on the Blue Ox website.
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