Sway control

sxvipers · 07-04-2022, 11:12 AM

Looking for the best solution on our 2018 passport 2890 RL with a 2017 GMC serria All Terrain. i have loaded the weight distribution hitch as per instructions.
It is princess auto special. the truck and trailer still sways bad. I was going to put the MoRryde CRE3000 system in it, but looking for more input. New hitch, truck rear axle sway bar, or better weight distribution hitch? Any info would be great. Its a handful on the highway.

bsmith0404 · 07-04-2022, 11:25 AM

2017 GMC what? 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton long bed, short bed, 4x4, what hitch are you currently using? What tires are on the truck, LT or P? I believe the all terrain is a 1/2 ton model, but want to confirm what you actually have.

**JRTJH** · 07-04-2022, 11:33 AM

You may run into some significant problems trying to prevent sway with you rig. To begin with, here's one statement about the tow vehicle:

"The 2017 GMC Sierra All Terrain comes standard with a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine that delivers 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can also tow up to 6600 pounds as well." https://www.cdmc.ca/2019/10/09/2017-...nt%20amenities.

Now, the specs on the trailer:

GVWR: 7200 pounds
LENGTH: 33' 9"
HEIGHT: 10'8"
TONGUE: 635 pounds (at shipping weight with no battery and no propane)
TONGUE: (estimate: 864 + weight of the hitch assembly)

You're looking at a probable "cart weighing more than the mule can pull" situation.

sxvipers · 07-04-2022, 11:45 AM

2017 gmc serria All terriean 5.3 1/2 ton short box 4x4, toyo open country at plus 3 tires. Hitch brand is unknown

sxvipers · 07-04-2022, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

You may run into some significant problems trying to prevent sway with you rig. To begin with, here's one statement about the tow vehicle:

"The 2017 GMC Sierra All Terrain comes standard with a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine that delivers 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can also tow up to 6600 pounds as well." https://www.cdmc.ca/2019/10/09/2017-...nt%20amenities.

Now, the specs on the trailer:

GVWR: 7200 pounds
LENGTH: 33' 9"
HEIGHT: 10'8"
TONGUE: 635 pounds (at shipping weight with no battery and no propane)
TONGUE: (estimate: 864 + weight of the hitch assembly)

You're looking at a probable "cart weighing more than the mule can pull" situation.

You are correct.

bsmith0404 · 07-04-2022, 12:14 PM

I’ll admit I’m one of the guys that isn’t concerned about a couple hundred lbs. I think you should be able to keep the trailer in line behind you regardless of tow capacity with a properly set up hitch system. My guess is you probably have a cheap WDH without sway control. If it has chains for the spring bars, that’s a good signal. What air pressure are you running in the truck tires? There’s a number of factors that play into the equation. With your setup, you need a good sway control hitch

**chuckster57** · 07-04-2022, 12:19 PM

“Couple hundred pounds”

OP didn’t say which W/D and how much stuff is loaded in the TV. Could be more like 500-1,000 pounds.

OP- what is your W/D and how much stuff are you putting in the truck?

bsmith0404 · 07-04-2022, 12:33 PM

We also have no idea what his payload is, the only specs we know about the truck is that it can tow up to 6600 lbs. have no idea what he’s loading on it or in it compared to payload. I mentioned the couple hundred lbs based on tow capacity.

I know I’m well under my GVWR (1,500 lbs under) but travel trailers tend to be closer to than number than big 5era.

Also keep in mind, is half ton will never feel as good as a 3/4 or 1 to. It’s just too light of a vehicle compared, but with a proper set up, it should feel like it’s all over the place.

sxvipers · 07-04-2022, 03:05 PM

Tire air pressure is 50psi. any recommendations on a good hitch, and yes my current one has chains

**chuckster57** · 07-04-2022, 03:08 PM

Equalizer E4 is in my opinion the best you can get for the money. Just my opinion but I’m thinking you may have too much tail for the dog.

sxvipers · 07-04-2022, 03:09 PM

The gm site says truck can tow 12500 lbs. only thing in the truck is 200 lbs of fire wood and 2 bikes. Im going to put a Hellwig sway bay in the rear of truck to help.

**chuckster57** · 07-04-2022, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxvipers

The gm site says truck can tow 12500 lbs. only thing in the truck is 200 lbs of fire wood and 2 bikes. Im going to put a Hellwig sway bay in the rear of truck to help.

How much any vehicle can tow is useless information, think about the commercial with a tundra towing a space shuttle. It’s how much weight your vehicle can safely “carry”.

**sourdough** · 07-04-2022, 03:55 PM

OP some things to do;

Look at your tires, what is the brand, size and load range of the tires? You said they were Toyo "plus 3"? What is that - are they oversized? Look in the driver door at the stickers. What do they say for payload (carrying capacity), gvwr and gawr front and rear? Take a picture and post which would be helpful.

What kind of hitch do you have, you said unknown which isn't good? Does the shank with the ball have little holes on the sides for "sway bars"? If so you need something else. Is the hitch set up properly? Lots of questions and info needed.

That trailer will just about max out a 1/2 ton both in length and weight. If you are running P rated tires they need to go. The CRE 3000 will do nothing for the sway the trailer causes the truck unless you have something broken on your existing trailer suspension. You have a serious issue so get some info together and we can go from there.

bsmith0404 · 07-04-2022, 04:07 PM

Sounds like your hitch is most likely an EAZ Lift or Similar version. As was asked, if it has little holes on each side of the ball where sway struts can be connected then that hitch has no sway control unless the struts are connected. Even if they are, it leaves a lot to be desired.

My personal choice is a Blue Ox Sway Pro, it’s just easier to fine tune compared to others, but the E4 is an amazing hitch as well.

Please provide the additional info about the truck and tires as mentioned and we will gladly make further recommendations. On the tires, I’m not familiar with them, do they say LT or is it something like P265/75R 17. The P is passenger which is useless for towing. There is a fine balancing act you need to be aware of, people have spent a lot of money trying to improve the towing characteristics of half tons and finally just gave up and got a bigger truck. I recommend you’re very selective in the upgrades you purchase. Some things like a better hitch work well regardless of tv.

Weldon · 07-05-2022, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Equalizer E4 is in my opinion the best you can get for the money. Just my opinion but I’m thinking you may have too much tail for the dog.

Agreed. I had a harbor freight WDH and 2 sway controls bars. Sway used to be an issue when on the interstate and i would get passed by a 18 wheeler, and definitely when there was one on both sides. A year or more ago, i invested in the E4 and have no regrets. It was more than I wanted to pay, but I'm glad I listened to several members on this forum. I bought it online (Amazon i think) and let CW install it for me. Sway is no longer an issue, and I can backup the TT without disconnecting the sway bars.

**flybouy** · 07-05-2022, 07:48 AM

The trailer size/weight would max out the capability of most 1/2 ton trucks that are set up appropriately, i.e. LT E rated tires, a quality WDH hitch with built in sway control, etc. Of course this also means having sufficiant payload capacity for the tongue weight + the hitch + passengers and everything else you or anyone else has put in or on the truck. The easiest way to know where you are on weights is to visit a Cat scale. Their website is very informative, catscale.com.

If your truck isn't overweight you will still struggle towing a camper that size. Read my opening sentence again. I don't think your truck meets that criteria. Trucks aimed at the offroad market make lousy tow vehichles. If they are designed for off road performance then they typically have a suspension designed with extra wheel travel, softer springs and shocks that absorb bumps and soft tires that flex easily. These are all attributes that are contrary to what a good tow vehichle will have.

I suspect that the only way that you will control sway with your rig is by controlling your speed. Traveling below 60 mph WITH a quality WDH like a Reese 4 pt may be the only solution.

**JRTJH** · 07-05-2022, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxvipers

The gm site says truck can tow 12500 lbs. only thing in the truck is 200 lbs of fire wood and 2 bikes. Im going to put a Hellwig sway bay in the rear of truck to help.

That GM site suggests that "with the available HD towing package, the truck can tow up to 12,500 pounds". Without that optional package, the maximum towing capacity is significantly lower. Since it's "optional equipment" your truck may (or may not) be equipped with that package. You can read the "GM Product Information" (propaganda from the marketing department) here: https://media.gmc.com/content/media/...500-090116.pdf

While your specific truck may very well have the "HD Towing package", it's an optional package that just as likely was not included in the specific vehicle build. If you have the window sticker, it would show all optional packages included in the build, and if you don't have the window sticker, any GM dealer should be able to provide that information with the VIN.

I wouldn't rely on a marketing data sheet written for public sales information as a source for any singular, specific vehicle equipment included on one of hundreds of thousands of trucks built in 2017.

Added: Looking at the above link, the all terrain package and the HD towing package both include "exclusive components" that are not available in the other package. Things like Z71 offroad suspension vs HD rear springs, Rancho monotube shocks vs unique shock tuning. The HD towing package also includes a HD 9.76" rear axle and an "integrated trailer brake controller".

I'd suspect that both packages are not available on the same truck, so I'd urge you to verify exactly what equipment is on your truck, don't assume that because an internet site says "up to 12,500 pound trailer capacity" that "your specific truck has that capacity"..... It may, but without the HD towing package, it does not.

sxvipers · 07-05-2022, 06:09 PM

Tires are stock size 285/45R22, Load ID- XL, Load/speed code - 114H, 2601 lbs carrying capacity. GVWR 7500 LBS.GAWR FRONT 3950 LBS, REAR 3950 LBS. Hitch brand is Buyers
I ordered a Hellwig rear axle sway bar for the truck today. was told it will help .

bsmith0404 · 07-05-2022, 06:36 PM

Don’t see anything about sway control in the description for that hitch. Upgrade it to a better hitch with sway control. Don’t go cheap on the hitch, you get what you pay for.

**flybouy** · 07-05-2022, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxvipers

Tires are stock size 285/45R22, Load ID- XL, Load/speed code - 114H, 2601 lbs carrying capacity. GVWR 7500 LBS.GAWR FRONT 3950 LBS, REAR 3950 LBS. Hitch brand is Buyers
I ordered a Hellwig rear axle sway bar for the truck today. was told it will help .

Good luck with that.

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