Yesterday I got passed by a truck pulling a trailer loaded with 2 jet skis wrapped up snug as a bug in their jet ski covers. Looked good–except that the trailer was swaying back and forth like a drunk driver. Stuff like that makes me nervous–and I’m not even the one pulling a drunk trailer!

In the thick of summer, with more boat trailers and ATV trailers on the road, it’s not surprising to see a few wobbly trailers out there. What can you do to prevent trailer sway? The best way to prevent trailer sway is to stop it before it starts. Take the time to check over your trailer, hitch, and tow vehicle before hitting the road.

Make sure you have the proper equipment and hitch parts, including the right ball and coupler sizes, to tow your trailer. Check the weight distribution to make sure it is evenly balanced. Never exceed the weight capacity of your tow vehicle or trailer tongue. If the trailer tongue is too short or the suspension on the tow vehicle or trailer is too soft, this can also cause trailer sway. If you’re having towing trouble, check out the most common causes of sway and rule these out first before looking for other culprits.