Normal - Expected Sway?

[tommays]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

<br /><br />this is 24 ft of top heavy with a 8'9" beam and 35' of mast <br /><br />never swayed a bit just a good trailer and the boats in the right place<br /><br />and im towing it with a small toyota duel wheel <br /><br />tommays

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

Pointer that friction bar is good for any weight. I use the very same thing on my 6500 pound travel trailer with the reese equlizer hitch. I looked at one of thse duel cam systems and if I towed across country , maybe I would consider getting one. I am like you 800 to a 1000 is hard to caugh up for something seldom used.<br /> The friction bar is the answer for poor oeople towing while working heavy cross winds and big truck drafts.<br />One draw back is when you need to back up you need to take the bar off. Which by the way is easy to do.

 

[John McFarlane]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

What's wrong with sitting on 100mph with 3000lbs of towed weight behind?<br /><br />Or for that matter, 140mph?<br /><br />Or for that matter, 5mph over the limit?<br /><br />What speed are the tyres rated for? What is the speed the trailer is rated for? Is the towing vehicle designed to tow at 75, 80, 90, 100mph?<br /><br />Just call me irresponsible, stupid, dumb, out of touch, asking for trouble, lawbreaker, etc etc etc.<br /><br /><br />This forum dumps on those posters who claim to use auto tyres on trailers, then helps find solutions to enable someone to tow more safely at illegal speeds, and even then someone who may have no idea about towing, based on the original post. Talk about hypocrisy.<br /><br />Are those respondents who are advocating solutions for our BULWARKS friend prepared to accept the responsibility for their advice if he does what has been recommended then kills a family on the highway when the solutions proffered here don't quite solve the problem?<br /><br />No, I didn't think so.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

Having a bad day John? <br /><br />Tongue weight AND the weight of the tow vehicle compared to the boat/trailer weight determines whether or not you recover from a sway. <br /><br />With a big rig, the simple truth is if you get a sway going (blowout/spring shackle snaps) at anything over 70MPH - place your head firmly between your legs, and kiss your #ss goodbye. IMO.

 

[John McFarlane]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

Dunaruna, no bad day, just dumbfounded with the responses to enable someone to more safely break the law. Is there such a situation?<br /><br />A while ago in Australia it was illegal to tow above 90kmph. This has since changes and you can now tow at the signposted speeds. <br /><br />But should you?<br /><br />Sure you can, if all appropriate and responsible conditions are met, like tyres correctly inflated (and appropriate type), trailer in good condition, ratio of towing vehicle to towed vehicle weights appropriate (brakes if required!!), tongue weight within correct tolerances, driver is suitably experienced, etc etc. The list goes on.<br /><br />But what normally happens is the driver jumps into their vehicle, which now weighs 3 ton instead of 1.5 ton, and wonders why it feels different.<br /><br />Dunaruna is right. Get into a sway at 65, or 70, or 75 with a load that does not have it's own brakes, and most times be prepared to kiss your @ss goodbye.<br /><br />But please, lets not fool anyone on this or any other forum that there is a safe way to travel at speed towing a heavy, ungainly weight behind. It will always be a gamble.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

John Mac,<br /><br />Your post makes a lot of sense to me.<br />We all have a responsibility, not just to tow at what WE think are safe speeds, but to make sure we're always in a position to keep others safe - especially if they do daft things right in our path.<br /><br />Glad you said what you did.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

John If he is going to speed woth that set up behind him. he is going to do it with or with out our help, Plain and simple.<br />I had rather tell some one how to speed with a tow in a straight line then meet him comming down the road swaying all over the d%%&&* place.<br />Its all about choice. If you want to speed then take your chance.<br />If you want to use car tires on your boat trailer then do it.<br />I did for years without incedent and finaly got trailer tires and saw how much better it pulls.<br />It was my choice though.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

John,<br /><br />The speed limit in Michigan is 70mph. But you are correct. In some cases it is better to go faster for short periods as opposed to creating traffic tie ups or a moving obstruction.<br /><br />With that said, I have to agree your point is valid.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

Bubbakat, I would invest the 60 bucks for the 4-5 trips a year over 100 miles. I think I will pick one up. Thanks for the tip!!!!<br /><br />Man I love this site.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

I tow at 100kph max - the only issue I have is B-double trucks overtaking on the freeway at 120+. Their bowwave can make the boat/trailer sway a couple of gentle oscillations (no more than a foot in total) then it all calms down again. Interestingly I've tried going a little faster which reduces the sway amplitude and slower which seems to increase it. Having experienced it 20+ times I now just ignore it and let the big rigs thunder on by. Has our friend Bulwarks (great handle. In the singular it was the name of and old Royal Navy "commando" ship I think) returned to read the responses yet?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

Hey Mark, you driving a commodore yeah? That puppy got IRS - most do these days. Makes a big difference. Great tow vehicle.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

Yep 2004 Commodore - tows really nicely with HD towbar and tranny cooler fitted - just in case.

 

[rg33]

Re: Normal - Expected Sway?

sorry, mistake