M416 handling question

[JCMatthews]

I have an M416, and have towed it clear to Alaska at many different speeds. In all my many years and trips, I have only experience what you described once. That was when I did not have enough tongue weight. I now Cary 15 to 20 gallons of water up front to ensure enough tongue weight. As long as my lunett is level, it tows great empty as well.

 

[reddog01]

I have a similar trailer, an M416 that's stock. It does not sway. I pull it with a 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara four door. Try to do the following; Trailer tongue should be level. If tongue is too high, trailer will sway. Load the trailer so that weight is slightly forward of axle. Needs to be slightly tongue heavy but don't exceed the trailer tongue / hitch max. The M416's and similar are not heavy trailers and they should not be loaded to exceed their posted gross weight. Make sure your load is evenly distributed side ways as well as front / rear and it needs to be stable. Good shocks help too. Inflate tires to max when towing on highway loaded. I have towed my stock trailer (with new 8-ply tires) at 75mph with no problems. I have about 15K miles on it.

 

[calicamper]

Basic trailer stability stuff as mentioned by a few people. The longer the distance between hitch and axle the more stable the trailer. Slight nose down angle at the hitch the more stability it will have. The geometry of the trailer stability plays in how it can be packed and how fast you can tow before it gets unhappy. The more stable it is the faster you can tow. The less stable it is the lower your speed will be before it gets cranky.