5th wheel trailer sway..I'm perplexed - Page 3

5picker · 08-22-2017, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W5CI

There is the Problem if you have water in the Fresh tank. IMHO

I don't know... mine is in the back.
I see no towing difference full or empty.

elind · 08-22-2017, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick_Geneseo

It sounds like it might be tail-heavy a little. Might check to see if any tanks are behind the axles and see if any difference if tanks full or empty.

It doesn't cost anything to fill up all the tanks or some of them and take it for a ride. Shifting weight could tell you what going on,.. better/ worse. If the full FW tank is in the rear and it gets worse,... bingo...you need more pin weight. If you have tanks in front of the axle, fill them up and take a drive. Water is a cheap experiment for changing weight.

Trawlerphil · 08-22-2017, 09:26 AM

I trashed my load range C "China bombs" and went to load range E at 70 lbs. on my 8528RKWS 5er which is under 9,000 lbs. Don't forget to change the valve stems. I also put Michelin load range E on the Tundra. I've put 5,280 miles on the rig since March including a trip down "the gap" in the green mountains in Vermont (10% grade for 2 miles). No problems except the 10MPG average on the Tundra towing.

kamper00 · 08-24-2017, 08:37 PM

***UPDATE***
New tires installed today. Noticeable improvement. The Maxxis load range E's are defiantly stiffer. Didn't seem as "bouncy" on the highway. Also, not scientific, but just pushing on the side of the camper was noticeable before and after...

Finally made it to the scales: Camper weighed in at 8380 (inc myself and my wife. no food but lots of clothes) pin weight 1420 which is about 17% not horrible..
Front axle 4040 F GAWR 5200
Rear axle 4520 R GAWR 6100
Camper weight 8380 Towing cap 11,200

at least I think there is enough capacity on all accounts.

thebrakeman · 08-25-2017, 01:05 PM

Looks like you are great on truck capacity, but need to add weight on the pin. Doing the math, you need another 300 lbs on the pin to get to 20%, assuming you don't have anymore weight to move forward (like you said) and actually added weight. Adding this in the forward storage bins (between axles and pin) would mean you actually need to add about 500 lbs.

Sounds like you have a new tool set and other fun stuff in your future!!!

tjheller · 08-26-2017, 05:29 AM

Throw those junk Chinese tires away. I bought a new W&P in April. 2 weeks ago a tire separated and ripped the damn fender off, then about 2 hours later one on the other side did it too, fortunately causing no damage. Thank the lord tractor supply was open. Anyways, I ordered Goodyear Endurance from the BigO nearest my destination where I was for a week. When I had them installed, low and behold a 3rd castle rock was separating and likely didn't have 25 miles left. I tow with no water, 3 dirt bikes, and the normal amount of crap we all have. The tires had about 2000 miles and I'm very cautious about dragging them around the turns when maneuvering. The Endurance pulled great and seemed to make the trailer more stable even though I'm yanking it with a F-350. Start there, you may find its the junk tires.

eyeguy1 · 08-26-2017, 07:32 AM

By the looks of it your wife get to buy more clothes. Lol. You could easily use another 500-600 lbs on the pin.
Also, (from experience) check your trailer tires. Ours came from the China Buffet and we're crap. Biased D rated. Went to Florida in April from Indiana. All 4 had to be replaced while on vacation. One had a 6inch sidewalk bubble and the other three had chunks missing and crazy looking sidewalls.
I know you need more pin weight but the 5er wheels are very important! I put heartland E Rated on. They are pretty good tires and don't cost a fortune. Our trailer seems to track a lot better with the new shoes. Hope this helps

rmac04401 · 08-26-2017, 08:13 AM

Inflate your truck tires to the max on the sidewall of tires equal for front and rear. Ignore door sticker.

It took me three months to figure this out. The door sticker was rated for tires originally came with truck and unloaded(not towing)

My door sticker was 60# front and 70# rear. I was being pushed and pulled like crazy. My numbers were spot on for weights.

Sidewalk of tires said 80# max. Inflated all tires to that level, eliminated the issue.

Cost nothing to try, and may save you some cash if that fixes your issue also.

goduc · 08-26-2017, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjheller

Throw those junk Chinese tires away. I bought a new W&P in April. 2 weeks ago a tire separated and ripped the damn fender off, then about 2 hours later one on the other side did it too, fortunately causing no damage. Thank the lord tractor supply was open. Anyways, I ordered Goodyear Endurance from the BigO nearest my destination where I was for a week. When I had them installed, low and behold a 3rd castle rock was separating and likely didn't have 25 miles left. I tow with no water, 3 dirt bikes, and the normal amount of crap we all have. The tires had about 2000 miles and I'm very cautious about dragging them around the turns when maneuvering. The Endurance pulled great and seemed to make the trailer more stable even though I'm yanking it with a F-350. Start there, you may find its the junk tires.

Maxxis aren't cheap china bombs. You Castle Rocks? definitely are.
Maxxis has a stellar rating for long lasting wear.

SlowrideHD · 08-26-2017, 10:19 AM

You need more weight on your hitch.

kamper00 · 08-28-2017, 07:46 AM

Seems the consensus is that I need more pin weight, the problem is how...there really isn't any more room to add anything. Some more clothes will be added to the bedroom but there is no room left in the pass thru storage. The fresh water is in the back and the gray and black are right near the axles.
300 to 500 # is allot when you try to find things to put in the camper...

Tiggerdad · 08-28-2017, 09:34 AM

Had a chance to check those shocks yet. Mine died early. I sometimes see vehicles with bad shocks with their tires hopping up and down when hitting any type of small bumps.

kamper00 · 08-28-2017, 09:41 AM

I did not replace the shocks yet, we are going camping this weekend not too far from home then when I get back I will pick a set of 4 up and change em' out. Seems the I knock 1 item off the "to do list" and at least 2 pop in...Ughh!

5picker · 08-28-2017, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamper00

Seems the consensus is that I need more pin weight, the problem is how...there really isn't any more room to add anything. Some more clothes will be added to the bedroom but there is no room left in the pass thru storage. The fresh water is in the back and the gray and black are right near the axles.
300 to 500 # is allot when you try to find things to put in the camper...

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamper00

I did not replace the shocks yet, we are going camping this weekend not too far from home then when I get back I will pick a set of 4 up and change em' out. Seems the I knock 1 item off the "to do list" and at least 2 pop in...Ughh!

As a test, throw something(s) in the bed of the truck between the hitch and the tailgate and see if this added weight helps. I'm not sold on the too little pin weight theory. Of the many 5th wheels I've had, loading/unloading the pin (at times) by several hundred pounds (400-500) made no difference in sway or lack of it.

Dlockwood26 · 08-29-2017, 02:39 PM

We just went from an Rockwood 8299BS to a longer somewhat heavier CC 33IK. Combination of pin weight, overall weight and length made a huge difference in trailering. Many variables to consider, but love the end result.

kamper00 · 08-29-2017, 06:40 PM

yes, I think there are more variables here, even though the last 2 5ers towed awesomely..the extra 2', change in weight and pin weight, location of axles etc obviously can have a impact of some level. Could just be that this combo of camper size and weight and truck size and weight just don't play together as other combos. The tires were an improvement, trying to figure out a shock to go with (thinking about the Bilstein 4600 or Monroe Reflex's) which should make the truck behave a bit better on rough roads.

Comanchecreek · 08-30-2017, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamper00

yes, I think there are more variables here, even though the last 2 5ers towed awesomely..the extra 2', change in weight and pin weight, location of axles etc obviously can have a impact of some level. Could just be that this combo of camper size and weight and truck size and weight just don't play together as other combos. The tires were an improvement, trying to figure out a shock to go with (thinking about the Bilstein 4600 or Monroe Reflex's) which should make the truck behave a bit better on rough roads.

I have the Bilsteins on my Chevy. Love the ride. Helped with the towing issues. Only problem was, I had the lower rubber bushing on the shocks fail causing a clunk in my front end. Happened on the left side first. Found I had a weak ball joint and in the process of replacing them I found the bad bushing. 6 months later I had the one on the right fail also. Shocks still work great but had to make bushings out of some old shocks I had laying around. All of this was 2 years down the road after installation, and I live on some pretty rough dirt roads.
I run AirLift airbags and they help control both front and back bounce and help with sway. I'm able to control the leveling of my rig also.

kamper00 · 08-30-2017, 08:37 AM

Just ordered 4 Bilstein 4600's this morning from shockwarehouse.com....thinking they will be in the end of next week, put em on on the weekend and see how they go. Was debating between the Monroe Reflex or the Bilstein and from what my research led me the Bilsteins are much better...

BTW, according to the Ford Towing guide, they recommend 15% pin weight so at 17, I am above their recommendations...but shy of the 20% as people say...will see how things are after shocks are installed.

Based upon the fact that I am putting money into my existing truck indicats a new truck is not far down the road...as historically I always sink a bucket load of money into a vehicle..then trade it in LOL (Actually I do want to hold on to my F250 as long as I can, it's a 6 spd manual and I love it!)

Dlockwood26 · 08-30-2017, 09:07 AM

I believe the axle placement on the camper really affected my results. CC is four feet longer but axles are much further back on the overall camper. Axles under the Rockwood appear almost centered.

5picker · 08-30-2017, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dlockwood26

I believe the axle placement on the camper really affected my results. CC is four feet longer but axles are much further back on the overall camper. Axles under the Rockwood appear almost centered.

I have the same 5th wheel you traded. (well, the Flagstaff model)
Mine tows straight as an arrow. No sway.

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