Re: [SilverStreak] towing

["Tom Patterson" <pattersontj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just how are you set up to tow?

You will need chains, but as safety chains, and they will do nothing to stop 
any sway.  They will however bring you into compliance with the law.

You need a good hitch along with swing, or equalizer bars, but they also 
will do nothing to prevent sway.  They will serve to transfer some of the 
trailer weight up to the front of the tow vehicle.  A sway bar will help, 
but it is only part of the answer.

A very important part of sway prevention is having the weight of the trailer 
properly distributed.  You need at least 15% of the total trailer weight on 
the tongue.  In my case, I have 20%, and no sway.  That is where the 
equalizer bars come in to transfer part of that weight up to the front of 
the tow vehicle.

A lot of sway prevention has to do with your loading of the trailer.  Don't 
travel with full waste tanks, and place heavy objects up front in the 
trailer or in the tow vehicle.  This would include any spare tire.  Don't 
hang it on the back of the trailer.  It is important to have the tow 
vehicle, not the trailer in control, which is what happens with a swaying 
trailer.

You can either purchase a tongue scale such as Sherline, or take your 
trailer to public scales to find out the total as well as tongue weight.

Finally, I can recommend the Sherline web site for a lot of good information 
and their towing tips.  You might want  to have a look there.  It is at: 
http://www.sherline.com/lm.htm

-Tom

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vincent Wikert" <grimvin8@yahoo.com>
To: <sslist@tompatterson.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:20 AM
Subject: [SilverStreak] towing


>I will be towing my 72 continental 200 miles w/a f150.  It will tow, but 
>there is alot of trailer swing.  That is why I need to get some towbars, or 
>stablelizers to stop the trailer-swing.  I was thinking I might use a chain 
>on each side, and thought this might work.  Do any of you have any advise 
>to me as to where I might find the right kind of swaybar? or do you think 
>my chain idea might work.
>  Thanks, in advance for any and all comments, and advise.
>  Vincent