How to control trailer sway – by Mark Polk, RV Education 101
Yaw, more commonly known as sway in the RV industry, is a bad word for trailer owners. The definition of yaw or trailer sway is a side-to-side fishtailing movement. Nothing will ruin the way you feel about camping faster than the first time you encounter this unpleasant situation.
Sway becomes an automatic factor with travel trailers and pop-ups simply because of how the trailer is hitched to the tow vehicle. It creates a pendulum affect. Some of the causes for trailer sway are:
–First and foremost poor trailer design contributes to trailer sway. When there is too much weight behind the trailers axles causing the tongue weight to be less than 10% of the trailers weight it has a natural tendency to sway.
–Incorrect tire inflation.
–Improper weight distribution hitch adjustments.
–No sway control on the trailer.
–Crosswinds
–A transfer truck passing from the rear of the trailer.
–Descending inclines.
–Towing speeds and hitch weight.
–Tow vehicle not properly matched for the trailer.
–Improper loading, overloading and poor weight distribution.
Knowing how to react when a trailer begins to sway can be the difference between your safety and disaster.
Mark Polk, owner of RV Education 101, produces professional RV how-to instruction training videos and DVD’s, books and e-books on using and maintaining your Recreation Vehicle (RV).
RVers share ownership of an RV with others
by Chuck Woodbury, RV Travel
Some RV enthusiasts who can’t afford to own a luxury RV in these tough economic times are choosing to own one through fractional ownership. The concept is simple, multiple families each own a share in an RV and divide the use and costs associated with it. CoachShare (Coachshare.com) is an industry leader in fractional ownership, by bringing that same concept to the high end RV industry.
“I have limited number vacation days each year. It doesn’t make financial sense for me to purchase a $250,000 luxury motorcoach and let sit idle for 48 weeks of each year” says Tai Quan, a high tech executive and a CoachShare customer from San Jose, California. “Fractional ownership not only saves me money, it also saves me time. CoachShare takes care of both the pre-trip delivery and the post-trip pickup. I don’t have to be bothered with the time consuming chores that full time RV owners have to deal with.”
According to the University of Michigan, most traditional owners only use their recreational vehicle 21 days a year. “Consumers are realizing that it doesn’t make sense anymore to buy an RV and use it a few weeks a year, especially in this economy” says James Palmer, President and CEO of CoachShare.
Where’s your favorite camping spot?
Spring is upon us, the flowers are blooming, and RVers from all over are hitting the road to find that next great spot to camp. Oh, speaking of great spots, please tell us (and show us by uploading the pictures!) about your favorite places to camp. We’ve set up a forum discussion at MyRVer.com just for this purpose. Once the RV community responds, this should be a great place to get inspiration about where to travel next. And, while we’re on the subject, click here to see a great spot at De Gray Lake Resort in Arkansas – thanks Lyle & Alta for sharing this great photo! MyRVer.com is really starting to reap the fruits of our labor, we appreciate all of you who’ve joined and ask you to invite your friends.
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