Towing Changed

scottnlindsay · 07-02-2019, 09:33 AM

Just curious if anyone else ever had this happen. Last year travel trailer towed great. I have not changed anything, and this year the rear of truck feels squirrely when towing. Again, nothing has changed. Any ideas?

Thanks, Scott

Joe_GA · 07-02-2019, 09:43 AM

Tire pressures on truck and camper the same as last year? WDH hooked up properly with anti sway device?

Martsing · 07-02-2019, 09:45 AM

Maybe the adjustments on the hitch are somehow changed. Not knowing what kind of hitch you have my guess would be that it somehow got out of adjustment. Maybe as the hitch is used it gets "broken in" and needs to be readjusted?

That would be my first guess anyway.

Marty

Pure Luck · 07-02-2019, 09:51 AM

I had the same thing happen this trip. We go to the florida keys a lot, and the trailer pulled like a dream with no load/sway control. No sway, no bouncing, nothing. This time we are on a trip to Jellystone park in Madison FL, and the camper towed like crap. It was very squirrely and swayed horribly. The only thing different is that I changed my TV tires. Same exact tires, just new. It started swaying so bad that it set off my truck and automatically reduced the speed. I didn't even know my truck had a sway sensor. Luckily there is a camping world less than an hour from here, so I drove there and bought a sway control hitch. $700 later, I hope it fixes it. We're leaving here in a day and headed to Biloxi, so I hope everything is fixed. It was a long ride here worrying that at any moment the trailer would go nuts.

Jim34RL · 07-02-2019, 09:57 AM

The other issue could be your TV tires maybe worn out or nearly so. There also could be a broken belt in one of the rear tire? How many miles are on your TV tires and how often do you rotate them? Do you have a P rated tires on your truck?

Tires can cause all sorts of issue as they age in tire life and miles!

Boomerweps · 07-02-2019, 10:04 AM

I read recently that new tires need break in time to firm up for towing and otherwise. I think I even read it in my new F150 manual. 500 miles.
Are the tire pressures the same? Is the TT loaded the same? Tongue weight?

joeuncool · 07-02-2019, 10:22 AM

As many people have said here, check your tire pressures on truck and trailer. Also, if you have a weight distribution hitch, check all the bolts and make sure they are tight.

Before this year's tow I bought a new truck and had to setup my WDH for the new truck. During the process I found a bolt that wasn't tightened up all the way. Made me realize that is something I need to check every new season.

Pure Luck · 07-02-2019, 10:29 AM

I guess I'm breaking in my new tires towing the camper. Fun Fun! Now that you said that Boomerweps, I remember when I put the old tires on "Toyo 35x12.5 AT's" that it was a bit squirrely when new also. I went from load range E to F on the same tire.

5picker · 07-02-2019, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottnlindsay

Just curious if anyone else ever had this happen. Last year travel trailer towed great. I have not changed anything, and this year the rear of truck feels squirrely when towing. Again, nothing has changed. Any ideas?

Thanks, Scott

I'm going to go out on a limb and ask if maybe your recollection changed?

I know on the first pull of the season (after driving the truck many months with nothing attached) it takes several miles to recall the 'feel' of pulling our 5th wheel. And.. I tow MANY different types of trailers, each one feeling different. Each has its own first couple miles of learning how they react.

scottnlindsay · 07-02-2019, 01:11 PM

I have not change anything. Tires are about half worn. They are 10 ply. I have a husky centerline ts. 2014 Silverado 1500 with a 2014 heritage glen 272rlis. This just started this year. I rotate every oil change, that the only thing I did beginning of this season. I am thinking that maybe?. It just feels like the trailer is making the rear of tv feel wierd like squirrely. Even at 30 mph.

Martsing · 07-02-2019, 01:21 PM

Trailer axels still aligned? Nothing broken or loose?

Marty

wildcatter · 07-02-2019, 01:44 PM

Check your camper suspension, make sure nothing gave way between last year and now. Last year did you tow with any of your tanks full or something in them?

llr · 07-02-2019, 01:58 PM

How was the wind? I thought mine was a little squirrely a couple times, stopped at a rest area for a quick inspection. As soon as I got out of the truck I new what the issue was, the wind was way higher then I thought and it was actually towing better then expected with the wind.

azfansinnc · 07-02-2019, 02:00 PM

Here is another possibility:

We had a similar situation happen this year on our back and forth to Fort De Soto (Tampa, FL) from NC. Trailer towed great on the way down. No issues save a truck or two. On the way back it was much more sensitive to sway. We had some wicked storms and crosswinds in SC and had to dial it back to 50-55 from 65. We run an Equalizer 10K. 65PSI trailer/38PSI Truck. P rated SUV tires.

What I realized is that the trailer is built with very close to 11% tongue weight. On the way back, the fridge was much emptier (front of axle). Lots of laundry and towels in the shower (rear of axle) and I hung the beach chairs on the otherwise unused bike rack on the rear of the trailer. Having a rear door adds to the risk as well.

I am assuming my actions upset the balance and got too close or below the 10% recommended tongue weight.

I don't have the ability to load too much onto the front of the trailer but will make a diligent effort to do so next time out.

Brother Les · 07-02-2019, 02:02 PM

1) tires.... maybe a belt coming apart on one. You will know for sure when it goes flying through your fender... Jack up and check all tires (turning) for roundness and no 'drag' or lopsidedness.

2) Bearings..... Check RV wheels for play (jack up off ground)... loose bearings from use, may need to tighten one face, grease, if have grease able axles..... Pull off hubs, inspect bearings and repack bearings and seat castle nut correctly if unsure.
3) alignment should be fine unless something broke or wore out. Shackles are light weight and could be bent or elongated. The bolts have a plastic sleeve that breaks down and allows some movement.

JPin AZ · 07-02-2019, 02:10 PM

I tow my trailer full of water when water is not available and empty when it is. Towed it home one time half full and the trailer swayed a lot more than I cared for.

valleyduo · 07-02-2019, 02:12 PM

Also check out the suspension of your truck. 2014 is 5 or 6 years of driving. Depending on your mileage, driving conditions and habits, your shocks or springs may be going soft. Is the RV still sitting level when hitched? Perhaps a little more squat has developed.

scottnlindsay · 07-02-2019, 04:01 PM

Wow, so many things it can be. I just took the truck out without trailer and went for a drive. I turn the steering wheel ever so little at all speed and it kinda feels the same thing. I am thinking maybe my tires.

I dont know why though. They are at 65psi cold and 70psi when driving. Same as last year. Trailer tire are at 65psi cold. Does anyone think adding or taking out some air out of tv tire will help since they are now a little worn from last year?

Truck has 58k miles on it, I dont see any issues with the tv. I will have to look at trailer when I can get a chance to jack it up, although it dont feel like the trailer.

also, I thought of the tongue weight. Not being enough, it felt like it towed a little better one time I had the black tank full. Thoughts?

TV and TT are still sitting level.

Thank you all for replies.

dodr33 · 07-02-2019, 04:14 PM

Shocks go out fast when towing, my OEM ones became very soft after only 2 years of towing

Artspe · 07-02-2019, 04:22 PM

Check your tt tires. Could be a flat spot or separated cords

You may also like: