Help with Towing

BigDawg99 · #1 07-13-2008, 11:23 AM

i got a 2004 F-150 Fx4 and i just bought a 31 foot Jayco Eagle Travel Trailer..i got the full hitch with stabilizer bars..I need help with some questions i may have..

when i was bringing the trailer home,,when i would reach speeds of 80km the trailer would start swaying..i dont have the electronic braking installed on my truck yet and my friend said that would be the reason why its swaying..would it really cause the truck to sway or is my F150 not capable of towing this travel trailer..

Colorado Osprey · #2 07-13-2008, 12:03 PM

Having brakes not connected will not cause the trailer to sway.
Having the ability to tap the trailer brakes can stop the sway.

It sounds like the trailer is either out of balance ....or..... you may have a tire pressure that is off on one side... or... mis-matched tires or tire size .... or.... a brake dragging... or ... a bearing going bad...... or a bearing that is dry.

Obviously there are a few things that can cause a trailer to sway.
Neither having too small of a tow vehicle and/or not having brakes connected are not the fault.

BigDawg99 · #3 07-13-2008, 11:59 PM

Thanks CO..i am taking it into the shop this week and get everything checked out..i just tought my truck would be too small to haul a rig like that..thanks once again,,,

Red4 · #4 07-14-2008, 12:30 PM

All great reasons posted above by Colorado Osprey - but I just need to tell you how incredibly risky it is to be towing that big of a trailer without the trailer brakes being hooked up. For your safety and everyone elses on the road, please get those hooked up before you go anywhere else.

kingfish51 · #5 07-14-2008, 01:10 PM

Plus the fact he will be over his max, both in GCWR and tow rating. The GVWR of that trailer is 9500lbs.

BigDawg99 · #6 07-14-2008, 01:23 PM

i am getting the electronic braking installed tommorrow..its all wire up just need to get the actual box...its a big trailer so this fall im upgrading to a F250..thanks for all the great answers...

Pete

scott1981 · #7 07-14-2008, 02:15 PM

Might want to change out all your fluids and install a nice aftermarket trans cooler. Pulling that much weight is going to really heat up the trans.

BigDawg99 · #8 07-14-2008, 06:49 PM

its got a trans cooler on there..the guy i bought it from used to haul stuff all the time..Truck is going for a full check up tommorrow..Oil change,,New Plugs,New Wires,,the works...

FX4Matt-06 · #9 08-25-2008, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDawg99

its got a trans cooler on there..the guy i bought it from used to haul stuff all the time..Truck is going for a full check up tommorrow..Oil change,,New Plugs,New Wires,,the works...

Thats always good and it will be a great start