Truck Rocking Issue

[madrock]

Hi all,

I towed a 6x12 enclosed trailer this weekend and had one heck of a time on the highway. Each time I hit a small dip in the road, my truck would rock side to side like I was in a boat in choppy waters. I already upgraded my rear shocks to the Fox 2.0 shocks, so I know that shouldn't be the issue.

I was looking into Air Lift 1000 airbags but read it doesn't always work. I am going to be towing more often and would like to get this resolved. Should I skip the airbags and go straight to the TufTruck springs?

Or, could it be a different issue?

Thanks in advance.

 

[mtofell]

So many variables..... trailer weight and loading? Were you using a WDH? Towing a trailer one time is tough to really understand what is going on.

Trailers are like wives. You need to spend some time with them to figure out how they work.

 

[Andy578]

doesn't really sound like the issue here but you do have to remember those enclosed trailers will catch a lot of wind

 

[clifford15]

Sounds like not enough tounge weight.

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

Trailers are like wives. You need to spend some time with them to figure out how they work.

You're gonna be trying to figure it out for a long time

 

[Rustycowl69]

I agree with Clifford15.

 

[avolnek]

If you're running P rated tires while towing, i'd suggest starting there and upgrading to a heavier duty tire... Those Passenger rated tires have too much squish to aid in ride quality and allow that sway you are feeling... Tires would be my first suggestion.

 

[WaterBoy1]

doesn't really sound like the issue here but you do have to remember those enclosed trailers will catch a lot of wind

Sounds like not enough tounge weight.

If you're running P rated tires while towing, i'd suggest starting there and upgrading to a heavier duty tire... Those Passenger rated tires have too much squish to aid in ride quality and allow that sway you are feeling... Tires would be my first suggestion.

All of these or any combination is your likely culprit

 

[madrock]

1. It is possible I didn't have enough tongue weight. I did load the heavier items in the front.

2. I have LT275/65/20 AT's on.

A couple more things to note: I removed my front sway bar when I upgraded my front shocks. I wonder if that could be the issue. I'll have to dig it out of storage and see if that resolves the issue.

I also have a camper shell on my truck so that adds a little weight to the back already. I took a test drive this morning with ~200 pounds of cargo in the back (no trailer) between 70-80 mph, and it rocked side to side a bit (not as bad it did with the trailer). An empty bed has no issues.

 

[avolnek]

A couple more things to note: I removed my front sway bar when I upgraded my front shocks. I wonder if that could be the issue. I'll have to dig it out of storage and see if that resolves the issue.

i did this to one of my trucks, drove it literally around the block and right back into the shop... I will NOT do that again...

so yeah, maybe re install that baby and see.

 

[bcbouy]

the problem is, it's a 1500.

 

[Andy578]

A couple more things to note: I removed my front sway bar when I upgraded my front shocks. I wonder if that could be the issue. I'll have to dig it out of storage and see if that resolves the issue.

very good chance that's you're issue. if you're on perfectly smooth roads it might not have much effect but pretty much anywhere else it can and will cause rocking

the problem is, it's a 1500.

if you don't have anything to add just keep moving along

 

[bcbouy]

like i said,it's a 1500.what don't you get? you the post police or something?

 

[The War Wagon]

Trailers are like wives. You need to spend some time with them to figure out how they work.

If the truck is a-rockin', DON'T come a-knockin'?

 

[Andy578]

like i said,it's a 1500.what don't you get? you the post police or something?

it's still more then capable of pulling 10k lbs. OP is pulling a 12ft trailer which i doubt holds anywhere near 10k lbs but we don't know what his load is so saying his truck isn't capable of it is just guessing.

simply saying "it's a 1500" isn't contributing anything constructive and just comes off as being an ass so again unless you actually have something of value to add there's really no point posting

 

[clifford15]

Just to add a bit more from my past experience. When I had my 96 1500 RCSB I loaded up a very small truck camper. Total weight was about 6500#. I had RS9000 shocks and LT tires and it worked very well. Then I got a deal on a set of nice 98+ aluminum rims with Yokohama Geolander P series tires. It looked great and was OK unloaded but it rocked and swayed like crazy with the camper on. Ended up selling those and got new LTs and it was back to stable with the camper on. I worked that truck hard. The little 318 was up to the task after the diffs were upgraded to 4.10s.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Add back the sway bar and rebalance the trailer and I bet that solves your issue.

I would hate to see the day a 1500 can't pull a 6x12 trailer.

 

[averageguy]

I have pulled a 6X10 trailer with 1500-2000lbs plus trailer weight with a 2015 1500 at 100mph and you couldn't tell it was there. I don't know about trucks, but a 5.0 mustang with no front sway bar and skinny tires up front is unstable on anything other than a flat road. Just curious, why did you leave the sway bar off? Were you so tongue heavy that the front of the truck was riding higher than the back? Hitting a dip in the road with excessive tongue weight will cause instability because there is not enough weight on the front axle to maintain steering when the trailer is bouncing down on the back of the truck and basically lifting the front. This is dangerous because the response to the front sway is to counter steer which increases the sway any will end in a jack knife.