How to reduce caravan sway

No matter how well set up your van is, or how much experience you have towing, caravan sway is something every caravanner may have to deal with from time to time.

While additional products like sway control hitches can be used, there a few simple things that all caravan owners can do to help reduce the likelihood of sway occurring. Here are our top three tips.

Watch the weather

While you can’t control the weather, you can control when you travel. Weather conditions play a role in caravan sway. Windy conditions can contribute considerably, so where possible avoid towing on high wind days.

Ensure your caravans weight is balanced and evenly distributed.

Make sure your tow bar weight is rated to suit the weight of your caravan. This is integral to low sway towing. Keeping the weight in your caravan distributed evenly with heavier items at the bottom and lighter on top, in positions directly above the caravan’s axle and near the floor will help reduce sway. Weight at the rear of your van such as bike racks, heavy bed frames or filled water tanks can increase the likelihood of sway.

Look at your tyres and tow bar

Did you know your vehicles tyre pressure and tow bar can affect the sway of your vehicle? A lower tow bar height helps to reduce caravan sway. If your tow ball height is too high and raises the caravan up at the front it can increase sway when towing.

It also pays to check your caravan tyres. Putting tyres on your caravan with stiffer walls like truck tires helps to reduce sway. It is also important to consider tyre pressure – the higher your tyre pressure, the more bounce and more sway you’ll have.

Jayco’s 2021 range of caravans now include the Lippert Sway Command, a feature that enhances road safety, especially when it comes to emergency manoeuvres at high speeds and comes standard in the popular Jayco Journey, Expanda Pop Tops, Silverline, Work’N’Play, Basestation, CrossTrak and All Terrain.