Towing capacity has become an increasingly relevant topic for RV owners. More specifically, the safety mechanism that is required to pull massive heavy loads with large profiles has been an integral discussion for the RV industry in recent years.
Fortunately, companies such as Blue Ox have taken the market by storm by producing a range of towing hitches that have been designed with the purpose of making heavy towing safe. However, these systems require reasonably precise installation.
Should they be improperly installed, they will become a more significant danger than the towing problem they are trying to solve. Therefore. This article will discuss the troubleshooting best practices to help resolve any major installation issue which is compromising the effectiveness of the component.
Blue Ox Sway Pro
Contemporary trailers are incrementally becoming more sophisticated. Largely, this is in response to the advancements in affordable vehicles that offer substantial towing capacity. Coupling these advancements with increasing customer demands for larger and more reliable trailers has created a significant shift in the market.
Towed RV trailers are an excellent example of this moving trend. These luxury-style RVs mimic the size and capacity of a small apartment and can weigh a tremendous amount.
They have full-size bathrooms and kitchen set up but have the added concern of large onboard storage of water, gas, and electricity. These goliath mobile homes are being pulled by commercially available trucks that have to adapt to these huge attachments. It is clear to see that some problems can arise.
Towing huge weights with large profiles is remarkably dangerous due to the unpredictability of a dynamic driving environment. Wind can have an enormous effect on the stability of both vehicle and trailer.
The issues are amplified when driving at high speed, which can lead to devastating and fatal outcomes. Often there are reports of large motorway crashes which have been the result of trailers being exposed to high wind conditions rendering the setup uncontrollable and causing toppling over.
Fortunately, companies like Blue Ox have established their Sway Pro components designed to create a barrier between the trailer and the towing vehicle. This barrier acts as a cushion of sorts which will dampen the swaying movement passed between the structures.
Effectively it is a buffer to reduce the hazardous swaying motion in order to create a safer underlying towing operation. The Innovative mechanism is designed to be fully adjustable by the user so the perfect orientation can be achieved when towing or trailing a variety of weights and vehicles.
This robust design is susceptible to some problems, unfortunately. Like many tools at our disposal, some issues can occur which require diligent attention to resolve. This is often an installation issue; however, it can also be the result of a malfunctioning component.
Blue Ox Sway Pro Problems
1. Dipping After Coupling
Many owners have issues and complaints regarding the angle held by the unit after the loading jacks have been removed. Most often, this is the result of improper installation. Once the Jacks have alleviated the pressure from the coupling area, often the nose of the trailer dips forward, and the tail of the vehicle dips backward.
This is a clear installation failure. There are adjustable chains that must be orientated during the coupling process. If the adjustable chain is not given enough links, then the linkage will be too tight. It will create this effect as the pressure from the coupling is pulling each of the vehicles.
To resolve this, there must be additional links provided to the mechanism. Providing extra slack will allow the Sway Pro to perform optimally. It is critical that this error is identified and rectified as early as possible. Operating the vehicle in this condition can damage the components and the connecting parts easily.
2. Misaligned Towing Vehicle
Once the support jack is initially removed, be sure to notice if both components are dipping or just one. In many instances, the trailer will be level with the vehicle’s rear dipping towards the ground. In this instance, it is not the length of the chain linkage but the hitch receiver height.
To alter this measurement, the mounting receiver must be moved into a higher position. Be aware that each increment of adjustment will move the height between ½ and 1 inch. Measuring the difference required will afford a very accurate adjustment after the first attempt.
3. Excessive Swaying
The primary function of the Sway Pro is obviously to reduce the swaying produced when maneuvering the trailer. Therefore, if excessive swaying is present after initial installation, then there will be adjustments required.
Often this is an indication that the trailer is loaded improperly. In keeping with the advice available in the owner’s manual, the tongue should be a maximum of 15% of the weight of the trailer. This metric is the weight that is exerted on the trailer hitch ball at the front of the trailer.
Essentially, it is critical that the weight within the trailer is dispersed evenly. Concentrating the weighted load unevenly within the trailer can result in an improper balance which will encourage a swaying motion when moving.
4. Rough Riding
Continual accurate adjustment is necessary to ensure the safest and smoothest possible driving conditions. Sadly, improper adjustments remain one of the most common issues associated with Sway Pro customers.
The dampening mechanisms are designed to utilize the tension in chain links combined with spring bars which are expertly engineered into a compact and effective design. However, this intricate system has been manufactured to require ongoing adjustment of the chain link length to serve its purpose properly continually.
Most often, customers do not set the chain link tension to the appropriate strength. The well-curated user manual gives a clear indication of the necessary adjustments based on the weights exerted by the trailer. These should be followed and adjusted closely to guarantee a seamless and safe journey.
5. Excessive Vehicle Movement
If all of the necessary adjustments have been accurately made to the Blue Ox Sway Pro, then the towing process should be smooth and easy. However, if there are still issues after all of the above problems have been addressed, then there may be more fundamental issues.
When driving at around 40MPH, notice if the towing vehicle moves excessively. It should be a little more difficult to drive, but the Sway Pro should take most of the difficulty out of the experience. Therefore an ongoing issue will most likely be the result of an improperly maintained towing vehicle.
The most common issue is that the rear tires of the towing vehicle have been over-inflated. When the tires are overinflated, they use less surface area to hold onto the road, which makes the grip less effective.
Moreover, overinflation will lead to a reduction in overall control. With less friction, the vehicle can move with greater ease which means it will be susceptible to external forces influencing the direction. Be sure not to inflate the tires to more than 90% of their rated capacity. This PSI indication will be on the side wall of the tire.
6. Appropriate Truck
Most often, RV enthusiasts will have a powerful commercial truck to move their beloved RV. In the US, Ram trucks are a very popular option as a reliable and cost-effective truck that is perfectly designed to tow larger loads.
However, specifically, Ram truck owners have to follow a particular bespoke installation process to guarantee that they set up the Sway Pro correctly.
Most often, it will require an additional 2” added to the tow ball height to allow the locking mechanism to be attached optimally. Otherwise, there is a high risk that it will allow the attachment piece to fall off in dynamic terrain conditions.
Conclusion
Blue Ox’s Pro Sway has been engineered with the intention of helping resolve a complex and dangerous problem. Minimizing the swaying of large trailers and vehicles are essential for numerous industries, in particular, recreational vehicle camping.
Year after year, these trailers are growing in size and weight, which is making the issues of swaying even more pressing. Fortunately, the Pro sway is incredibly effective if it is installed properly.
After reading the above article, it is clear that this is a difficult and ongoing task that will require patience and attention at every point. Fortunately, the relatively simple adjustment features have afforded some reasonably fast resolution if you are willing to learn the trouble shooting process.
