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Old 07-15-2013, 02:49 PM   #1
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Roo Porpoising

I bought a 2008 Roo 23SS from Camping World last month. Moved up from a popup to the hybrid which meant moving up to a WD hitch setup as well. Camping World setup the hitch and connected the truck for me.

After fixing a slight sway issue I noticed how much my 08 Titan was porpoising while driving on the interstate. It made me feel uncomfortable to say the least.

I read up on how to setup and verify the WD hitch so this past weekend I decided to check mine. Here's what I did, feedback welcome!

Leveled the Roo, 16 inches ground to frame, front and rear.
Measured the trailer coupler height - 20.5 inches.
Measured the height of the hitch ball - 24 inches.
Measured ground to upper part of wheel wells - 34.75 rear, 34.25 front.

Everything I read said the hitch ball should be within an inch of the 20.5 inch coupler height. So I lowered mine to 22. (closest I could get with current setup).

Reattached camper, set WD bars on 6th chain lug.
Bars are near level with ground.
Truck rear well height 34. Front 34.75.

Does that sound properly setup? I haven't had the change to drive it, wil do so tonight.
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Old 07-15-2013, 02:59 PM   #2
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I got sort of confused reading all the measurement you have posted there... Is the trailer sitting level when hooked with the w/d hitch and all the weight on the truck?
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Old 07-15-2013, 02:59 PM   #3
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What are you wheel well measurements on the truck without the trailer hooked up?
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:14 PM   #4
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Quote:
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What are you wheel well measurements on the truck without the trailer hooked up?
From the OP's post;
"Measured ground to upper part of wheel wells - 34.75 rear, 34.25 front"
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:19 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by avolnek View Post
I got sort of confused reading all the measurement you have posted there... Is the trailer sitting level when hooked with the w/d hitch and all the weight on the truck?
From what I can gather, the ball height of the truck unloaded was 22 inches, then the truck dropped .75 inch with the camper on, for a final height of 21.25 inches.
His Roo coupler height was 20.5 inches when the camper was level.
So it would seem that with the camper hooked up, it would be .75 inch high in the front.
Could he just have very weak shocks on the truck, or maybe he is running too low a pressure or has P-rated tires on his truck?
Curious.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:24 PM   #6
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I don't believe tire pressure would create a lot of proposing... It can produce some but I don't feel it would be the issue. I would agree that the springs may be a bit on the weak side.

It's possible you need to let it squat a little more to allow it to sit on the over load springs or install air bags/timbren springs... I highly recommend air bags, as I have had them on a number of trucks and really help the ride of bumper pulls as well as help with stability of the rig...
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:34 PM   #7
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Trailer and truck apart....
Leveled the Roo, 16 inches ground to frame, front and rear.
Measured the trailer coupler height - 20.5 inches.
Measured the height of the (TV) hitch ball - 24 inches.
Measured ground to upper part of wheel wells on TV - 34.75 rear, 34.25 front.


TV and TT attached to each other:
(Attached camper, set WD bars on 6th chain lug.)
Bars are near level with ground.
Truck rear height now 34. Front 34.75.

Did not measure height of coupler and hitch ball when the TT is attached to the TV.

I hope that clears things up.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:36 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avolnek View Post
I got sort of confused reading all the measurement you have posted there... Is the trailer sitting level when hooked with the w/d hitch and all the weight on the truck?
Looks it but I need to measure. Is the object to return the TT to the original height?
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:40 PM   #9
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Just installed new Bilsteins 2 months ago.

I'm not opposed to air bags, Santa can get them for me.

My biggest question is that Camping World had my hitch setup at 24 inches. I lowered it to 22 inches. Did I gain or loose anything? Does it make a bit of difference? I am under the impression it should have.


Quote:
Originally Posted by avolnek View Post
I don't believe tire pressure would create a lot of proposing... It can produce some but I don't feel it would be the issue. I would agree that the springs may be a bit on the weak side.

It's possible you need to let it squat a little more to allow it to sit on the over load springs or install air bags/timbren springs... I highly recommend air bags, as I have had them on a number of trucks and really help the ride of bumper pulls as well as help with stability of the rig...
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:41 PM   #10
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Quote:
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Looks it but I need to measure. Is the object to return the TT to the original height?

NO! It is supposed to evenly distribute the weight amongst the truck's axles as well as the campers axles! You do want the truck to squat some to accept the load. You are really looking for the leaf springs to engage the overloads to get your most stability. If it sags too much before engaging the over loads air bags another style of helper would be the way to go....

Sounds like you may be trying to get too much weight distribution... I'd back off a link or two and see how it sits... You shouldn't need much with your rig combo.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:42 PM   #11
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Looks it but I need to measure. Is the object to return the TT to the original height?
We always got the tv and tt level and made sure we had good hd shocks on all 4 corners of the tv. I also recommend air bags, always had either airbags or air shocks. The do make a big difference.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:43 PM   #12
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the height of the ball is only going to affect the "levelness" of the trailer... I always try to get the truck leveled and then figure out where the ball needs to be on the shank.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:51 PM   #13
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OK. So ball height on TV, not a big deal.

If I'm to return the TV to unloaded height, how does that but enough weight on the rear springs?
Or maybe I'm not understanding.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:55 PM   #14
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Ball height is going to adjust the level of the trailer.. so no it's not that big of deal for the truck... If you are returning the truck back to unloaded height you are almost certainly creating too much torsion with the w/d bars... I would suggest dropping down a chain link or two and trying that to see if it rides better. Creating too much torsion there will just turn the hitch into a spring, and every time you hit a bump it will bounce as a spring would...
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Old 07-15-2013, 04:19 PM   #15
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The manual for my truck (yes as a matter of fact I did read it) says to measure the front wheel well height with no load. Connect trailer and measure top of wheel well. Adjust chains to take half the rise out. They indicate this will give you correct weight distribution. I don't understand WDH theory but this always worked for us. Bought a fifth wheel last fall so not a problem anymore. I did take OldCoots advice and got airbags and found they do make the ride very nice.
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Old 07-15-2013, 04:56 PM   #16
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OK. That makes sense.

I'm at 6 chain links between bar and the cleat mounted on the trailer frame. Originally I was at 5.
I'll hook up and take new measurements to make sure we have accurate #s to work with.

Quote:
Originally Posted by avolnek View Post
Ball height is going to adjust the level of the trailer.. so no it's not that big of deal for the truck... If you are returning the truck back to unloaded height you are almost certainly creating too much torsion with the w/d bars... I would suggest dropping down a chain link or two and trying that to see if it rides better. Creating too much torsion there will just turn the hitch into a spring, and every time you hit a bump it will bounce as a spring would...
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Old 07-15-2013, 07:29 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by avolnek View Post
.

It's possible you need to let it squat a little more to allow it to sit on the over load springs ...
Isn't that what the WDH is supposed to eliminate?
If the truck is down on the overloads, with all of the weight hanging off the back bumper, won't the front end be so high as to make steering uncomfortable?
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Old 07-15-2013, 07:40 PM   #18
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TV and TT attached to each other:
(Attached camper, set WD bars on 6th chain lug.)
Bars are near level with ground.
Truck rear height now 34. Front 34.75.

Did not measure height of coupler and hitch ball when the TT is attached to the TV.

I hope that clears things up.
I just installed a new Equal-i-zer hitch and I think after you set the hitch height you need 3 more measurements.

Ground to inside top of fender, front and back wheels.

A. Without the TT hooked up. Truck loaded as it would be for travel.
B. With TT hooked up, no WD bars and tong jack off the ground.
C. With TT hooked up, WD bars in place and tong jack off the ground.

You need the front "C" measurement to be the same as or slightly higher than the front "A" measurement. The rear "C" measurement should be between the rear "A" and "B", much closer to "A" and never higher than rear "A".

I'm sure you know there is no "perfect" set-up, just as close as you can get it.
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Old 07-15-2013, 07:49 PM   #19
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There is not enough tongue weight try it without the WD hitch as it might be making it worse.
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Old 07-15-2013, 08:17 PM   #20
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Thanks for all the help, I appreciate the feedback. My little popup didnt require more then a antisway.

I went to the store and a nice flat parking lot and remeasured and reset.

Heights are as follows - No TT: TT no WD: TT w\WD
Rear center - 21 5\8 : 19 1\4 : 21
Front center - 25 3\8 : 26 1\4 : 25 1\2

I measured the wheel wells but looking at my notes I cant make sense of it.

I'm on the 7th link from the bar. Bars point down just a hair. I could get one side on the 6th link but the other was difficult. I may be able to pick the trailer up a bit more, get both on 6th. Can try

I measured the wheel wells but looking at my notes I cant make sense of it.

On the way home it porpoised a bit but was really noticeable when I let off the gas.
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