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Conference ssdevo::rv

Title:RV notesfile
Notice:Welcome to RV's new home!roductions * Note 8 4-Sale/Wanted
Moderator:ALEPPO::BOWKER
Created:Fri Feb 27 1987
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1134
Total number of notes:11505

1133.0. "Truck/Trailer feel bouncy" by TUXEDO::COZZENS () Mon May 12 1997 14:59

    What can be done for a ride that feels bouncy.  We don't have sway,
    only bounce.  We are towing a 1994 Sunline, under 5000 pounds fully
    loaded with a 1994 Dodge Ram.   We have the correct amount of tire
    pressure in both truck and trailer.   
     
    We have the stabilizer bars with four chains hanging.  We have moved the 
    chains to only 3 hanging but that was worse.  We also have added 200 
    pounds of weight to the front of the trailer, as it seems to be very 
    light in the tounge.   This has helped a bit, but not enough.  Will
    there always be some bounce?
    
    Any other suggestions?   Should I look for something else? 
    
    Lisa Cozzens
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1133.1try the weight in the truck instead of the trailerWONDER::CARLSONDaveMon May 12 1997 16:4412
    Is the trailer traveling level?
    Is the truck? 
    If the tongue is "high" (trailer not level) then it's easy on just small 
    bumps for the tongue weight to go negative (so to speak).
    
    Any idea what the tongue weight is?
    
    Is the truck bed empty? ie the only load is the trailer?
    You may want to add some weight to the truck to see if that helps.
     
    
    	Dave
1133.2truck and trailer are levelTUXEDO::COZZENSTue May 13 1997 13:0210
    The trailer and truck appear to be very level with each other. 
    
    No, there is no weight in the back of the truck, we were putting it in
    the trailer to see if that made a difference.  We don't know the tongue
    weight of the trailer, but at a guess, with some small scales, it
    appears to be less than 10% of the trailer weight.  How does one
    increase the tongue weight?  Can it be done?
    
    Thanks,
    Lisa Cozzens
1133.3try some weight in the truck first..WONDER::CARLSONDaveTue May 13 1997 13:4519
    Increasing tongue weight is easiest to accomplish by packing heavier
    stuff in the front of the trailer. I don't think I'd suggest mounting
    permanent "dead weight" but it could be done..
    
    The very first thing I would do is load a few hundred pounds into the
    bed of the pickup truck and see if it makes a difference. I bet it
    will.  
    An unloaded pickup truck is light in the back (bouncy) to begin with.
    Because the trailer isn't adding very much to the weight felt on the
    truck's rear springs, it's still bouncy. The difference is that with
    the trailer attached the bounce gets transmitted through to the trailer
    so the effect is much worse than what you experience with just the 
    empty truck.
    
        There are also modifcations that can be done to your truck's 
    suspension do it isn't so bouncy when there is no load or a light bed 
    load. 
    
    		Dave
1133.4Ruff road??TIMAMP::SULLIVANTake this job and LOVE itWed May 14 1997 01:124

		Try a different  ROAD!!		:-)
1133.5ALEPPO::mse_notbuk.mse.tay.dec.com::bowkerbowker@mail.dec.comWed May 14 1997 10:267
Where is the water tank? Holding tanks?

If the tanks are forward, fill them up. 

If the tanks are aft, empty them.

If the tanks are over the wheels, never mind...
1133.6Helper springs or shocks?TUXEDO::COZZENSWed May 14 1997 13:1710
    All the tanks are in the back of the trailer.  Can't move them, too
    bad.  
    
    Any ideas if adding helper springs or stiffer shocks will help?  The
    truck is not equipped with a heavy duty towing package.  It is a normal
    truck suspension.  We did have to add the hitch, wiring, and coolers,
    but nothing else has been added. 
    
    Thanks for all the responses. 
    Lisa Cozzens
1133.7nopeWONDER::CARLSONDaveWed May 14 1997 16:2310
    NO, You don't want the truck suspension stiffer..
    I'm pretty sure your problem is that it's too stiff..
    
    There are "progressive" springs that stiffen as the payload weight
    increases.
    
    There are also rubber "torsion style" spring hangers for that replace
    the straight spring hangers on the back.
    
    		Dave
1133.8ALEPPO::mse_notbuk.mse.tay.dec.com::bowkerbowker@mail.dec.comWed May 14 1997 16:518
>    All the tanks are in the back of the trailer.  Can't move them, too
>    bad.  

Make sure they are empty. Water weighs 8 lbs/gal. That can be
a significant load. Most of the time that you are going to
a campground you don't need any water in the tanks.

Joe
1133.9WONDER::CARLSONDaveMon May 19 1997 18:525
    I just saw the review note for the campground so know you were out 
    with the trailer. Did you try hauling extra weight in the back of the
    truck?          
    
    		Dave
1133.10Bounce seems to be betterTUXEDO::COZZENSWed May 28 1997 17:558
    
    Yes, we did put the weight in the back of the truck instead of the
    trailer.  The weight consisted of the wood for the campfires as well as
    my daughter's bike.  We still have 100 pounds of packaged rock under
    the bed.  All-in-all it is better. 
    
    Thanks,
    Lisa Cozzens