We recently picked up our "new to us" travel trailer. We were taking it home from the dealer on a state highway and hit a section of road that was pretty rough and we were really bouncing a lot. After a number of miles we got out of the really rough part and the ride smoothed out but I am wondering if there is anything else we can do for when we hit those kinds of roads. The camper is about 9000 pounds dry. We pull it with a Dodge Ram 2500 diesel and have a weight distribution hitch. Anything else we need?
RonC said
02:34 PM Aug 12, 2019
Assuming tire pressure is set correctly, I would suggest installing a good set of shocks for the trailer ... and of course slow down.
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 12th of August 2019 02:37:47 PM
LarryW21 said
05:14 PM Aug 12, 2019
Could the WDH be over tensioned? Try backing it off one link.
Bill and Linda said
03:05 PM Aug 15, 2019
Weight Distributing Hitches can work really well, or not, if not properly adjusted. The question is, is it properly adjusted per the manufactures recommendations and equally important, is the ball height when the truck is disconnected the same as the height of the trailer coupler when the trailer is level not connected to the truck. I.e. they should be the same off the ground.
If all the setup is not "just so" then the rig will not run correctly. Further, with the 2500HD's ratings it could be masking improper hitch adjustment. The rig, when connected, should ride level and the truck front height should not have changed from connected or not. Again, assuming proper installation and adjustment of the hitch.
"Bouncing" can certainly occur especially with too little weight on the front axle of the truck. A close inspection of all the parameters from the hitch installation and adjustment manual could solve you problems. All has to be correct and just adjusting the torsion bars if all other parameters are not correct can make the problem worse.
Finally, one wants to make sure the equalizing hitch bars are designed for the weight of the trailer. A lot of "pad" in capacity is actually not a good thing with a WDH or "equalizing" hitch. They must be sized to the trailer weight wise by both trailer GVWR and trailer tongue weight.
We recently picked up our "new to us" travel trailer. We were taking it home from the dealer on a state highway and hit a section of road that was pretty rough and we were really bouncing a lot. After a number of miles we got out of the really rough part and the ride smoothed out but I am wondering if there is anything else we can do for when we hit those kinds of roads. The camper is about 9000 pounds dry. We pull it with a Dodge Ram 2500 diesel and have a weight distribution hitch. Anything else we need?
Assuming tire pressure is set correctly, I would suggest installing a good set of shocks for the trailer ... and of course slow down.
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 12th of August 2019 02:37:47 PM
Weight Distributing Hitches can work really well, or not, if not properly adjusted. The question is, is it properly adjusted per the manufactures recommendations and equally important, is the ball height when the truck is disconnected the same as the height of the trailer coupler when the trailer is level not connected to the truck. I.e. they should be the same off the ground.
If all the setup is not "just so" then the rig will not run correctly. Further, with the 2500HD's ratings it could be masking improper hitch adjustment. The rig, when connected, should ride level and the truck front height should not have changed from connected or not. Again, assuming proper installation and adjustment of the hitch.
"Bouncing" can certainly occur especially with too little weight on the front axle of the truck. A close inspection of all the parameters from the hitch installation and adjustment manual could solve you problems. All has to be correct and just adjusting the torsion bars if all other parameters are not correct can make the problem worse.
Finally, one wants to make sure the equalizing hitch bars are designed for the weight of the trailer. A lot of "pad" in capacity is actually not a good thing with a WDH or "equalizing" hitch. They must be sized to the trailer weight wise by both trailer GVWR and trailer tongue weight.
Bill