Not a Tremor, but Trailer Sway

[Modman]

Guessing improper loading but it's difficult to tell:

https://fordauthority.com/2024/04/ford-super-duty-fishtails-while-towing-trailer-video/

 

[MiTremor906]

The way that it almost stops swaying or spinning once he's facing the wrong way seems to say its loaded wrong. Once the trailer got in front it was all happy again.

At the end of the video, granted a lot happened before that, the load on the trailer seems very back heavy. Buy it does seem like every stayed on the trailer other then that random palet, so they at least strapped it good and likely hit the strap saying that isn't going anywhere.

 

[Modman]

so they at least strapped it good and likely hit the strap saying that isn't going anywhere.

This, for sure...

 

[ccw]

The way that it almost stops swaying or spinning once he's facing the wrong way seems to say its loaded wrong. Once the trailer got in front it was all happy again.

At the end of the video, granted a lot happened before that, the load on the trailer seems very back heavy. Buy it does seem like every stayed on the trailer other then that random palet, so they at least strapped it good and likely hit the strap saying that isn't going anywhere.

Agreed with this analysis. At a minimum the lower parts of the load still seems to be against the front of the trailer once it was all over (I.e. didn’t shift backwards during sway and spin), and they were hanging quite a ways over the end of the trailer.

Given how much trailer was behind the rear axles to begin with, then the load overhanging the end of the trailer, that was likely a lot of weight removing tongue weight rather than adding it.

 

[Optimus🤖]

Hopefully the driver can move on and leave this all behind him.

 

[ccw]

Hopefully the driver can move on and leave this all behind him.

Might need to leave their underwear behind after that, too!

 

[CM1995]

Way too much weight past the last axle on the trailer. Couple that with a slightly lifted truck and bad things can happen.

 

[Bluzharp]

Too small of a trailer for the load. It looks like if you unlatched the hitch, the tongue would fly up. Pretty dang stupid of this driver.

 

[BroncOh]

Also looks like so much weight where the trailer fender was rubbing against the trailer rear axle tires, causing overheating from friction.

 

[MiTremor906]

causing overheating from friction.

Hate when the friction causes over heating.


Queue @Optimus.....

 

[MrFancypants]

That’s pretty ridiculous. Traveling at highway speeds and no red flag either. He deserved to trash his truck and got incredibly lucky to be honest. You can’t fix stupid.

 

[BroncOh]

That’s pretty ridiculous. Traveling at highway speeds and no red flag either. He deserved to trash his truck and got incredibly lucky to be honest. You can’t fix stupid.

While hard to see, there was a red flag.

 

[Vecman]

Am I wrong thinking that braking makes the sway worse? For some reason I’m under the impression that I should let the truck slow itself down on its own, but I’m not sure. Obviously proper loading is key, but things happen, and if this ever happens, I want to make sure I respond correctly.

 

[MiTremor906]

Am I wrong thinking that braking makes the sway worse? For some reason I’m under the impression that I should let the truck slow itself down on its own, but I’m not sure. Obviously proper loading is key, but things happen, and if this ever happens, I want to make sure I respond correctly.

I've always been told hammer the throttle and hit the manual trailer breaks.

Well maybe not hammer either but throttle and trailer breaks help straighten it out.

 

[BroncOh]

Instructions unclear, sledge hammer jammed between floormat and accelerator.

 

[MiTremor906]

Instructions unclear, sledge hammer jammed between floormat and accelerator.

No one said sledge, sounds like user error.

 

[Modman]

Am I wrong thinking that braking makes the sway worse?

Nope, you're not wrong. Braking (especially hard/panic braking) shifts load to the front of the vehicle, reduces the tire contact patch at rear of the truck, and makes it easier for the trailer to have its way with it... Classic trail brake oversteer.

 

[MrFancypants]

While hard to see, there was a red flag.

Still can’t spot it but I will take your word for it and blame the crappy video quality.

Also worth noting the importance of a drop hitch. Raising the tongue of the trailer too high makes sway even worse, and may have caused his load to shift further backwards at speed.

 

[ccw]

While hard to see, there was a red flag.

Still can’t spot it but I will take your word for it and blame the crappy video quality.

Can confirm the flag. It was all of a few flickering pixels lol, but it's there.

 

[ccw]

While hard to see, there was a red flag.

Still can’t spot it but I will take your word for it and blame the crappy video quality.

Also worth noting the importance of a drop hitch. Raising the tongue of the trailer too high makes sway even worse, and may have caused his load to shift further backwards at speed.

Actually, found an even better spot to see it near the end of the video when things have slowed down and the filming vehicle is closer. You can see the orange/red from the flag in this screenshot at 18s (it's even more clear in the video as you can see it flapping).