What is “sway”?
Sway is a condition during towing, where your trailer begins to move side to side (sometimes violently). It can start without warning and if not corrected can lead to an accident Sway is caused by many factors, only one of which is tongue weight. While too little tongue weight can quickly lead to sway, there are other causes. They also include tire pressure, wheelbase of the tow vehicle, weight/mass of the tow vehicle, length of the trailer, weight of the trailer and vehicle speed. Additionally, the loading of the trailer (side to side as well as front to rear) and the type of load, like a half full (am I an optimist?) water tank can be a factor in sway developing. Outside factors also play a part, road type, road condition, weather (wind/rain) and other vehicles around you (semis…). Generally speaking, the longer the wheelbase of the tow vehicle, the less chance for sway. Devices are available to restrict this side to side movement including friction sway control or WD hitches. See
