Fish Tail ????

[clawspawn]

I have a STAR CRAFT 1701. If I dont just drive the thing it fish tails like crazy. Ive pulled lots of trailers big ones little ones never had a problem with fish tailing. Anyone have any ideas I hope it's not my driving. Thanks for any help JEFF.

[WolfPack]

Check your tire psi you might have a low tire. and you might went to check on getting a sway bar to help with the sway.

[clawspawn]

I have just put on new tires havent been on the highway since then. But I was running about 50PSI before. The old tires were dryrotted but the tread was in good shape.

[mike4947]

Make sure the pressure in the tires is the maximum listed on the tire sidewall. ST trailer tires only like to be run at that pressure.
The "fishtailing" is called sway and while tires can cause it the more likely problem is weight ditribution. The trailer tongue needs to have a minimum of 10% of the total trailer weight on the tongue for the trailer to track correctly.
First step? Get the trailer to a scale and get the weight and tongue weight.

[austinado16]

Mike's got you covered with that advice.  I'd ad to that, make sure the trailer sits level or just slightly nose down when it's hooked to your tow vehicle. If it's sitting nose up, it'll definately wag back and forth.

I'd also have suggested you take a look at the type/quality/air pressure in the tow vehicle tires, along with the condition of the rear shocks, size of the tow vehicle, etc.  But you mention that you tow other stuff alot, so I'm sure you've got that all dialed in.

[campdaddy]

I would recommend that you check your balance. The ratio of weight on the tongue verses the weight on the rear of the camper. My Rockwood would track like an arrow, never had a problem with sway or fishtailing, until that is the one time I had more weight in the rear than in the front. Actually there wasn't more on the rear, there was still more on the front but it was lighter than normal on the tongue. It about got away from me at one point and I never did that again. So, from my experience, I recommend you check that. Normally the tongue weight should be something like 10 to 15 percent of the total trailer weight. If it's not, it WILL effect handling.

[PattieAM]

Your tires are your leading cause, and weight distribution within the camper could be your second cause.  Are you hauling water?  If so, that can cause sway as it sloshes around.  As Mike mentioned, your tongue weight plays an important part in towing/sway.

[wavery]

Your tires are your leading cause, and weight distribution within the camper could be your second cause.  Are you hauling water?  If so, that can cause sway as it sloshes around.  As Mike mentioned, your tongue weight plays an important part in towing/sway.

Nope.......tongue weight is the most common cause of trailer sway. As stated before, should be 10-15% of total trailer weight (loaded). Tongue height would be next (as stated before). If the tongue is higher than the rear, it will sway.

[garym053]

My vote also goes to tongue weight!
When we failed to load anything in the front storage area of our camper, instead loading most in the back of our TV, we suffered from extreme sway!

Since then we've made a concerted effort to load the fron storage area first to try to get to the 10 to 15% range and have had no problrm since

[clawspawn]

OK you got me there I do tend to put a lot of weight at the front. Just because thats where the door is.  Im going camping this coming weekend Ill give that and the tire psi a chance thanks for the help.

[wavery]

OK you got me there I do tend to put a lot of weight at the front. Just because thats where the door is.  Im going camping this coming weekend Ill give that and the tire psi a chance thanks for the help.

UHHHHH.......clawspawn..........weight at the front..........that's a good thing........you got that.....right? :confused:

[flyfisherman]

An 8' box Starcraft has to be in about as easy a class of popups there is to tow down the road! As already been posted here, there are some towing essentials that cannot be glossed over, proper hitch height so the camper sits as close to level hitched as possible; correct tire pressure (no doubt you have 5.30 X 12" (load range "C") tires and they require 80 psi. Proper load distribution so the weight is spread around with at least 10% of the total weight resting on the tongue.

By the way ... you don't have anything hung on the rear of the popup per chance? AND, you never said what your towing with. Wheel base can be a factor sometimes, too.




Fly

[clawspawn]

I tow it with a TOYOTA FJ. I dont have anything on the rear except for a spare tire. My tires are 5.30-12 c rating yep 80 psi.I thought about putting a box on the rear for extra storage. After reading what you guys say it does not sound like a good idea I guess to much weight at the rear.

[spicyville1]

Just to be on the safe side, you can also install an anti-sway bar for less than $60.00.

[clawspawn]

OK went camping this weekend you know get out before the jampacked
weekend. The new tires and 80 PSI I tryed to put most of the weight over the axel. The ice chest would not fit under the sink and stove. The camper towed like a dream one hand on the steering wheel. I knew it was back there but no fish tailing thank for all the help JEFF