23LDE Tail Wagging the Dog Issue

[DannyG]

Hey all,

My wife and I bought a 2025 23LDE back in November and just got to use it for the first time this weekend. Towed it about 260 miles each way to and from our destination with my 2024 F-250. The trip there was good with only a little bit of sway in a couple of windy spots. However, the trip home… Dear lord… The tail was wagging the dog for most of the 4.5-5 hour trip!

We had a TON of wind on the majority of the trip but the sway felt excessive. I was running the trailer with empty tanks on the trip there and maybe 1/8 of a fresh tank on the way back. Minimal “stuff” inside the trailer. Two batteries and two full propane tanks (one at 3/4, the other full) up front.

I know the rear kitchen can cause the tongue to be a little light but I also know my dry TW is 674 lbs. So I’d think we’d be in good shape in terms of balance there.

Wondering if anyone in the community has had similar issues with this specific trailer and, if so, how you remedied it. Or if anyone else has any advice given this scenario.

Thanks!

 

[FjClay]

What speed are towing at? Weight distribution hitch? If so are you transferring enough to the front axle of the tow vehicle? Is the trailer level when towing? That trailer shouldn’t be moving much behind an F250 or move the truck around.

 

[txloser]

You may want to consider investing in a hitch that offers some sway control. If you haven’t already. Don’t really need a full WDH with that combo. I doubt that trailer takes any weight off the front end of your truck.

Also, I’d get as much weight up front on the tongue as possible.

 

[SGT ROC]

Also, I’d get as much weight up front on the tongue as possible.

That is my thought, sounds tail heavy on the trailer.

 

[NB Canada]

Your first trip needs to be to a scale

Sway isn’t a joke and can cause a catastrophic accident

Only weighing it can tell what the issue is

 

[txloser]

Your first trip needs to be to a scale

Sway isn’t a joke and can cause a catastrophic accident

Only weighing it can tell what the issue is

The 23 in the trailer name is misleading. 28’ is a pretty good size trailer.

I’d agree a trip to the scales would be worthwhile to get this figured out.

 

[DannyG]

What speed are towing at? Weight distribution hitch? If so are you transferring enough to the front axle of the tow vehicle? Is the trailer level when towing? That trailer shouldn’t be moving much behind an F250 or move the truck around.

Speeds reached about 65 when sway was at its worst today. I slowed down to about 55 after a couple good snaps… Trailer is level when towing and I do have a WDH.

 

[DannyG]

You may want to consider investing in a hitch that offers some sway control. If you haven’t already. Don’t really need a full WDH with that combo. I doubt that trailer takes any weight off the front end of your truck.

Also, I’d get as much weight up front on the tongue as possible.

Currently using a 10k lb Curt WDH.

 

[robmcqueen]

Hey all,

My wife and I bought a 2025 23LDE back in November and just got to use it for the first time this weekend. Towed it about 260 miles each way to and from our destination with my 2024 F-250. The trip there was good with only a little bit of sway in a couple of windy spots. However, the trip home… Dear lord… The tail was wagging the dog for most of the 4.5-5 hour trip!

We had a TON of wind on the majority of the trip but the sway felt excessive. I was running the trailer with empty tanks on the trip there and maybe 1/8 of a fresh tank on the way back. Minimal “stuff” inside the trailer. Two batteries and two full propane tanks (one at 3/4, the other full) up front.

I know the rear kitchen can cause the tongue to be a little light but I also know my dry TW is 674 lbs. So I’d think we’d be in good shape in terms of balance there.

Wondering if anyone in the community has had similar issues with this specific trailer and, if so, how you remedied it. Or if anyone else has any advice given this scenario.

Thanks!

If it is a newer truck it should have electronic sway control. If it does try turning it off sometime they do not play well together with a weight distribution hitch.

 

[DannyG]

It absolutely has electronic sway control. But the WDH doesn’t have any kind of sway control bar.

 

[robmcqueen]

It absolutely has electronic sway control. But the WDH doesn’t have any kind of sway control bar.

Turn off The electronic sway control and try it out. I have read of people having more sway with it on when using a WDH

 

[robmcqueen]

It absolutely has electronic sway control. But the WDH doesn’t have any kind of sway control bar.

What WDH do you have ?

 

[robmcqueen]

Also with your trailer being a rear kitchen a bet you do not have enough hitch weight. Should be 10-15%I would want it at 15% With your trailer i would shoot for 1000lbs

 

[Rabbit]

You absolutely need some sort of sway control, either built into the WDH or as an add-on. And since you don’t have any sway control at the hitch, do not turn off your trucks antisway. I personally would not chance it.

 

[DannyG]

So I should add something like this? Curt 17200 Trailer Anti-Sway Bar Control Kit

I always thought these shouldn't be used in conjunction with electronic sway control.

 

[DannyG]

What WDH do you have ?

It's the Curt 17322 Trunnion Bar WDH. It originally came with that same sway control bar, but I don't have that any longer, now that I look at the WDH online... I would have to buy another one and add it.

 

[robmcqueen]

Before you do anything you must know your tongue weight.

 

[MtnGuy]

Like others, things need to be weighted. The total of truck and trailer together, both with and without bars, and just the truck solo will give all sorts of information.

Some questions and ideas:

What changed with the camper from going on the trip to coming back ?? The rear kitchen should be lighter, since food in the cabinets, pantry and fridge would have been used. A lighter back end is good.

Was the rear galley waste tank emptied before heading home ?? If not, the extra weight in the back and that water sloshing around would make a difference.

Was anything added to the rear trailer accessory hitch ??

Were tire inflations correct, both on the truck and trailer ??

How does the OP know that the tongue weight is exactly 647 lbs ?? That is pretty specific. Most CAT scales weigh in 20 lbs increments, and a Sherline tongue scale is not that accurate down to the lb. 2 batteries and full propane tanks on the tongue are good.

Was the WDH setup correctly ?? Per the manual on my 2017 F350, the weight added back to the front axle should be 1/2 of the lost weight. I would imagine that the 2024s should be the same. That 2024 F250 should be plenty of truck to tow that rig.

Why is the original Curt anti-sway friction bar not being used ?? Without that, the Curt 17322 has no sway control.

I hope these questions and ideas, along with the other posts can get the OP on the right track to towing bliss.

 

[DannyG]

Like others, things need to be weighted. The total of truck and trailer together, both with and without bars, and just the truck solo will give all sorts of information.

Some questions and ideas:

What changed with the camper from going on the trip to coming back ?? The rear kitchen should be lighter, since food in the cabinets, pantry and fridge would have been used. A lighter back end is good.

Was the rear galley waste tank emptied before heading home ?? If not, the extra weight in the back and that water sloshing around would make a difference.

Was anything added to the rear trailer accessory hitch ??

Were tire inflations correct, both on the truck and trailer ??

How does the OP know that the tongue weight is exactly 647 lbs ?? That is pretty specific. Most CAT scales weigh in 20 lbs increments, and a Sherline tongue scale is not that accurate down to the lb. 2 batteries and full propane tanks on the tongue are good.

Was the WDH setup correctly ?? Per the manual on my 2017 F350, the weight added back to the front axle should be 1/2 of the lost weight. I would imagine that the 2024s should be the same. That 2024 F250 should be plenty of truck to tow that rig.

Why is the original Curt anti-sway friction bar not being used ?? Without that, the Curt 17322 has no sway control.

I hope these questions and ideas, along with the other posts can get the OP on the right track to towing bliss.

Tough part is that I have no truck scales anywhere near me… Closest one is 3 hours away.

Also, I know the dry tongue weight is exactly 674 because it’s provided by Grand Design for each of their individual trailers on the Vehicle Weight Information Sheet - VIN specific. See attached photo.

The friction bar isn’t being used because I don’t have it. We’ve moved a couple times recently and I don’t know where it is. Also, with my old Tundra, funny enough, I had no issues… Odd that I do with a Super Duty that can tow way more!

 

[Bungy]

Tough part is that I have no truck scales anywhere near me… Closest one is 3 hours away.

Also, I know the day tongue weight is exactly 674 because it’s provided by Grand Design for each of their individual trailers on the Vehicle Weight Information Sheet - VIN specific. See attached photo.

The friction bar isn’t being used because I don’t have it. We’ve moved a couple times recently and I don’t know where it is. Also, with my old Tundra, funny enough, I had no issues… Odd that I do with a Super Duty that can tow way more!

the tongue wt on the vehicle information sheet is the dry wt when the unit left the factory and does not reflect real world conditions after you install batterie(s), propane, and all the items loaded into the trailer (food, dishes, clothes etc).