[Phillip Lawrence]

I have a new 2017 Titan Pro-4X. I love the truck but had a real white knuckle experience this weekend and need some help.

The tuck bed was loaded with camping gear (Maybe 500 lbs) and I was towing a 14 foot tandem axle flat bed trailer. The trailer probably weights a 1,000 pounds empty and a had a four seater rzr on it (2,000 lbs). In total, I should have been around 3,000 lbs.

On the way out of town, I felt a little sway, but nothing crazy. I thought maybe it was just the wind. One the way home, I almost lost the whole thing. The trailer started fishtailing uncontrollably. I was able to slow down and save it, but I was very close to losing control.

To make it home, shifted the load forward adding more tongue weight and air up the tires on trailer to max. It still did not feel real solid.

I have pulled this trailer probably 20 times loaded the exact same way with a Silverado 1500 and never felt any sway.

Any recommendations?

Is it the truck? Taller suspension on Pro-4x? Taller P series tires?

Is it the trailer? Should I add sway control device? Trailer does not have brakes and I think brakes would have helped with the recovery.

Thanks in advance.

Phillip

 

[4mula1fan]

Sounds like too much weight in the rear of the trailer. Also could be loose trailer wheel bearings. The load should be heavier in front, but not way heavier. P rated tires don't help...

 

[dubyam]

P-series tires definitely don't help.

And the additional ride height will act as a lever to shift the CG back on the trailer, if you loaded it identically. To maintain the correct CG for the trailer, you'd have to move the weight forward. I'm not sure how much, but it will definitely need to be moved forward.

I suspect you're feeling the combination of moving the CG rearward and the relative lateral instability of p-series tires.

 

[bender2]

I would try using an adjustable drop down hitch. Your not pulling that much weight that would require you to utilize a WD hitch/sway bars. If you had zero issues in the past with your Chevy, the issue lies with the Titan. I'm willing to bet it's the added difference in truck height.

 

[JohnnyMac]

I agree with Bender. Get an adjustable hitch and play with varying heights to figure which one matches where your Chevy was.

 

[Phillip Lawrence]

Thank you for all the replies. I have an adjustable hitch and will try another setup. I really do not want to replace the tires on a brand new truck. I guess I should have opted for the XD.

 

[dubyam]

You can help your towing stability with those p-series if you air them up to max cold pressure before you tow. Tall p-series tires just don't have the lateral towing stability that LT-rated or heavier load range rated tires have.

 

[bender2]

Thank you for all the replies. I have an adjustable hitch and will try another setup. I really do not want to replace the tires on a brand new truck. I guess I should have opted for the XD.

Don't misunderstand me about your new Titan. Regardless if it' s the half ton or an XD. Yes, the tires don't help but that's not the underlining issue. The height adjustment/tongue weight on the hitch is the issue. The same problem can happen even with a 3/4 ton pickup if not adjusted/dialed in properly. Good luck.

 

[HRTKD]

Sway is almost always a weight issue, but some trailers seem to be prone to it. I've towed four different trailers with my '07 Titan and I've never had a sway problem. I always make sure my tongue weight is a bit on the heavy side. A weight distributing hitch with sway control would help but the underlying issue should be addressed first before throwing money at the problem.

A dual axle trailer without brakes? Really? I didn't think that was legal. I recall that the weight limit for having brakes on a single axle trailer is 3K, but I thought all dual axle trailers were required to have brakes. Heck, I have brakes on my single axle ATV trailer. Here is a picture of how I load my 1394 lb (dry) Polaris Ranger. Ignore the grumpy old man and the lousy tie-down job (it had just been delivered by the dealer to my house).

Brakes would absolutely have helped when the sway got bad. Bumping the trailer brakes brings the trailer immediately into line behind the tow vehicle.

 

[Indy]

I'm running P rated tires and have never had a sway issue. It really sounds like a trailer, weight distribution issue to me.

 

[Steamguy]

I've been towing various trailers for some 40 years and have a short checklist for you:

• Agree with the above: those passenger-rated tires do not have stiff enough sidewalls for towing. As said above, take them to max sidewall pressure, that'll help a bit.
• Trailer tongue should be level to slightly down rather than up. It has to do with how much sway can be exerted by the trailer. The higher the tongue is off level, the more sway that can be induced.
• Load should be more on the tongue of the trailer. You need 15% of the load on the tongue.
• Lighten your load in the bed. Move stuff to the trailer if you can.

And I am truly surprised that you have a tandem axle trailer without brakes.

But I hope that helps you out and you can get it all sorted.

 

[nightowl]

Why are you guys suprised a tandem axle trailer does not have brakes? I have a 18ft tandem axle flat bed with no brakes as well. Most trailer sales places down here in Louisiana offer brakes as a option but I guarantee there are more without brakes than with them.

 

[HRTKD]

Jeff, take a look at this state-by-state summary of the regulations for when brakes are required: Trailer Brakes ? AAA Digest of Motor Laws

At looks to me like most states - including LA - require brakes on a trailer that itself exceeds a weight of of 3k. Some states only require the gross weight of the trailer (highest potential loaded weight) exceed 3k before requiring brakes.

 

[Phillip Lawrence]

I lowered the hitch quite a bit and will try it again next weekend. I am also looking into adding brakes to at least one axle on the trailer.

Thanks again. I will post my results once I know something.

Phillip

 

[Indy]

I lowered the hitch quite a bit and will try it again next weekend. I am also looking into adding brakes to at least one axle on the trailer.

Thanks again. I will post my results once I know something.

Phillip

Don't think I've ever seen a setup with brakes on both axles. And any other time I could tell you off the top of my head which axle usually has the brakes but am drawing a complete freaking blank tonight.

 

[HRTKD]

Pretty sure my toy hauler (11k gross) has brakes on both axles.

 

[nightowl]

Jeff, take a look at this state-by-state summary of the regulations for when brakes are required: Trailer Brakes ? AAA Digest of Motor Laws

At looks to me like most states - including LA - require brakes on a trailer that itself exceeds a weight of of 3k. Some states only require the gross weight of the trailer (highest potential loaded weight) exceed 3k before requiring brakes.

That stuff is not enforced down here in the south. You ought to see some of the stuff I see going down the road. I tandem tow my single axle pop up camper and my single axle bass boat only the camper has brakes with total combined trailer wt of 6000lbs. It does pretty good I just stay under 55mph. :big_grin:

 

[4mula1fan]

Tandem tow? Absurd...:lol:

 

[Michael M. Mantei]

My favorite gif on explaining the importance of weight distribution.

 

[Nick Name]

My travel trailer has brakes on both axles. 30 ft long. Like bender, I've been pulling something behind for quite a few years. Never had an issue with P rated tires. Always keep trailer tires that are ST types at 65psi. I don't run SR type, but they can go higher. I run 45 psi whether in LT's or P's when towing....even my single axle utility trailer. PSI should be used to make certain you are at or above the required load rating for your set up.

Get yourself a torpedo level. That tongue should be between level with the bubble centered and just touching the bubble line closest to the trailer axles. You also want your truck to be level after it's completely loaded with gear and passengers. If either or both are out of whack, you will get a sway.