Trailer alignment/ death wobble

Seand76 · 05-02-2019, 08:49 PM

So last year I went through many threads and created my own. I bought a brand new 2019 sig ultra lite 8327ss. On the way home I had braking issues. Turns out they had a recall on the dexter axle. I was getting ready to drop the unit at camping works for replacement through dexter and had no brakes and realized the sway hitch was under rated. After they replaced the axles I used an Anderson hitch still had intermittent issues. Very spontaneous and random not like normal sway. I returned the Anderson thought maybe I was too close to the tw. Went to blue ox 2k the tech said it was right for my set up. Wrong. The wobble or sway was so bad. Blue ox said I was over distributing-to back and drop wasn’t deep enough and wanted more money even though they sold me on my specs. So now I’m vested in the Hensley still it’s like the camper at random is trying to go another direction with the Hensley I can see it moving in the mirror when we are going straight no wind at 45-50 can’t really go faster. Now it’s back at camping world they said not liable for rockwood camper but they installed the axles. I guess my question is what on earth. Bad install bad axles no aligned. Has anyone heard of such a thing. I’m looking for suggestions or has anyone experienced this.

Tow vehicle is a 2018 f150 eco with max tow and payload. I’m not even close to my numbers and with the Hensley really come on.

**Mr. Dan** · 05-02-2019, 08:55 PM

Exactly what do you mean by "max tow and payload"? What does your door sticker say your payload is?

woo10-210 · 05-02-2019, 09:03 PM

Have you taken it to the Cat scales to get the actual weights? That TT is 9,000 lbs dry, probably 10K or more loaded plus the TW is 1,200 dry and I'm guessing 1,400 to 1,500 loaded plus the hitch. It's also a 36' sail behind a 5,500+- pound TV.

Seand76 · 05-02-2019, 09:50 PM

I have not taken to the scales. I’m basing off 10k on trailer and 1300 max on tongue. I have however used a tw scales loaded it was 1252. I thought about trading for a 250 and even the dealer says it’s a trailer issue. What it’s doing even if I was over loaded is coming from trailer.
Max tow is a package
Hd payload is an option
I know how all the math works but again 45mph with a Hensley rowing level. I feel like the axles swap didn’t go as planned.

I’ll add a little extra info when I had no brakes after picking up the unit I towed it back to Charlotte from myrtle Beach almost 4 hours and didn’t have any issues other than brakes with a 1k wd tow bars which was under rated.

Seand76 · 05-02-2019, 09:51 PM

I’ll check the sticker in am. I believe the payload is 3400 and max tow is 13 and change. The sticker on receiver says 1400. I believe max combined is 18900

CincyGus · 05-02-2019, 10:10 PM

Never heard of a half ton any kinda truck with 3400 lbs of payload.

Seand76 · 05-02-2019, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Exactly what do you mean by "max tow and payload"? What does your door sticker say your payload is?

Max tow and hd are options

Seand76 · 05-02-2019, 10:22 PM

If I were describe the feeling it’s almost like a brake is engaging and releasing on one side randomly. Hard to tell if it’s one side or both but you’ll be driving along and it feels like the camper wants to dart a different direction. With the Hensley hitch it’s more defined feeling now. Wind and trucks don’t cause any sway with the new hitch. Only anomaly is the axle replacement.

dward51 · 05-02-2019, 11:48 PM

Axle replacement would have also meant they disconnect the brake wiring. You might want to double check their re-connections. Could have an intermittent issue? Has your brake controller thrown any codes on the display?

Another suggestion. With the trailer not hooked up to a tow vehicle, jack up one side so the tires will spin freely (or if you have enough jacks or jack stands, raise the entire trailer with all tires off the ground). Have someone hand spin the tires on that side one at a time while you pull the break-a-way switch pin. Pop the pin back in and do the other tire. Then repeat on other side. All the tires should stop spinning very suddenly as soon as pin is pulled on the break-a-way. If not, you know there is a problem in the brake wires between the battery and the brake assembly/hub as that brake is not engaging. You also know which hub and axle to start with in back tracking the issue in the wiring. Your trailer battery will need a decent charge on it for this.

I would also check the voltage with brakes applied (pin pulled) at each hub. They could have made a crappy connection when they installed the new axle and reconnected the wires. If the voltages are all pretty much equal, that's not it. If 1 or more are way off, start looking at the wiring from that hub.

One other thought, check all the suspension bolts on the axle they replaced. I would check everything from the spring u-bolts, shackles, equalizer, everything. If it's not tightened properly there could be enough play in the system for it to shift randomly. That would not throw a brake code.

If you do the "break-a-way" test, try shaking each tire and axle while they are up off the ground and look for significant play in the system or even an individual hub (could be early bearing failure?). Spin the tire and listen to the sound. The brake's should make a very light drag sound as it spins (that's normal), but if you have clunking or grinding, you need to pull that hub and inspect the bearings and spindle.

There are plenty of stories recently about new rigs not having properly lubed bearings from the factory (and recalls for same).

dward51 · 05-03-2019, 12:32 AM

I just thought of one more possibility. Did they adjust the brakes (or all of the brakes) when the new axles were installed? The star wheel needs to be turned to set the initial contact, and then they will need to burnish or break in a little (assuming they replaced the entire axle assembly and not just the axle tube). Brakes working well on one side and not as well due to poor/no adjustment on the other could cause the motion you described.

Cody_Nord · 05-03-2019, 03:20 PM

I tried pulling a 8312ss with a f150 eco boost and didn't have any luck. Sway was bad even with a equalizer hitch. Went to an F350 and barely know it's back there now.

tomkatb · 05-03-2019, 04:21 PM

#1200 tongue empty. + #250 for load. +#250 hitch. + fuel and folks #600.

So payload of #2300 my guess. Go weigh it.

Fords literature is exremey variable from #1800 to #3200. Hard to read. Compared to Ram it is awful.

Go weigh the truck. The four door fancy truck is #1800.

Might even be overloading the tires.

Plus, the lever arm of a trailer hitch. Is the rear higher than the front?

But, you have the best hitch on earth. If that doesn’t do it.

Think you are in 3/4 ton land.

Maggot · 05-03-2019, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CincyGus

Never heard of a half ton any kinda truck with 3400 lbs of payload.

I know one that has 3000. Old 02 1500hd.

nodrawers · 05-03-2019, 04:33 PM

I guarantee you that you're tv tires can cause that exact problem. Even with a much lighter trailer.

J.Shea · 05-03-2019, 07:02 PM

Had the same problem with my 2011 f150 super crew towing a 28’ Evo. Nothing would help including 3/4 ton tires. Finally found that my hitch bar was not tight in the trucks sleeve. It could move side to side 1/4” or more. Bought a clamp that tightens the shaft in the Receiver. All sway is gone. Don’t even need a sway bar.

6331 · 05-03-2019, 07:27 PM

Be sure your TV tire pressures are at max!!!!!! Lots of scary stories at even 5 psi under!

Seand76 · 05-04-2019, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cody_Nord

I tried pulling a 8312ss with a f150 eco boost and didn't have any luck. Sway was bad even with a equalizer hitch. Went to an F350 and barely know it's back there now.

You can’t have sway at all with a Hensley the hitch no longer turns on the balls

Seand76 · 05-04-2019, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6331

Be sure your TV tire pressures are at max!!!!!! Lots of scary stories at even 5 psi under!

I upgraded to e1 tires. Cold Preasure is at max.

Seand76 · 05-04-2019, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodrawers

I guarantee you that you're tv tires can cause that exact problem. Even with a much lighter trailer.

So you don’t think that the new axles have anything to do with it being before the swap I didn’t have the issue

Seand76 · 05-04-2019, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomkatb

#1200 tongue empty. + #250 for load. +#250 hitch. + fuel and folks #600.

So payload of #2300 my guess. Go weigh it.

Fords literature is exremey variable from #1800 to #3200. Hard to read. Compared to Ram it is awful.

Go weigh the truck. The four door fancy truck is #1800.

Might even be overloading the tires.

Plus, the lever arm of a trailer hitch. Is the rear higher than the front?

But, you have the best hitch on earth. If that doesn’t do it.

Think you are in 3/4 ton land.

The trailer does the same thing with my friends f250

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