Trailer sway video

rmoor · Senior Member

Trailer sway video

peter67 · Guru

Informative vid tho I think they start out with the weights wrong, bearing in mind that the caravan/trailer should NEVER weigh more than the tow vehicle.

Model car is 1000gms, model trailer is 1000gms THEN they ADD 3x300gm batteries as ballast/load. The trailer now weighs 1900gms but the tow vehicle only weighs 1000gms.

Are We Lost · Guru

Yes, a useful video. Weights are exaggerated resulting in exaggerated results, but the principles are clearly demonstrated.

Where he lost points in my opinion was at the 9:30 point when he advocated heavier tow vehicles. That part is good but he included Land Cruisers and Rams in "Those are the best vehicles for towing heavy trailers". Without mentioning models, saying a Ram is "even better than .... a Y62" clearly disregards the limited payload of these vehicles (although text on the screen refers to the lack of payload).

To answer Moor's question about what to do if sway begins. Apply the van brakes ONLY. By applying the van brakes without the tow vehicle brakes, the van is then pulling from behind to help the tow vehicle point straight down the road again. As shown in the video, reducing speed reduces sway.

Normally, the tow vehicle brakes work harder than the van brakes. So applying the brakes with the foot pedal will still have the van pushing the tow vehicle. If the vehicle is not pointing straight ahead, that push from behind tends to exaggerate the sway. So although slowing is good, it is better not to touch the vehicle brakes.

I like to have the brake controller button easily accessible, and able to be operated by the passenger. As a passenger I found this useful when a first time tower swerved to miss something on the road. Being able to press that button in an instant stopped any sway before it became an issue.

Dick0 · Guru

A lot of generalization, in my humble opinion.

I would like to see a more common and proportional Australian vehicle weights and loadings. Something like 3000g vehicle and 2500g van.

Then redistribute the weights accordingly to show sway effects at varying speeds.

jegog · Senior Member

The problems with this demo is that by anchoring by the front of the vehicle its drastically changes the behaviour of the vehicle when the trailer is deflected sideways.
And it doesn't take into account the vehicles inbuilt stability control.
In my opinion this is a good argument for Electronic Sway Control.
The Dexter ESC senses when sway begins and then brakes the appropriate van wheel group to stop it.
It does not interfere with the vehicle's stability control.