Pulled to the left when being passed by Big Rigs

[1L243]

I'm towing 10,000 bumper pull Toy Hauler. I'm under my Gross weight in both the truck and Toy Hauler.. My TW is 1440 pounds including the hitch.

My trailer sits level when being towed. But everytime I'm passed by a big rig or a big box truck I get sucked over.

Is there anything I can do to deal with this or is it just then nature of the beast!

[dedmiston]

ProjectMon wrote:

dedmiston wrote:
How and why on Earth did this thread from last August come back alive?

Just went and looked at the dates, and it appears I did it. The answer is simple. The thread popped up under the newest threads page for me. It also appears as if a lot of people like the topic, so I am glad I dug it up (albeit mistakenly) from the dead. 🙂

It happens. 🙂

[ProjectMon]

dedmiston wrote:
How and why on Earth did this thread from last August come back alive?

Just went and looked at the dates, and it appears I did it. The answer is simple. The thread popped up under the newest threads page for me. It also appears as if a lot of people like the topic, so I am glad I dug it up (albeit mistakenly) from the dead. 🙂

[Dtank]

Ray,IN wrote:
I was taught this back about 1960. When a large vehicle is about to pass, maintain a steady speed while gently and manually applying the trailer brakes. This pulls your rig into a straight line and greatly reduces trailer sway.

Towed TTs for many years. Simple anti sway bar helped a lot (Hensley was not for me) - AND -
I also always did the above....and/or a moment of acceleration to pull your rig into a straight line.

Keep track (reg glances in the mirror) to see what is approaching in the adjoining lane to accomplish the above....timing is everything - but not difficult.

:W

.

[Mike134]

dedmiston wrote:
How and why on Earth did this thread from last August come back alive?

If you don't want that to happen, you should close every thread after X number of days.

Then watch the membership drift away.

[pianotuna]

Ray,IN wrote:
You may waste your money on air tabs if you wish; a large trucking company did wind tunnel testing and proved they are not worth the investment.

My air tabs work well.

1. much less noise inside the class C
2. lowered impact of trucks in oncoming traffic
3. much improved mileage when there is a tail wind.

They don't save fuel except in the tail wind situation.

[dedmiston]

How and why on Earth did this thread from last August come back alive?

[StirCrazy]

move to the right a bit more as they pass or get a 5th wheel for your next unit, the second option is what I did, stil get a little pull but it is way diffeent of a feeling and wind gusting is a lot better also.

[Ray_IN]

I was taught this back about 1960. When a large vehicle is about to pass, maintain a steady speed while gently and manually applying the trailer brakes. This pulls your rig into a straight line and greatly reduces trailer sway.
This also works to reduce/eliminate trailer sway from other sources.

You may waste your money on air tabs if you wish; a large trucking company did wind tunnel testing and proved they are not worth the investment.

[Mike134]

JaxDad wrote:

1L243 wrote:
Is there anything I can do to deal with this or is it just then nature of the beast!

Space is your friend. Just a slight increase in the distance between you and the truck makes a huge difference in the effect the bow wave has on you.

Slowly move over to the extreme right edge of your lane and you will see a very noticeable reduction in the impact on your rig.

I didn't read all 4 pages but this is the best fix!!

It is truly amazing if you move 1 foot to the right what an impact it will have.

[JRscooby]

willald wrote:

4. Speed up some, so speed difference isn't as much

2 points on the speed up;
First, the faster you are going the less likely you are to maintain control when fhit sits hhe tan.
Second, if you are going close to the speed of the truck it will push less, but what push you get will last longer.

[willald]

Lots of good suggestions so far, all of which will help. However, as already said, you'll never do away with this completely. Is the nature of the beast when towing a large trailer with long, flat sides.

I would put the things you can do to help this, in this order. First ones being the most effective (and most expensive):

1. Get a Hensley or Propride hitch
2. Install air tabs on back of the trailer.
3. Leave as much space as you can between you and the big trucks
4. Speed up some, so speed difference isn't as much

[JaxDad]

1L243 wrote:
Is there anything I can do to deal with this or is it just then nature of the beast!

Space is your friend. Just a slight increase in the distance between you and the truck makes a huge difference in the effect the bow wave has on you.

Slowly move over to the extreme right edge of your lane and you will see a very noticeable reduction in the impact on your rig.

[ProjectMon]

1L243 you have a very capable tow vehicle, so likely your question really revolves around comfort. I have a newer RAM 1500 with the coil rear springs, and its backside is a bit more squishy than I like. So I did most of the intelligent things mentioned in this thread, including working my way through three different anti-sway weight distribution hitches. I ended up with a Propride hitch, and it reduced the overall sideways movement to something I was comfortable with.

[Grit_dog]

So we have people who believe highways have 9’ wide lanes?
I’ve designed, built, paved, widened and just generally worked on a lot of divided highways and 2 lanes in many states and aside from the occasional marked, narrow, stretches including construction zones never seen a standard lane less than 12’ wide. Even most freeway narrow const zones are still 11’ min.
So for those that aren’t spatially adept, the roads are wider than you think.

Although I feel I still would know this even if I weren’t an engineer and road builder.