🏕️ 1. Poor Weight Distribution

Improper weight distribution is the number one cause of caravan sway. When heavy items are placed at the rear or unevenly side-to-side, it can throw off your van’s balance—turning it into a pendulum at speed.

An unloaded Caravan is likely to be unbalanced, correctly loading your Caravan will help balance and settle the Caravan ensuring a smoother ride.

✅ Tips to Fix Weight Distribution:

• Load heavy items over the axle, as low as possible.

• Aim for 10% Tow Ball Bass (% of overall mass – ie 300kg on a 3000kg Trailer).

• Avoid loading the rear of the caravan with bulky gear or water tanks.

🚙 2. Incorrect Tow Vehicle Suspension Setup

A sagging rear suspension can lift the front of your tow vehicle, affecting steering and braking. It also reduces your control and increases the chance of sway.

Most standard 4wd’s will have soft suspension designed for Comfort – this means softer springs. The added load of a Trailer can create a controlling effect over the vehicle causing unsettling movement. The setup of the car should Control the Caravan – not the other way around!

✅ How to Improve Suspension for Towing:

• Install load-rated suspension upgrades (e.g. Tough Dog, airbags).

• Keep shock absorbers, springs, and bushes in good condition.

• Ensure the caravan’s ball weight suits the vehicle’s rear axle capacity.

🔧 3. Tow Hitch Height

Your caravan should always sit level or slightly nose-down. A nose-up or tail-down setup reduces traction and leads to sway, especially at high speeds or downhill.

✅ What You Can Do:

• Use adjustable hitches or drop/rise tongues to achieve a level connection.

• Measure drawbar height when loaded and adjust accordingly.

🚨 4. Incorrect Tyre Pressures

Both your tow vehicle and caravan tyres play a massive role in stability. Tyres that are under or overinflated will reduce grip, worsen body roll, and increase sway.

✅ Tyre Pressure Tips:

• Check pressures when tyres are cold.

• Use a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for real-time alerts.

• Stick to the manufacturer’s recommended pressures for towing conditions.

🛞 5. Wheel Alignment Issues

Misaligned wheels cause uneven tyre wear and poor tracking, increasing resistance and the likelihood of drift or sway.

All SCT Off Road Campers & Caravans undergo a wheel alignment at Manufacture. However wheel alignments are adjustable and can be impacted by suspension settling in from new, load being added to the Caravan or knocked out of alignment by general use (ie impacts on gutters/potholes or general wear and tear).

A Wheel Alignment on your Caravan should form part of your normal maintenance just as it would on your 4wd.

✅ Prevention Tips:

• Get a full wheel alignment for both vehicle and caravan.

• Regularly inspect tyres for uneven wear.

• Align after suspension changes or before long trips.

🧍‍♂️ 6. Driving Style

Even with perfect setup, poor driving habits can trigger or worsen sway. Over-speeding, sharp overtakes, or sudden lane changes are all high-risk behaviours.

✅ Drive Like a Pro:

• Slow down—especially in wind or on uneven roads.

• Avoid abrupt steering or braking.

• Use engine braking when descending hills.

🛣️ 7. Road Conditions and Environmental Factors

Strong crosswinds, uneven road shoulders, potholes, or corrugations can disrupt caravan stability—particularly if your setup isn’t perfect.

✅ Be Road Ready:

• Reduce speed in poor road or weather conditions.

• Grip the wheel firmly when overtaking or being overtaken.

• Be cautious in remote areas with soft edges or gravel.