Getting away from the stress of everyday life by going on a relaxing holiday or camping trip in a travel trailer can make a world of difference. There’s no better way to do it than with your own recreational vehicle. However, these campers have some unique challenges when it comes to towing them, and one of those is trailer sway.
Few things make your heart stutter like a tilting travel trailer. This may lead to expensive damages or even a dangerous accident. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent this, and knowing what to do in an emergency can prevent a tilt from turning into a crash.
Lower Chances of Sway
The best way to control travel trailer sway is to prevent it from happening. The most important step in this process is to check your camper before you leave. Different maintenance problems, such as improper tire inflation, low tire tread, and brake issues, can result in travel trailer sway. If you identify any of these things, get in touch with our service department to ensure a safe and enjoyable traveling experience.
The next step is to make sure that you load your cargo correctly, which means staying within the weight limits of your tow vehicle, the hitch, and the weight limit of your travel trailer itself. Remember never to exceed them under any circumstances as these restrictions are there to keep you and those around you safe. Too much weight can increase the risk of sway, and even cause other safety hazards.
Last but not least, keep weight distribution in mind. Secure the cargo firmly in place and distribute the weight equally from one side to another and from front to rear. This can significantly decrease the chances of trailer sway, and as an added advantage, this will help enhance fuel efficiency and is beneficial for the health of your tires.
Handling Trailer Sway
Despite taking appropriate measures, there’s always the chance that travel trailer sway will occur. In such a case, stay calm and avoid slamming on the brakes. It’s far safer to instead gradually decrease your speed. This will help keep you in control and avoid adding to the confusion. Next, try your best to drive in a straight line, so long as it’s safe. If your tow vehicle is traveling in a straight line, your travel trailer is also more likely to follow a straight line.
High winds or other road conditions can cause travel sway, so it’s good to know when it’s time to pause and wait out the weather. Try to get to a safe shoulder or rest stop and wait it out if your safety or the safety of other motorists seems at risk.
We hope that this brief guide will help prevent your travel trailer from tipping over. If you have any questions or are interested in checking out our selection of travel trailers for sale in Summerdale, Alabama, visit White Sands RV today! We welcome all our patrons visiting us from Mobile, AL, and Pensacola, FL.
