Sway and Level on Enclosed Trailer

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

joesstripclub

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Posts
427
Reaction score
519
Location
Lees Summit, MO
Ram Year
2021 2500 PW
Engine
Hemi 6.4
Looking for suggestions to help improve towing a new trailer I purchased. The trailer is a 7x14 enclosed trailer I mostly use to haul my side by side. I think I created most of the problem myself but maybe there are some accessories I can add to help fix it. I get a good amount of sway on windy days. The trailer is pretty tall so that doesn't surprise me. I think I've also made it worse by parking the SxS at the very rear of the trailer so I'm probably a little light on the tongue. SxS is about 11' long so the front wheels are at the entry door but I believe most of the weight is in the rear. The trailer sits pretty low as well. I have a 4" drop hitch that has the tongue a little high but fairly close to level. When I go camping I will load up gear in the front of the trailer to get a little more tongue weight, but would like to see if I can reduce the sway while I just have the side by side or even when the trailer is empty. I could back the SxS in, but already have etrack mounted to the floor where I have enough room to get out once in the trailer and would prefer not to redo it all. See photo below. I believe this was with SxS loaded.

20220424_164022.jpg
 

buckeyexx

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2015
Posts
677
Reaction score
704
Location
Ohio
Ram Year
2016 Power Wagon
Engine
6.4 Hemi
I think if you don’t shift some of your weight up front you not going to be able to correct your problem. You shouldn’t need a sway bar or weight distribution with that setup. Your going to have to find a way of adding weight toward the front as you said.
 
OP
OP
joesstripclub

joesstripclub

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Posts
427
Reaction score
519
Location
Lees Summit, MO
Ram Year
2021 2500 PW
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I think if you don’t shift some of your weight up front you not going to be able to correct your problem. You shouldn’t need a sway bar or weight distribution with that setup. Your going to have to find a way of adding weight toward the front as you said.
I should be under 4000 lbs total so its not a ton of weight. I thought about a 6" drop hitch but I don't want to get too low.
 

JLEONARD

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Posts
69
Reaction score
29
Location
Massachusetts
Ram Year
2018
Engine
5.7L
I have the same set up only I have an adjustable hitch. I have the trailer riding almost level, nose pitched slight down. I have 2-700lb.ATVs in it nose to tail. You don't need an anti sway hitch, your weight is too far back. Level to nose slightly down or move your side by side forward.
 
OP
OP
joesstripclub

joesstripclub

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Posts
427
Reaction score
519
Location
Lees Summit, MO
Ram Year
2021 2500 PW
Engine
Hemi 6.4
Three things come to mind. Insufficient tongue weight and P rated tires on your Ram, nose high trailer.
I'll be honest, I thought I was getting heavier duty tires than what I actually got when I bought the Michelins. I don't know what I read that made me believe that at the time.
 
OP
OP
joesstripclub

joesstripclub

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Posts
427
Reaction score
519
Location
Lees Summit, MO
Ram Year
2021 2500 PW
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I have the same set up only I have an adjustable hitch. I have the trailer riding almost level, nose pitched slight down. I have 2-700lb.ATVs in it nose to tail. You don't need an anti sway hitch, your weight is too far back. Level to nose slightly down or move your side by side forward.
I might need to try a 6" drop or just an adjustable hitch. I know the SxS isn't helping tongue weight, but it was pretty lively the other day empty on a windy day going down the highway.
 

JRS950

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2018
Posts
122
Reaction score
61
Location
All over the great USA
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Cummins 6.7L
I'll be honest, I thought I was getting heavier duty tires than what I actually got when I bought the Michelins. I don't know what I read that made me believe that at the time.
For a trailer of the size and potential weight, my recommendation would be at least "C" rated tires. D would be better. Right now get an adjustable hitch and get the nose down and I'd load the side by side up front and all the gear you can load in front. Get at least 10% tongue weight. Go to a CAT scale and get weights, both combined and solo.
 

OC455

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Posts
3,037
Reaction score
2,608
Location
Central NY
Ram Year
2018, 2019
Engine
5.7 Hemi Big Horn, 6.4L Hemi 3500 Longhorn Mega cab
Pull the SxS all the way forward and load your gear behind it. If you get the weight over your trailer axles you should be good.
 
OP
OP
joesstripclub

joesstripclub

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Posts
427
Reaction score
519
Location
Lees Summit, MO
Ram Year
2021 2500 PW
Engine
Hemi 6.4
My tires are Defender LTX with 115 load index. I cant find a direct comparison to the Load Index ratings but they are rated for almost 2700 lbs per tire. I dont think they should cause too much issue with the weight I'm hauling. Anyway, I will try moving the SxS up to the front next time I have it out and see how it hauls. Kinda messes with my trailer storage plan but its better than hauling a swaying trailer.
 

JLEONARD

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Posts
69
Reaction score
29
Location
Massachusetts
Ram Year
2018
Engine
5.7L
I wouldn't push the SXS all the way up front. You'll have too much tongue weight. Make the trailer more level, slightly nose down if not level. Adjust SXS back and forth to where your truck sits level. Then your in the ballpark. Remember the limit on the tongue is 500 lbs. Buy or borrow a tongue scale but if your truck isn't sacked out, again, your in the ballpark.
 

JLEONARD

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Posts
69
Reaction score
29
Location
Massachusetts
Ram Year
2018
Engine
5.7L
I might need to try a 6" drop or just an adjustable hitch. I know the SxS isn't helping tongue weight, but it was pretty lively the other day empty on a windy day going down the highway.
Lively empty because the nose is riding high.
 

06 Dodge

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2022
Posts
1,900
Reaction score
1,781
Location
Forest Grove, Oregon
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.7L CTD
My tires are Defender LTX with 115 load index. I cant find a direct comparison to the Load Index ratings but they are rated for almost 2700 lbs per tire. I dont think they should cause too much issue with the weight I'm hauling. Anyway, I will try moving the SxS up to the front next time I have it out and see how it hauls. Kinda messes with my trailer storage plan but its better than hauling a swaying trailer.
IIRC numbers your quoting "115" is not a load ratings, its a speed ratings for the tire, a load rating is like C, SL, XL, D, E, on the tire somewhere or they use to be... I think this URL will help: https://www.discounttire.com/learn/load-range-load-index?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&ef_id=b55fca7da648144c3398a802aeec4e91:G:s&msclkid=b55fca7da648144c3398a802aeec4e91&utm_campaign=DT|B|NB-Tires|Highly_Competitive|Phrase&utm_term=load range&utm_content=DT|NB- Tire Generic- Load Range
 
OP
OP
joesstripclub

joesstripclub

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Posts
427
Reaction score
519
Location
Lees Summit, MO
Ram Year
2021 2500 PW
Engine
Hemi 6.4
See the costco listing for the tire i attached. It has a separate speed rating of T. Unless the load rating is on the inside of the tire i dont see it anywhere on the outside.
Screenshot_20220513-195609_Chrome.jpg
 

crash68

ACME product engineer
Staff member
Administrator
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2016
Posts
10,698
Reaction score
16,705
Ram Year
2015
Engine
3.0 EcoDiesel
Agreed, going to get more drop on the hitch to start and go from there
Another reason to level the trailer is so all four trailer tires are equally loaded.
Try loading the SxS in backwards. You want to keep the load centered L/R if possible. If your having problems with sway while empty there might be something up with the trailer. I've towed an empty enclosed car hauler that probably as tall as yours in winds gusting hard enough that it would cause the truck to downshift on occasion without any sway issues.
 

buckeyexx

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2015
Posts
677
Reaction score
704
Location
Ohio
Ram Year
2016 Power Wagon
Engine
6.4 Hemi
My tires are Defender LTX with 115 load index. I cant find a direct comparison to the Load Index ratings but they are rated for almost 2700 lbs per tire. I dont think they should cause too much issue with the weight I'm hauling. Anyway, I will try moving the SxS up to the front next time I have it out and see how it hauls. Kinda messes with my trailer storage plan but its better than hauling a swaying trailer.
You have some of the best tires you can put on a truck as far as a road tire goes. The load rating on those should be perfect for what your hauling. So definitely not a tire issue in my opinion. That’s what I had on my 2500 before I switched to my Toyo at3’s.
 

dhay13

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
3,212
Reaction score
2,792
Ram Year
2018
Engine
2500 6.4L Hemi 4.10's 'Off-Road'
Factory tires should be fine but looks like your trailer is nose high in that pic. I had a 14x7 Haulmark trailer I bought new back in 2007 and towed it with my 2007 1500 Ram and had no issues. Towed it from Pittsburgh to Indy and back and it handled perfectly. I was hauling 2 racing karts (about 500lbs), stands, SS work table, tool box, spare engines and parts, generator, etc. guessing I had about 1500-2000lbs loaded in it. I had about a 6" drop hitch. No anti-sway and no WDH.
I'd agree with getting the nose lower and get the weight balanced better.
 

5150Eddie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Posts
15
Reaction score
6
Location
SE Ohio
Ram Year
2005
Engine
Diesel 5.9
Yep, too much weight in back. Level it and load SXS more towards the front. Rear-heavy box trailers will always sway otherwise.
 
Top