Need an Anti-Sway Hitch or Other Solution

[johnalan]

We really have a lot of trouble with trailer sway.

We have 2024 Ranger XLT with the 2.7L Ecoboost. I had a Road Active Suspension System installed ( Ford Ranger 2019-2026 – RoadActive Suspension ).

We have 2025 Grand Design 22-foot trailer that we put a bike rack with two electric bikes on back.
Hitch weight: 525 lbs.
GVWR: 6,395 lbs.
Dry Weight: 4,945 lbs.

The dealer sold us a Husky hitch system (Center Line® FS | Husky Towing Products) (at a much higher price than I could have got from the manufacturer).

Neither this hitch or the suspension system helps. I thought maybe this was beyond the capacity of my Ranger.

However, my buddy hooked up his 2026 F-150 with advanced towing system to the trailer using the same hitch and we tested it, and still got trailer sway with good road conditions and no wind. He thinks we have too much with in the back.

Sorry for the long message... any suggestions would be appreciated?

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[Switzguy]

You need more hitch weight.
Stick to the 10-15% rule.

• Ideal Range: For a conventional bumper-pull trailer, your tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of the total loaded trailer weight.

• Target Weight: For a 6,500 lb trailer, you should aim for a hitch weight between 650 lbs and 975 lbs.

• Current Setup: At 525 lbs, your weight ratio is roughly 8.1%, which is too light for safe towing. [1, 2]

 

[johnalan]

You need more hitch weight.
Stick to the 10-15% rule.

• Ideal Range: For a conventional bumper-pull trailer, your tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of the total loaded trailer weight.
• Target Weight: For a 6,500 lb trailer, you should aim for a hitch weight between 650 lbs and 975 lbs.
• Current Setup: At 525 lbs, your weight ratio is roughly 8.1%, which is too light for safe towing. [1, 2]

Not sure how I would correct that. Suggestion?

 

[Switzguy]

More weight in the front of the trailer.
Your electric bikes are definitely causing the issue.
Try putting something heavy toward the front and make sure its strapped down or not going to slide backwards. Do you have a tool box or anything that you can think of thats heavy?

 

[OxygenMask]

The bikes aren't causing the problem (110 lbs plus a rack on the back bumper is not the problem, my beer coolers weigh more than that..) but they may be part of a larger overall weight distribution issue and I'd look at that first. Switz is dead on to look at weight distribution.

There also exist other potential issues unrelated to weight distribution.
Also I've seen axles improperly installed (crooked, one not matching the other, and even upside-down...)
Boxy trailers are more prone to wind related misbehavior than rounded ones.
I've seen floorplans where the weight distribution (interior, tankage etc) plus storage locations make it almost impossible to load it properly....
Etc.
Some RV Manufacturers are unbelievably bad at engineering...
Grand Design does a pretty good job though.

Also, have you actually weighed it? Never seen a single RV that actually weighed any where near the mfrs claims... Just sayin'

 

[Switzguy]

Have you tested it without the e-bikes on the back by chance?
You're creating a seesaw just by adding a bike rack & 2 heavy e-bikes very far back from the axle.
How much weight in total is back there?

 

[chilefix]

We had a 2021 Ranger with 2.3 l. Engine pulling a Grand
Design 17MKE with real sway issues. We were using an Andersen weight distributing hitch that we had used before with good results. After almost jackknifing we had a Tuson antisway device installed which immediately resolved all our sway issues. No sway even in high winds or being passed by semis ,on hills flat roads, 70+ MPH. We still use the Andesen WDH.

 

[SLJ]

The mfg. dry weight and tongue weight are not what you go by. You need to weigh it fully loaded. Mfg. weight is with no water, battery, propane, or anything in the gray or black tanks unless specifically stated and your food and gear. Get that tongue to around 12% of the total weight and your sway will most likely disappear unless there's a problem with your camper's suspension/alignment. People that throw on a WDH and say that fixed it are kidding themselves. They just covered the problem without correcting it. Also keep it 65 and under on the road.

 

[superj]

We After almost jackknifing we had a Tuson antisway device installed which immediately resolved all our sway issues.

That sounds like the way to go

 

[fastlane]

We have a similar scenario. We have a freedom express 192rbs which is about 22 ft ball to bumper. Similar weight. Before gettingbthe ranger this spring, we towed with a 21 f150. First few trips out with the ranger were great After our e2 hitch was dialed in. No concerns whatsoever.

then I added a hitch and bike rack to the back of the camper with two folding e-bikes (probably about 200 pounds total). Everything changed. Felt sketchy as hell in some situations. On the way home from that initial trip with the bikes, I died water to the fresh tank to add some weight head of the axles and it calmed things down.

my Opinion is that various types of sway controls are absolutely helpful and are effective….our e2 hitch does it with trunion bars and they work well. But in the end, they can only do so much and you can’t expect them to correct a poorly loaded trailer.

in our case, adding weight to the front helped quite a bit. But in my mind, adding weight to an already heavy load to fix a sway problem seems like a bad solotion. im probably going to take the hitch off the back and just haul the bikes in the bed of the truck. A bigger PITA, but at least they fold. Having them on the back of the camper is not worth a white-knuckle drive for me.

 

[BigAir]

I would get a tailgate pad and try putting the bikes in the bed. Might solve the problem.

 

[ryanO]

We really have a lot of trouble with trailer sway.

We have 2024 Ranger XLT with the 2.7L Ecoboost. I had a Road Active Suspension System installed ( Ford Ranger 2019-2026 – RoadActive Suspension ).

We have 2025 Grand Design 22-foot trailer that we put a bike rack with two electric bikes on back.
Hitch weight: 525 lbs.
GVWR: 6,395 lbs.
Dry Weight: 4,945 lbs.

The dealer sold us a Husky hitch system (Center Line® FS | Husky Towing Products) (at a much higher price than I could have got from the manufacturer).

Neither this hitch or the suspension system helps. I thought maybe this was beyond the capacity of my Ranger.

However, my buddy hooked up his 2026 F-150 with advanced towing system to the trailer using the same hitch and we tested it, and still got trailer sway with good road conditions and no wind. He thinks we have too much with in the back.

Sorry for the long message... any suggestions would be appreciated?

A few things

1. The only real solution is to get an F150 with the Max tow package and a 1600# payload
2. A 22' RV with that large of a frontal area is way to large to safely tow with a Ranger. It's even in the Ranger tow guide how much to reduce tow rating by using the frontal area formula they show.
3. You're way to light on tongue weight. You should be close to 700 - 750# and should really weigh the setup fully loaded (make sure to look at each axle weight and compare to each axle rating on the door jam sticker)
4. If you're not using a weight distributing hitch, you should (it will also add weight to the setup)

Again, the only safe solution for you and your family is an F150. Otherwise, your family and others on the roads lives are at risk.

 

[Trimjb]

We really have a lot of trouble with trailer sway.

We have 2024 Ranger XLT with the 2.7L Ecoboost. I had a Road Active Suspension System installed ( Ford Ranger 2019-2026 – RoadActive Suspension ).

We have 2025 Grand Design 22-foot trailer that we put a bike rack with two electric bikes on back.
Hitch weight: 525 lbs.
GVWR: 6,395 lbs.
Dry Weight: 4,945 lbs.

The dealer sold us a Husky hitch system (Center Line® FS | Husky Towing Products) (at a much higher price than I could have got from the manufacturer).

Neither this hitch or the suspension system helps. I thought maybe this was beyond the capacity of my Ranger.

However, my buddy hooked up his 2026 F-150 with advanced towing system to the trailer using the same hitch and we tested it, and still got trailer sway with good road conditions and no wind. He thinks we have too much with in the back.

Sorry for the long message... any suggestions would be appreciated?

Maybe research load position in trailer.

 

[Campingnut]

Yes your bikes need to be moved from the back to the front of the rv

 

[Trimjb]

Try the 60/40 and see if it makes a difference.
60% of load in front of axle and 40% behind. Don't exceed tongue weight.
I don't think your bikes should make that much difference unless they are heavy.
Take them off and see if it makes a difference.
Trial and error.

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