Trailer sway is one of the most unnerving experiences a driver can face. If trailer wobbles aren’t controlled quickly, they can potentially compromise your vehicle and the lives of you and your passengers. Understanding the causes of trailer sway and how to prevent them is essential for safe and stress-free journeys.
WHAT IS TRAILER SWAY?
Trailer sway is the destabilizing side-to-side motion of a towed trailer. If not managed properly, this sway can escalate rapidly, compromising vehicle stability and often flipping of the trailer and, in particularly bad instances, towing vehicle.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
Trailer sway occurs when the stability of the trailer is disrupted through driver error or external forces. Crosswinds are a common culprit for trailer sway, with sudden gusts or turbulence from large passing vehicles destabilizing the trailer. Uneven weight distribution, or too much weight over the rear can shift your trailers center of the gravity, making sway more likely. Driving behavior – such as high speed – also amplifies the risk of trailer sway, made worse by quick changes of direction, under-inflated tires, and poor connection to the tow vehicle.
HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK
Reducing trailer sway requires a range of measures:
- Pack heavy items low down and distribute weight evenly over the axles, if not more forward so that 10-15% of the trailer’s weight is over its hitch.
- Stick to moderate speeds, drive to the conditions, slow down when passing larger vehicles, and avoid sudden lane changes.
- Inspect your vehicle and trailer tires, brakes, and suspension frequently, and ensure your tyres are pumped to the correct pressure.
BUT IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU DO?
When trailer sway begins, the most important thing to not do, is panic. Whilst it may not feel right, avoid oversteering or hard braking. Instead, maintaining steady control of the steering wheel, ease off the accelerator and use an electric brake controller to apply only the trailer brakes to bring the trailer taught.
The newest edition in REDARC’s line of electric brake controllers, the Tow-Pro Link is packed with advanced features to give you the confidence to tow safely. Featuring REDARC’s new, and revolutionary SwayStop Plus™ technology, one-touch sway control is at your fingertips. Simply press and release the button on the factory paired Bluetooth USB powered remote or smartphone app, and the Tow-Pro Link activates the trailer brakes until the sway incident is resolved, allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel.
Featuring two braking modes, Everyday Mode with proportional braking, perfect on road towing, and Manual Offroad Mode for more challenging conditions such as steep descents, sand and mud, the Tow-Pro Link has you covered for every journey, regardless of the terrain, vehicle or trailer type.
Whether it’s swaying, snaking, or shaking, caravan sway is something that all caravan towers dread. Don’t underestimate the importance of driving to the conditions, correctly distributing your load, and importantly, investing in the best electric brake controller. While it may save your trailer from destruction, it may also save your life.
For more information on the Tow-Pro Link, click here.
