Re: [a/s] My First Tow: A Lesson in Fear

[Rob Super <rms@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's something I picked up from this list awhile ago and have found 
both useful and comforting:

 The next-to-last thing to do when leaving any parking spot (campground, 
home...): pull out one trailer length, stop, get out and look around just 
to make sure you haven't left  a wrench, the dog, your pants, whatever.
     The LAST thing to do as you move out: move forward slowly and apply 
the brake controller's *manual* control to make sure the *trailer's* 
brakes are working. (I.e., test the trailer brakes without applying the 
vehicle brakes.)


>What is still puzzling is that the
>last tow, which was up to our mountain property, did not have the
>severity or frequency of the sway problem we experienced--yet, it was not
>that much more of a truck. It *was* a longer bed, however (my K-10 has a
>short bed)--so this could explain some of the physics involved.

Another possible factor is that going uphill the trailer tends to retard 
the truck, as though the trailer brakes are lightly engaged. This will 
damp sway. Going down hill, OTOH, a trailer *with dysfunctional brakes* 
will tend to push on the truck, aggravating sway.


Rob