R22 Discussion Group

From: "Lowe, Rob" <rlowe at vt.edu>

Graham,
Doing 70 downhill isn't normally bad, but in this case, the Rhodes weighs  
more than the tow vehicle and vans are notoriously light on the rear end. A 
2500  Chevy Van is a 3/4 ton truck and is plenty good for towing, just not 
enough  weight on the rear axle in this case. Electric brakes definitely 
would have  helped you as would a surge brake on the trailer in this case. A 
second trailer  axle would not have made any difference and the additional 
weight may have made  the situation worse.

Rummy

In a message dated 5/22/2013 12:29:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
gstewart8 at cogeco.ca writes:

I had a  somewhat similar severe swaying experience. I was driving down a
long hill  on a 4-lane divided highway when suddenly without any warning  I
heard  a bang and watched the trailer sway violently to the side. I thought 
I
had  been hit from behind. It then reached the end of the swing and then 
flew
to  the other side even more violently. I had heard that to pull out of such
a  situation one should accelerate. Nice theory but in practice it  simply
increased the sway. For what seemed like an eternity the vehicle  (extended
full size Chevy 2500 van) was dragged across the highway and as I  was about
to hit the shoulder the trailer would whip to the other side and  drag me
back. I watched the trailer come around almost 90 degrees to the  truck -
tires smoking and screeching. Had I hit the dirt I am sure it would  have
been a disaster. 

Fortunately the normally busy highway was  absent any other vehicles . My
family and I were shaking like leaves and  utterly terrified. This event
occurred just a few miles from home as we  headed off on our first trip with
the boat. We made our way back home and  have never towed the boat anywhere
since except to launch at the local ramp  about 5 miles down the road. That
experience is not the only reason we have  not towed significantly since 
then
and I think I now have a much better  idea of what I did wrong. If, however,
I do decide to tow on a longer trip  there are a number of things that I 
will
definitely do to address potential  sway.

At the time I sought advice from several trailer places as to  what might
have caused this event and what might have avoided it. The  advice ranged
from inflating the tires more to buying a new truck. That  wasn't very
helpful at the time although I now think both bits of advice  were probably
correct.. Here are some thoughts relating to this  event:

- Most important:  I was going too fast - about 70 mph -  and downhill. Just
because the boat seems to be following nicely does not  mean you can go
faster. Once sway starts, it acts like a sling and the  substantial weight 
of
the rig only intensifies the sway against increased  speed. Calling this
"sway" is really an understatement. The trailer will  latterly go sideways
trying to pass you and shoot back to the other side  violently and in an
instant. The momentum is enormous.
- If the sway  starts, don't accelerate! I will take my foot off the gas and
slow without  braking the vehicle
- get brakes for the trailer - electric brakes make  sense to me so that you
can apply them manually. I am undecided about  adding a second axle. One
would thing that more rubber on the road would  reduce sway but , as
discussed on this forum, that presents other  problems.
- especially for longer or more difficult terrain or where there  is traffic
pressure to go faster than 55 mph, I would install sway control  device.
- I didn't have sufficient weight on the tongue. Until the  discussion here 
a
few weeks ago I think I was still underestimating tongue  weight to be about
250 lbs. The advice from others was 450 lbs and  contained neat advice about
judging the weight using a lever and your own  weight. I will do that.
- while the truck was large and heavy, being an  extended 2500 Chevy van, it
had a long overhang at the rear that increased  the sway action. You want a
truck where the hitch is close to the rear  axle. I would worry about some
motor homes that seem to have an enormous  reach to the rear axle.
- take the motor off the back of the boat for any  significant highway speed
trips. I am thinking of trying to rig a motor  plate at the front of the
trailer for the motor.
- get the boat as far  forward as possible when retrieving it from the 
water-
although that is not  easy as the winch, in my case,  seems to pull the bow
down rather than  parallel to the trailer frame. I would want to raise the
winch  to  ensure that is pulls parallel if not up slightly.  
- Definitely I  will tie the load down - particularly at the transom.
- Check the air  pressure in the tires and adjust to the exact
specifications.
- After  this experience I would be reluctant to give control to someone who
is  inexperienced and might not appreciate the forces and potential  
problems
that are involved. They will almost always drive too fast as they  are not
used to the restrained driving speed that is  appropriate.

Graham 

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