I-80 Road Bumpy - what to do??

[Canadiancrew]

Originally Posted by EDABEUT

If you want to drive a really bad interstate try I-69 south in Michigan between I-96 and I-94. It's like riding a roller coaster from all the semi traffic. Been like that for years. I have my WDH set up as good as it can get and have little to no problems anywhere else. Not sure if you have leaf springs or coils. I plan to buy the Roadhandler suspension kit for mine with the leaf springs.

We have done that route a couple of times this year and it is brutal. As some mentioned in regard to i80. Sometimes it's the wheelbase and the distance to the axles. But that piece of highway just causes our truck to buck and then the trailer bucks and kicks the back of the truck and the whole thing starts to oscillate and about bounces us out of our seats. Drove 5000 km out west this summer and that was the worst piece although there are some bad spots in the trans Canada in the Winnipeg area.


I haven't been on i80 in a few years but last time out that way it was the same thing with our truck and trailer. It's not a Ram suspension issue.

[SilhouettePenny]

Originally Posted by tommybill

Do we need to do something with the camper??

Thanks, Tommybill

Do an Amazon search for "trailer shocks" and choose one of the Lippert shock mount kits. 281255 for 3.4k axles or 281281 for 5-8k axles. The shocks provided with these kits are really cheap China no-names so run 'em for a year then change them out for Monroe gas shocks part # 555025, also Amazon or NAPA. Much better ride with the shock kit and even better with the shock upgrade. Self threading bolts (not self tapping screws) can be found at Fastenal.

[CaptnJohn]

The last time I was on 80 still had the TT. Found speed made the difference. It was the best at either 57 or 71 mph. Don't figure on ever going that way again so how about fixing 95 in Ga and Fl as the right lane is hardly driveable. Sc has some bad spots too and not going to go 80 in the left lane to keep the 5er from being run over.

[tommybill]

Many thanks for all the replies. Sounds like I need to look at suspension system. Will definite look into the receiver hitch airbag. Had never heard of it. Lot of good suggestions. We've been on a lot of concrete roads and several ride smooth. these just didn't and it wasn't because of poor condition. they couldn't have been more than 2-3 years old. It was just the resonance setup from the concrete.

[PSU Turf]

Originally Posted by walljammer

A lot has to do with wheel base
and distance to axles on trailer!

The first long(ish) trip we took with our trailer was on Hwy 41 in WI. My tow vehicle was a 2003 Chevy 2500HD, 4WD, standard can, 8' box. If I drove over 55 mph we had trouble talking because of the bumps. The next year we took the same route with a 2015 GMC 2500HD, 4WD, double cab, short box. It was tremendously smoother with a different wheelbase. We had the same WDH.


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[Major Oz]

I have few complaints about interstates.........

We don't use them, unless we absolutely must.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by PSU Turf

The first long(ish) trip we took with our trailer was on Hwy 41 in WI. My tow vehicle was a 2003 Chevy 2500HD, 4WD, standard can, 8' box. If I drove over 55 mph we had trouble talking because of the bumps. The next year we took the same route with a 2015 GMC 2500HD, 4WD, double cab, short box. It was tremendously smoother with a different wheelbase. We had the same WDH.


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Do you think the big difference was your truck that you upgraded to?

[AquaMan]

Of the 11k miles I put on the camper this spring/summer I-75 through downtown Indianapolis was the absolute worst! I thought I was going to lose an axle a couple of times.


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[salwolfe]

After visiting FR factory warranty service in Elkhart this summer (very efficient fix on a couple of warranty items), no more than 2 hours out of Elkhart in Michigan a bone rattling road caused our 50+" window shade over the couch to fall to the floor. Both clips had broken. Cel in warranty service sent me new clips so I was able to reattach the shade. Maybe I94 (?) - thought my fillings were going to fall out.

[CaptnJohn]

It is old road building engineering, not vehicle. I believe speed over expansion joint distance will make a bigger difference than vehicle suspension additions.

[CAT-RN]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

Of the 11k miles I put on the camper this spring/summer I-75 through downtown Indianapolis was the absolute worst! I thought I was going to lose an axle a couple of times.


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Were you sober when you went thru Indy ?

I only ask because I-75 is maybe 200 mile from Indy??

Now if you might of been on I-65 I would agree it a bit rough. And does go thru Indy.

Blurry vision is a factor at times ?

Russell

[BandJCarm]

Had these installed at the Goshen Rally.

Joy Rider

Made a big difference.........but nothing will make bumpy roads smooth.

I've always wondered what a road made up of ground up orange barrels would be like........

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by CAT-RN

Were you sober when you went thru Indy ?

I only ask because I-75 is maybe 200 mile from Indy??

Now if you might of been on I-65 I would agree it a bit rough. And does go thru Indy.

Blurry vision is a factor at times ?

Russell

I meant to say I-70. I live near the intersection of the two and am on them all the time and for some reason had 75 on the brain.


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[CAT-RN]

I figured you intended I-65. But I-70 right there to. Lol. Fingers don't always type what our head tells them to.

Russell

[Skyliner]

On concrete I find that adjusting my vehicle's speed usually resolves the issue. Unfortunately, on my truck and the concrete around here, the magic number is79 mph and faster.

Good think I have LT tires. Speed police, please keep your comments to yourself.

[CAT-RN]

Well if 79 mph is magic number to be smooth. I guess I just see the bumps. I sure never see 79 mph !!

Russell

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by CAT-RN

Well if 79 mph is magic number to be smooth. I guess I just see the bumps. I sure never see 79 mph !!

Russell

It seems every road will have a different magic number for every different vehicle. Western I-80 is 57 and 71 for the vehicle I had at the time. Still searching for the number(s) on I-95 N in FL

[Roger2650]

Drive through Birmingham, AL. one time and tell me about a bumpy road. lol

[DAISY BOYKIN]

I discovered a route when traveling I-75 to Cincinnati and on to Goshen Via I-74. At exit 113 on I-74, take state road 9 north to I-69 North.

This will keep you out of Indianapolis and will cut off distance. The highway
9 is a pretty good smooth two lane road. This will cut off approximately 25
miles.

[DAISY BOYKIN]

Roger 2650 is right about Birmingham, Will knock your fillings out. I was born, raised there. Left the backwards part of the state in 1958. Was there last October just traveling through. Could not believe the decay of the city and roads.