For many RV owners, nothing raises stress faster than passing a semi-truck—or being passed by one. The steering wheel tightens, the trailer tugs sideways, and suddenly towing feels unpredictable. There’s a reason this moment feels so intense: passing trucks expose the exact forces that cause trailer sway.
If your setup can handle a semi-truck pass calmly, it can handle almost anything. If it can’t, that pass becomes the ultimate warning sign.
Why Semi-Trucks Trigger Trailer Sway
A semi-truck isn’t just a large vehicle—it’s a moving wall of air and pressure. When it passes your RV, it creates multiple aerodynamic forces in rapid succession.
The Three-Phase Pressure Effect
When a truck passes, your trailer experiences:
High-pressure push as the truck’s bow wave hits
Low-pressure pull as air rushes into the vacuum behind the truck
Turbulent wake that continues after the truck clears
Each phase applies lateral force to your trailer. If the trailer can pivot freely, these forces stack quickly.
Why Trailers React More Than Tow Vehicles
Trailers have:
Large flat side profiles
High centers of mass
Long lever arms behind the hitch
That makes them highly sensitive to side forces. When the trailer begins to move laterally, the hitch becomes the hinge point—and sway begins.
This is why passing trucks and trailer sway are so closely linked.
Why Speed Makes the Problem Worse
The faster the speed differential between your rig and the semi-truck:
The stronger the pressure waves
The more abrupt the force transitions
The harder it is for the driver to react
Even small steering corrections can unintentionally amplify sway once it starts.
Why “Just Hold the Wheel Steady” Isn’t Enough
Drivers are often told to:
Keep both hands on the wheel
Maintain speed
Avoid overcorrecting
While good advice, it doesn’t eliminate the underlying problem. Once sway starts, the driver is reacting—not controlling.
The real issue isn’t technique. It’s physics.
Why Friction-Based Sway Control Struggles Here
Friction-based sway devices work by resisting movement after it begins. During a truck pass:
Forces happen faster than friction can respond
Pressure changes vary in intensity
Heat and wear reduce effectiveness over time
This makes repeated truck passes especially fatiguing for both the driver and the equipment.
How ProPride Keeps Your Rig Planted
The ProPride 3P® Hitch prevents sway by eliminating the pivot point that allows oscillation to start.
Through Pivot Point Projection™, ProPride moves the effective pivot point forward—near the tow vehicle’s rear axle. This means:
Side forces cannot rotate the trailer
Pressure waves lose their leverage
The trailer tracks straight behind the vehicle
Instead of reacting to turbulence, the system ignores it.
This is why ProPride 3P stability is so noticeable during semi-truck passes.
What ProPride Owners Feel During a Truck Pass
Owners often describe:
No sudden push or pull
No steering correction needed
A calm, planted sensation
The truck passes. The rig stays straight. The moment is over.
Why This Test Matters More Than Any Other
Passing trucks combine:
High-speed airflow
Rapid pressure changes
Lateral loads
Driver stress
If a towing setup can handle this scenario without drama, it’s operating at a high safety margin.
ProPride isn’t just improving towing—it’s passing the hardest real-world test towing can throw at you.
Confidence Multiplies Over a Long Day
On busy highways, you may encounter dozens of semi-trucks in a single day. Eliminating sway during each pass:
Reduces mental fatigue
Improves reaction time
Makes long-distance towing feel manageable
Instead of bracing for impact, you drive with confidence.
Final Takeaway
Passing semi-trucks reveal the truth about trailer stability. The intense pressure changes expose whether your hitch is managing sway—or simply hoping it doesn’t happen.
With the ProPride 3P® Hitch, those forces no longer matter. The trailer stays aligned, the tow vehicle stays in control, and passing trucks become non-events.
That’s not just comfort—that’s true towing stability when it matters most.
