Posted On: June 27, 2007, 7:32 am CDT

Posted By: DWT

A trailer swaying violently is usually due to 1 of 3 things.

It was loaded wrong or overloaded. A vehicle is rated for a given maximum towing weight. However even a pickup rated for 10,000 lbs. might not be able to handle that load due to the hitch that was put on the vehicle. A hitch is rated for a maximum load as well as a tongue weight. For passenger cars, the tongue weight of the trailer is usually rated for around 100 lbs. If you don't know what I am talking about when I say tongue weight, you shouldn't be renting a trailer.

Another common problem is how the weight is distributed in the trailer. Too many times I've seen the heaviest things either loaded first or last. Well put the heaviest things too far forward and your tongue wieght goes up. Put the weight too far back and you have no tongue weight. Bottom line, the weight should be distributed slightly forward of or over the wheels as much as possible.

The final reasons trailers sway is that the drivers have no idea what they are doing. Ever look at the message on the fender of a U-Haul? If not you should. You can't (well you shouldn't) be driving 70 or 80 MHP when pulling one of those trailers. Another tendacy is to brake like you do when you're not towing, and by this i am saying that you do not anticipate. When you're towing, you should break gradually and remember that you have that trailer back there.

Finally... if I have a complaint with U-Haul, it is that they will rent their trailers to anyone and that is dangerous.