Most RV owners expect a learning curve with any new hitch. What they don’t expect is how fast everything feels different.
If you’ve ever experienced trailer sway, you’ve probably heard advice like “slow down,” “load better,” or “get more seat time.” While those tips sound reasonable, they miss the real issue entirely.
Long-distance RV travel should feel like freedom—not a test of endurance. Yet for many RV owners, towing means white-knuckle driving, constant corrections, and arriving exhausted instead of energized.
Most RV owners assume their warranty will protect them if something goes wrong. But when damage occurs from trailer sway, the reality is far less reassuring.
Many RV owners think of trailer sway as a driving comfort issue — stressful, tiring, but temporary. In reality, trailer sway is far more than an inconvenience. Even mild or short-lived sway events can cause real, cumulative damage to both your RV and tow vehicle.
Trailer sway emergencies don’t usually start with drama. They begin quietly — a slight push, a gentle pull, a small correction — and then suddenly escalate into a situation that feels completely out of control.
When trailer sway becomes a problem, one of the most common pieces of advice RV owners hear is:
“You just need a bigger truck.”
Many RV owners believe trailer sway is only a high-speed problem. The common assumption is that as long as you’re driving slowly — through a campground, down a mountain pass, or in city traffic — sway isn’t something to worry about.
Trailer length is one of the first things RV owners worry about when it comes to stability. You’ll often hear statements like, “That trailer is just too long for that truck,” or “Longer trailers are always more dangerous to tow.”
Crosswinds and passing semi-trucks are two of the most common — and most unsettling — causes of trailer sway. Even experienced RV owners who are well within towing limits often report sudden instability when a gust hits or a tractor-trailer blasts past at highway speed.