Stop The Madness! (And the wobble)

The one-of-a-kind gold Airstream on a cross country tour.

​Safe towing is a combination of the right components, regular maintenance, and an experienced or conscientious driver. Investing in the correct parts and upkeep before you travel will minimize issues while towing. When safe towing practices are brought up, we consider the trailer tires, bearings, and brakes. These are essential aspects of safe travel, but what about the tow vehicle?

2017 Ram 2500 with a Capri Camper

​When it comes to your tow vehicle, many items, like tires and brakes, need the same attention and upkeep as your trailer to function correctly. Your vehicle towing capacity is also critical to your ability to travel safely. A weight distribution system and sway control will help, but what can you do to your vehicle to make it more tow-worthy?

​We looked into improving our ride in our 2017 RAM 2500 when we noticed unwanted sway when we had our Capri Camper on the truck. A washboard road would create a speed wobble that, at times a little scary. The truck has more than enough capacity for the lightweight camper. Most of the time, we also tow a vintage trailer or our 24’ enclosed events trailer. We didn’t like being worried about the speed wobble phenomenon on road trips, so we looked into our options to rectify it.

Camping at Launch Point in Lake Elsinore

​Better-than-stock shock absorbers and sway bars were the typical answers we found. These were not bad ideas, but we also found SumoSprings. They seemed to be explicitly designed to address what we were experiencing. They also seemed like a quick fix that I could do myself. Our truck has coil springs, but Super Springs International makes components for almost any application.

Original Bump Stop

New SumoSprings

​SumoSprings are not made from rubber. They are a progressive spring with a very soft initial engagement. As more weight is added, the harder they get and the more resistance they give. They provide support and control when you need it without affecting the factory ride when not you’re not loaded. I replaced the factory bump stops with the SumoSprings in about an hour with a few basic tools. (SSI also makes sumo springs for your trailer to reduce vibration and create a smoother ride.)

1954 Spartan Imperial Mansion

​This one change to our suspension completely eliminated the issues we were experiencing. We can travel on washboard highways without slowing down to stop a wobble because the SumoSprings prevent the wobble/sway from even starting. This single improvement changed our ride. I ordered The SSI Super Coils to provide additional load support when we tow our bigger trailers. 

Rescuing an original 1950s Airstream loded up with the Capri

This is probably the only improvement I have ever made to a tow vehicle. I am so impressed with how it changed our towing experience that I’m not opposed to investing in a sway bar or better shock absorbers. If those little SumoSprings can make that much of a difference, how much better can I make the ride by upgrading other components? I’ll keep you posted.