Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Anyone installed a trailer sway arm on their pontoon trailer like this?
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... aQodSwcAYw

Need something to help, but the tongue on the trailer is too long to work for these products, as the "A" starts really far back from the hitch.

If your trailer is swaying, move the winch up so you can move the boat up on the trailer to increase your tongue weight. You probably have very little tongue weight which will cause trailer sway. Single axel trailer I assume? I have had this problem with other type of trailers

It's a 2 axle trailer, but I'm 36 feet long, had the boat weighed, tongue weight is in range of spec, just very long. Passing semis and winds create trouble. Sway bar seems to be a good option if I could figure out the connection.

What vehicle are you pulling with? if its a Truck or midsize+ SUV look into a set of LT rated tires instead of the crappy P (passenger) rated tires that usually come standard on SUV and 1/2ton trucks. LT tires do ride a touch stiffer BUT really cut back on trailer sway, especially if you have a short SUV. Otherwise shoot for the heavy side of the tongue rating, the FULL 10% or 500# which ever comes first. I can't wait for the stock Crapyear tires on my 12' F150 to wear out, the suck in winter and too squishy for serious towing.

rancherlee wrote:What vehicle are you pulling with? if its a Truck or midsize+ SUV look into a set of LT rated tires instead of the crappy P (passenger) rated tires that usually come standard on SUV and 1/2ton trucks. LT tires do ride a touch stiffer BUT really cut back on trailer sway, especially if you have a short SUV. Otherwise shoot for the heavy side of the tongue rating, the FULL 10% or 500# which ever comes first. I can't wait for the stock Crapyear tires on my 12' F150 to wear out, the suck in winter and too squishy for serious towing.

2012 Chevy Tahoe with brand new set of Michelin LTX MS/2 on them 265/70. I believe they are standard load truck tires. Im at 10% on the money on the tongue weight.

I think this might just be the solution, a pole tongue adapter

We had an equalizer hitch from a previous camper. I installed the pole tongue adapter and it worked very well.

It's not what the scale says your tongue weight is... Its what the TRUCK says.

And your truck is saying MORE TONGUE WEIGHT! Judging by your pics, its easy to adjust, I say move the boat up 6 inches. Will make a world of difference.

Tim

Cowracer wrote:It's not what the scale says your tongue weight is... Its what the TRUCK says.

And your truck is saying MORE TONGUE WEIGHT! Judging by your pics, its easy to adjust, I say move the boat up 6 inches. Will make a world of difference.

Tim

I just don't want to chase my tail here. The tongue weight is currently at 12.6% of the weight of the trailer. On the hitch it was almost perfectly level. My fear is that by shifting the boat, that it will open up more problems than it solves, when a sway control arm my be the answer.

I suppose it can't hurt to give it a try.

Liberty MO wrote:

Cowracer wrote:It's not what the scale says your tongue weight is... Its what the TRUCK says.

And your truck is saying MORE TONGUE WEIGHT! Judging by your pics, its easy to adjust, I say move the boat up 6 inches. Will make a world of difference.

Tim

I just don't want to chase my tail here. The tongue weight is currently at 12.6% of the weight of the trailer. On the hitch it was almost perfectly level. My fear is that by shifting the boat, that it will open up more problems than it solves, when a sway control arm my be the answer.

I suppose it can't hurt to give it a try.

I would try moving the boat up further on the trialer first. My #1 reason is, this is free, and more than likely won't cause any more problems, then it may fix. What I mean is, it may fix the sway issue, but may give your truck a bit more sag. You switched one problem for another. #2 reason is, your boat is shorter than mine, but the overall length is longer. That tells me your trailer is very long. Moving the boat up, will help this part too.

Liberty MO wrote:
I just don't want to chase my tail here. The tongue weight is currently at 12.6% of the weight of the trailer. On the hitch it was almost perfectly level. My fear is that by shifting the boat, that it will open up more problems than it solves, when a sway control arm my be the answer.

I suppose it can't hurt to give it a try.

Trailers don't just sway for the hell of it. There is a reason. The vast majority of the time, tongue weight is the cause. Adding a friction sway control could be a band-aid. Yea, it will cure the 'symptom' but not the problem.

I know when I double haul 2 Suzuki samurai's on my trailer, if I am off even 3" on having them as far forward as possible, I can get a very dangerous sway condition. It had damn near put me in the ditch once.

Its a cheap-easy try. If it makes things works, its cheap and easy to put back.

Tim

Appreciate the advice, I will make some adjustments when I have it on the water this weekend. I also am ordering the 4C Innovations bunk guide, I'm tired of fighting wind and current at the boat ramp.

I have friction sway control and a load leveler hitch with a set of 1000 pound bars--on my 31' travel trailer. Believe me when I say the friction style sway control won't work on a boat trailer.

Sway problems on boats would most often be too light tongue weight, improper tires (including under inflation) or axles being bent (bad alignment.) Tow vehicle problems could be bad shock absorbers, improper tires (including under inflation) or worn suspension/steering parts on the front end. And problems may arise if the tow vehicle is not up to towing such a large boat.

As a former Trailstar owner I believe they are crap. On my regency I couldn't get over 45 or it went everywhere.We moved axle back a bit and it helped but still not good. When I traded motors I bought a new Haul Rite and it goes down the road at 75 without a wiggle.

You will not be sorry when you add the 4c. I did and it works great. No more fighting the wind. I have loaded in wind at 20 miles an hour no problem. It works great every pontoon trailer should come with it. What did take me several try's and a lot of cursing now gets done in first try. Great system great people to deal with

Keep in mind, even if you add a little tongue weight to the trailer (lets say 200lbs) you can add air helper / overload springs to your towing rig for about $200. Not sure what that anti-sway bar costs, but the air helper springs can be used for more that just towing the boat. I love mine. Makes my lowered 1/2 ton truck, a 1 ton truck, in about 30 seconds.