Is there much trailer swaying when pulling a PUP?

[6fordaroad]

You need to check your loaded tongue weight. It should be over 500#. If it isn't, that will cause sway.  Also, be sure that the trailer is level when towing. If the front is just 1" higher than the rear, it will sway.

That's a nice PU. It's a lot of trailer for your '02 Explorer.

It is a lot for my TV but it handles it all amazingly well, including all 4 kids, a dog and all the junk for travelling 900 miles one way!

Haven't checked my loaded tongue weight, but we don't typically have it fully loaded.  All we keep in the storage box for travel is 5 chairs, 2 cases of water, a case of soda, 3 boxes of capri sun, and all the hardware, chalks, crank handles, crank wired remote, very small tool kit and a mid sized bottle of bleach.  Then inside I keep all of our bedding, a very light television and 2 days worth of dry goods, and 2 20 qt storage bins, one with clothes, and one with personal hygiene/first aid stuff.  We do our cold food shopping in wherever we are staying, if needed.

Then of course we also have our deep cycle marine battery, and 2, 20# propane tanks.  But my Explorer, I should tell you, is the V8 model of the Explorer, rated at 5500 lbs towing capacity.  So we are right there.  I'd like a bigger TV... you wanna buy me one?? lol

[austinado16]

Ahhhh......thanks for the explanation guys.  Man, that is one HUGE camper!

[6fordaroad]

Ahhhh......thanks for the explanation guys.  Man, that is one HUGE camper!

LOL!!!  It has to be, we are a family of 6 plus a large 4-legged baby. And we REALLY don't like being on top of each other.

[camping nuts]

I remember bringing our Jayco 1006 home for the first time. We had to use I-80 to get home. I cringed the first time I saw a semi gaining on us, knowing he was going to pass us. I thought for sure the semi going by us would blow us around. I was very surprised that the semi going by made little affect on our Windstar and Jayco. I have found with the 700 miles towing our Jayco that it is very stable behind our Windstar. We have P215/70R15 tires on the Windstar so "P" series tires can be OK as long as other factors like wheelbase, weight distribution, and trailer design don't make the rig susceptible to sway.

[chinacat]

This is only my second season with the pup. The first year we had really bad problems with sway. Just installed a friction sway bar today and WOW what a difference.

[harleywolf]

I had the same questions when we bought our Pup last season. I pull a very large unit with a small TV. The Jeep XJ is short and narrow and light. Our Pup is close to 4000# when loaded. Sway was a major issue. I set it up with high performance brakes in the front, this weight distribution hitch made for Pups http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/products/Single_Arm_Weight_Distribution_Hitch_Kit_for_A_Frame_Trailers,3205 friction sway control and a tranny cooler. I pulled once w/o the wdh while it was on order and would never do it again. Next to come is a larger alternator and high performance shocks.

For anyone pulling a large Pup with a small SUV, van or truck I highly recommend the hitch. It

[spicyville1]

Wavery's definately got the right answers to this question.  Set it up as he suggests and take it for a spin.

Interesting about your Jeep Dave.  Is it possible that it had "P" rated passenger car sized tires on it, rather than the "LT" light truck rated tires?  Reason I ask is because when I bought my Suburban a few years ago, the PO's had put "P" rated tires on it.  It was like driving on marshmellows, and it was literally all over the road.  I replaced those rags with "LT" rated tires and it was transformed into a truck again.  I've seen people putting "P" rated tires on Vanagons and that makes for a scary ride as well, especially in a crosswind!

That is what I was going to say. The tires deffinatly have a huge effect on how a TV reacts. Thicker the sidewall the better.