Towing Improvement Mods?

[mekkerlc]

We are about to start our second season with our TV and 5'r in April. Our first season, last year, was great, but the towing experience seemed less than satisfactory. Some bucking, minor bouncing, etc. Unfortunately, I have nothing to compare it to as this is our first truck/5'r experience.

I've been reading some posts on those who had a better experience towing after they changed out the shocks on their TV. So that brings me to my question...what 'small' modifications can I do to help the towing experience for me and my family of six?

Shocks?
Sway Bar?
Pin Box?

I just assumed that buying a late model (2013) 1-ton Diesel meant I would be getting the best towing experience without the need of modifications.

[18CrewDually]

The best improvement would be dual rear wheels and a long bed crewcab.
But if you're stuck with a shorty single wheel an air ride pinbox hitch will help smooth things out.
Shocks is second and most underrated. Many use Bilstein. I just installed Rancho and it is night and day. Along with that airbags can also help.

[ependydad]

I think before I went to an air-ride pin box, I'd put shocks on the trailer.

Then it'd be a toss up between shocks or airbags on the truck.

[mekkerlc]

Seems Shocks on the truck is the easiest thing to do first...and will be 'somewhat' useful outside of towing as its my daily driver.
Maybe I'll get a price on adding shocks to trailer too...but thats harder to get done as getting it to a camper places is not always fun!

[Jim34RL]

First off how many miles are on you TV? The shocks might be OK. My TV has 103K on the original shocks and they still working.

I have owned three different 5er's and two of them have had the Trail Air pin box installed on them. I installed one myself on a 318SAB Cougar in 2011, to improve the ride and it did work. I than ordered one to be installed on my 2016, 34RL Cedar Creek at the factory. I will never tow a 5th wheel without a Trail Air pin box unless I had an air ride hitch to take the place of the Trail Air pin box.

Just my very humble opinion.

[BandJCarm]

If you are GOING to change something............and this is an opinion, and one of a relative newbie........but one who had issues like this from the gitgo.......I'd do this, in this order:

1) Bilstein shocks for truck
2) Air bags
3) Get the trailer axles aligned. Mine were 3/4" off from each other from the factory. Aligning them made a huge difference.
4) Trailer shocks.
5) Air hitch, like HitchCrafter
6) New dually
7) Drink heavily.

[BandJCarm]

And I do NOT mean this to be argumentative, because I have no opinion and no real comparison knowledge.

But this is the first post I've read that had chucking problems WITH the Andersen hitch.

[Brother Les]

Tire Pressure Monitoring System...... (For camper and tow vehicle)

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by Brother Les

Tire Pressure Monitoring System...... (For camper and tow vehicle)

Did you read the OP? I can't see how that would help.

[Brother Les]

Brother Les...Tire Pressure Monitoring System...... (For camper and tow vehicle)

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Did you read the OP? I can't see how that would help.

thank-you for posting.... but this is what Mekkerlc asked...

"mekkerlc...what 'small' modifications can I do to help the towing experience for me and my family of six?"

I read the OP.... and the meaning seems to be... 'ride', 'smoothness', 'power'...

But to help with the towing 'experience' is also the 'calmness', 'safety', 'less stress'. and that comes with having TMPS to 'watch' and 'monitor' your tires......

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by Brother Les

thank-you for posting.... but this is what Mekkerlc asked...

I read the OP.... and the meaning seems to be... 'ride', 'smoothness', 'power'...

But to help with the towing 'experience' is also the 'calmness', 'safety', 'less stress'. and that comes with having TMPS to 'watch' and 'monitor' your tires......

Well I guess he ran out and bought a TPMS and it cured his issues of bucking, minor bouncing, etc. even though he was inquiring about
Shocks?
Sway Bar?
Pin Box?

[Funhaus]

I guess if TPMS is a good answer than I'm going with GPS it helps you get to your destination "safely, smoothly and with less stress".
Sorry won't do anything for your bucking, chucking and bouncing.
My suggestions would be new shocks for TV and a different Pin Box, I have the Moryde Pin Box and the B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch and I hardly notice my 5er behing me.

[mekkerlc]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

And I do NOT mean this to be argumentative, because I have no opinion and no real comparison knowledge.

But this is the first post I've read that had chucking problems WITH the Andersen hitch.

I agree...In all my reading, most all Andersen owners don't have issues with bucking etc. Only thing Andersen said for me to do was to tighten the hitch down more than the recommended torque. I did, and it didn't make a difference.

Truck has about 83k on it.

Thanks for all the suggestions...Seems the shocks are the consensus. And I'll try and get the trailer in for a once over on the tires and axles...Maybe they will spot an alignment issue.

TPMS is definitely on my wish list... Thinking that will come just before our cross country trip summer 2018. This April we head to Florida...And in July head to Maine.

[Dwilcox]

Just have a tow behind, the 250 hauled just fine, but after shocks, steering stabilizer, air bags. Tows much smoother. But the TPMS made it fun to tow as no worry so about the tires way back there that I did not even feel when one went down then ripped up the trailer on that side. Saw things flapping in the wind and found at that point. Cost some $$$ to fix. TPMS installed and caught one on deflation and another blow out we did not hear as to noise in a construction site rough road, no damage to fix so paid for itself several times over.