Rocking sideways motion, I have a 2016 ram 1500 bighorn and when towing my 30' camper I can feel a sideways rocking motion.

[Maycraft1800]

Rocking sideways motion, I have a 2016 ram 1500 bighorn and when towing my 30' camper I can feel a sideways rocking motion. Never had this problem before. It just started...

 

[markabby]

tire pressures? weight distribution in the trailer? anti-sway bars?

 

[crash68]

Is it the truck or trailer?
If it's the trailer, check for any extra side loading or a problem with the suspension/axles. The axles you'll also want to check if they're still square to the frame and each other along with the axle bearings are still tight.
If it's the truck, has the tongue weight changed without the WDH being readjusted? Also check the shocks along with the sway bars. If the tire pressures are correct, rotate the tires front to back, a broke belt in a tire will effect handling under load.

 

[Maycraft1800]

just coming from the truck. I had a 2011 ram 1500 and it pulled the camper with no issue. Got this 2016 ram and it has a rocking motion going side to side. Put new tires were on the truck. Good tire pressure, good weight distribution, good swaybar set up. Took a run from Maryland to North Carolina and going down everything was good but on the way back I started feeling the rocking motion. And if a big truck or a little gust of wind comes along it feels like she's rocking worse.

 

[Daw14]

Rear control arms are flexing and the bushings are worn.clayton makes a very solid set .

 

[zrock]

trailer is over the limit of your truck?

 

[Maycraft1800]

Rear control arms are flexing and the bushings are worn.clayton makes a very solid set .

Thanks, I will check into it. Will let you know.

 

[chri5k]

What was the weather like? Winds out of the East or West? Thirty foot camper is a pretty big sail for a 1500.

 

[Maycraft1800]

Winds were calm but it seems to unstable (rocking motion ) even without camper. Just seems like the truck does what it wants. Feels like the truck is wondering if that makes sense. Yes, towing the camper is worse in wind and even when traffic passes me.

 

[Maycraft1800]

Please understand that I don’t mean the trailer sways. The trailer is tracking straight from what I’ve been told from other drivers following me. It’s the truck that feeds like it’s rocking side to side.

 

[markabby]

used truck? have the frame checked

 

[Maycraft1800]

Camper is 5600 pounds

 

[crash68]

Feels like the truck is wondering if that makes sense. Yes, towing the camper is worse in wind and even when traffic passes me.

I'll second what was mentioned above about the rear trailing arm along with the panhard bar bushings being worn.
If I remember correctly there was a thread about members who fixed a towing issue with replacing the panhard bar due to worn bushings.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

What sway bar are your running? You can upgrade it to Eibach or Hellwig

Control arms and parhard bar bushings could be worn. You can upgrade them all to Core 4x4.

rear control arms, panhard bar, and sway bar upgrades will all help improve stability.

Let me know if you would like a quote on anything. We offer most aftermarket brands

 

[Maycraft1800]

everything everyone has mentioned has been checked. I guess it's just a Ram issue. Maybe it's time for a change..

 

[markabby]

maybe a 4 wheel aligment?

 

[nlambert182]

Camper is 5600 pounds

30' long and 5600 lbs? Is that the dry weight or loaded weight?

It could be that your previous 2011 had leaf springs whereas your newer one has coil springs. That will change towing characteristics. I don't know if that's your issue (might not be) but a consideration. There could be a combination of factors contributing to it.

 

[zrock]

i would be curious about that as well 5600 lbs on a 30 ft trailer, my 28ft is heavier than that and its 1/2 ton towable. From shopping around i have not seen a 30 ft that is that light in dry weight.

 

[Riccochet]

Check the rear sway bar bushings and links on the truck.

Even if they aren't worn I highly recommend the Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar. It's significantly more beefy than the stock sway bar and makes the truck feel more planted while towing.

 

[Ddubya]

Add a Timbren suspension enhancement kit. The factory coil springs IMO cause this issue.

2009-Present RAM 1500 Timbren SES Suspension Enhancement System SKU# DR1500DQ - Rear Kit

The Timbren DR1500DQ SES is a rear suspension enhancement system for the MODEL_NAME made between YEAR1 and Year2. Shop now.

timbren.com