5th wheel sways after a dip

Miverson · 08-22-2018, 07:17 AM

I have 40' fifth wheel Cardinal, towing with Dodge Ram 2500. When I come off bridges hitting dip in road ,it sways back and forth. What could be problem.

**KyDan** · 08-22-2018, 07:32 AM

Bump- new member - can you help??

timerie · 08-22-2018, 07:53 AM

Just from the look of it your truck is undersized for the 5th wheel. Maximum payload of a 2018 2500 Ram crew cab is #2350 minus about #400-500 pounds of hitch and people weight to start brings your pin weight max down to about #1900. The pin weight of average Cardinal is about #3000 to 3200. That puts you about #1300 over capacity. You should weigh your unit to validate.

valleyduo · 08-22-2018, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miverson

I have 40' fifth wheel Cardinal, towing with Dodge Ram 2500. When I come off bridges hitting dip in road ,it sways back and forth. What could be problem.

Check your tire pressures on the camper and the truck.. Different pressures can make one side "bounce" differently than the other. How fast are you driving? Regardless of what they tell you these things are not made for high speed driving. Is the trailer loaded heavier to one side?

Iwannacamp · 08-22-2018, 08:21 AM

I am feared that Timerie may be on something. I would check the truck cargo capacity and start there. I think some of the gassers have app. 3000# of cargo, but the diesel kills the capacity. I saw one at 1800# and was amazed(mine is 2065, but it is old). My buddy has my truck in a 2015 1 ton...his is 5700#

I also think Valleydo has an extremely valid point at tire ratings/pressures. Get the rating from the tires(I.E. 117N) convert to rating and make sure they are rated for the weight you are carrying. Inflate to max pressure listed on the side wall. My rear tires are at 80 PSI... do I feel the stripes? Yes, but it drives good.

CHICKDOE · 08-22-2018, 09:28 AM

i am not an expert. we have a 40 foot cardinal. these things weight over 16,000 lbs. our pin weight is around 3500 lbs. when we looked at tow trucks the 2500 was not rated for this type of weight. i cannot tell you that it is the weight that causes the sway. but if you are overloading the truck it may be a contributing factor. is the sway side to side or up and down?

woodrockin · 08-22-2018, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

I am feared that Timerie may be on something. I would check the truck cargo capacity and start there. I think some of the gassers have app. 3000# of cargo, but the diesel kills the capacity. I saw one at 1800# and was amazed(mine is 2065, but it is old). My buddy has my truck in a 2015 1 ton...his is 5700#

I also think Valleydo has an extremely valid point at tire ratings/pressures. Get the rating from the tires(I.E. 117N) convert to rating and make sure they are rated for the weight you are carrying. Inflate to max pressure listed on the side wall. My rear tires are at 80 PSI... do I feel the stripes? Yes, but it drives good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

i am not an expert. we have a 40 foot cardinal. these things weight over 16,000 lbs. our pin weight is around 3500 lbs. when we looked at tow trucks the 2500 was not rated for this type of weight. i cannot tell you that it is the weight that causes the sway. but if you are overloading the truck it may be a contributing factor. is the sway side to side or up and down?

Agreed. A 2500 is not enough for that trailer.

BandJCarm · 08-22-2018, 10:03 AM

Too much trailer, not enough truck.

BUT, I'd also check the positioning of the hitch in truck. Is it behind the axles maybe?

clr · 08-22-2018, 10:09 AM

I would strongly recommend that your next stop be a scale to determine exactly what weights you are talking about here. I pull a 40 foot Sanibel slightly lighter I think than you fifth wheel with a Ford F350 dual rear wheel truck and I have no problem. Sorry but I really think that you do not have a big enough truck to safely pull your fifth wheel.

rzr4playtime · 08-22-2018, 10:12 AM

Just from my experience, 5th wheel weight. We had a similar issue with dips in the road, 3/4 ton gas (8.1) and 14k 5th wheel. Increased air pressure in truck tires to 80 psi, about 5% improvement. Added air bags and set pressure to 45 psi, about 30% improvement. Replaced 5th wheel tires from "E @ 80 psi" to "G @ 110 psi", about 20% improvement. Began to apply trailer brakes at every dip posted or we could see, about 20% improvement. We were satisfied with our setup with 1 to 2 hr trips, though dreaded 4 to 8 hr trip. We now own a dually to suite our current needs. Boils down to what will satisfy your needs and meet your budget.

Jim34RL · 08-22-2018, 10:30 AM

What year of truck and what size tires are you using on this truck? Is this a diesel or gas engine truck? What style of cab Crew, Mega or Regular, Long bed or short bed truck? This information will help us in providing intelligent information and not opinions of what your truck can or can't haul. What model of Cardinal trailer do you have, hitch and pin box?

All so, have you weighed this trailer and truck on a certified truck scale? This to will help!

I am towing a "34RL" (this is 37' long) 2016 Cedar Creek with a 2008 Ram Mega Cab 2500 6.7L Diesel with no problems at all. Tows like a dream, I can start, stop and pull this all day long. I have traveled from Utah to Florida and up to Maine and back with this truck and trailer putting on over 30,000 miles. But my truck is set up for towing a heavy load.

changing it up a bit · 08-22-2018, 01:57 PM

I will give you my experience with pulling my Cardinal 5th wheel this year. I have a silverado 3500, 8ft bed, 7500 air lift bags at 30 psi, b and W hitch mounted in a 8 ft bed. Gross weight 16200 lbs. I have pulled now 20000 miles and intentionally built the truck to do this. I am not sure but if you have a short bed, no air bags, and your hitch is not in good working order these problems would show themselves. I have pulled over the rockies, in Texas winds, and torrential downpours, and some off the worst roads in america, and I have no worries when towing the rig. Your truck is light for the work, but you can make it work.

Slow Moon · 08-23-2018, 02:54 PM

FWIW as a comparison data point for anyone reading: My stock suspension 2006 F250 Superduty, Supercab, Shortbed, 6.0L Diesel SRW 4x4 with Heavy Duty Tow Package (yellow sticker payload 2521 LB) with lots of extra weight (don't ask) in cab and bed has been fine over 10,000 miles handling my 14,500 LB 5th Wheel with "brochure" dry-weight tongue at 2,000 LB. Whether it could handle any more I cannot say, but I would not try a 16,000LB 5er. Michelin LTs at 80psi on the truck & Sailun S637Ts at 110psi on the 5er noticeably improved handling.

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