Hello there everyone. We recently upgraded from a pop up camper to a travel trailer in the late fall. Today I was able to take it on the road again and the drive was a bit unpleasant. I can’t really complain about power or sway with the trailer but there was something i did not like. The ride felt very bouncy, so I maxed out the psi on the tires and it did help but there is still too much bounce. I suspect worn out shocks. Any ideas?
Trouble with towing. Need advice
- Thread starter Quique309
- Start date
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DF5.4
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What kind of TT? What size? Are you using a WD hitch?
Bedrck47
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Rather than saying a 29 foot Puma It would be better to know the year and model of the Puma also the gross weight of the TT not the dry weight
Okay. It is a 2018 Puma 29QBS. It's gvwr is 8500 lbs. however the dry weight sticker says 6800 lbs and that is after options propane batteries ect. The dealer set it up with the Equilizer hitch and installed a Prodigy trailer brake control.
Bedrck47
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Dry weight means nothing UNLESS you are going to be towing it empty
Specs for that model also show 33 ft 11 inches Correct me if I am wrong But that is a big difference than just saying its a 29 ft Puma That extra 5 feet may cause a big difference in how it rides Also that TT is much bigger, longer and heavier than a pop up camper
I would suggest you take your TV and TT to the cat scales and have your weights checked
You may also need to fine tune your hitch and make sure it is set up correctly
Would be nice to know YOUR ACTUAL hitch weight But you will know that when you go to the CAT scaled
Specs for that model also show 33 ft 11 inches Correct me if I am wrong But that is a big difference than just saying its a 29 ft Puma That extra 5 feet may cause a big difference in how it rides Also that TT is much bigger, longer and heavier than a pop up camper
I would suggest you take your TV and TT to the cat scales and have your weights checked
You may also need to fine tune your hitch and make sure it is set up correctly
Would be nice to know YOUR ACTUAL hitch weight But you will know that when you go to the CAT scaled
Bedrck47
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Read both of the attached links for some good information
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f37/how-to-weigh-your-tv-tt-3871.html#post24549
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f7/length-to-weight-27899.html#post308925
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f37/how-to-weigh-your-tv-tt-3871.html#post24549
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f7/length-to-weight-27899.html#post308925
I do have intentions to take it to take it to a scale here soon. Maybe I will do that after loading it up for camping to get an accurate weight. I agree with you on the dry weight and towing empty but it does let me know where the start of the weight is. I guess I can take it back and have them adjust the hitch if necessary.
It is worth noting that my Expedition has 130k already.
It is worth noting that my Expedition has 130k already.
Bedrck47
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Rather than taking it back to the dealer It would be best for you to read the setup instructions for your system and learn how to make those adjustments. It may seem complicated at first but you will find it is very easy to do and if you feel you need some adjustments while towing it would be better to know how rather than driving white knuckled Also with that length of a trailer I strongly suggest you consider some sway control bars.
I am not familiar with that make of hitch and do not know if that make has away control included But at least look into it.
I am not familiar with that make of hitch and do not know if that make has away control included But at least look into it.
Thanks, I will have to look into learning how to make some of those adjustments for myself. The length of the trailer seems ok to me. The Equilizer hitch has sway control built into it along with weight distribution. The sway control must work fine since I haven’t really felt it move on the highway, even when I get passed. However I am concerned with how bouncy it feels.
DF5.4
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Does your Expedition have the HD tow package?
Bedrck47
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The bouncy can be from to little or to much tongue weight and equalizer adjustment Again the CAT scales will give you better information
I did look at the information on your hitch and see it does include sway control.
Keep us posted on how you make out
I did look at the information on your hitch and see it does include sway control.
Keep us posted on how you make out
Bedrck47
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When you first hook up without engaging the equalizer bars How much does the rear of the Expedition squat??
Set your ball height and your coupler height at the same amount before you hitch up Make sure you are on level ground and both the TV and TT are level when you make the measurement. Then hook up and measure the squat on the Expedition
Set your ball height and your coupler height at the same amount before you hitch up Make sure you are on level ground and both the TV and TT are level when you make the measurement. Then hook up and measure the squat on the Expedition
Visually, I can tell it does squat a bit but I will have to check exactly how much later. My driveway is pretty level but it does have a small incline to keep rain out of the garage. Do you think thats “flat” enough or should I take it somewhere else?
chuck s
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The Equalizer hitch uses washers to set the hitch angle. Pretty sure mine has the most that will fit. Hitch is miles away (stowed in the camper) so I can't check. I think I have some photos but not sure they'll show here. I'll try later.
If your truck has the air suspension turn it off to set the hitch. You can turn it back on later. The automatic leveling will hide poor weight distribution.
The front rear suspensions should compress equally. Dealer will only spend enough time to get you off the lot. Plan on half a morning to get it set up right.
Do it yourself on a level street or parking lot. If the front suspension doesn't compress you're not transferring weight, simple a that. Easy to measure at the wheel wells.
You also want the trailer to tow level so every hitch change may call for another change -- plan on most of the morning.
An electric tongue jack will ease the setup and when it's time to hook up.
My personal opinion is the trailer is too heavy for the truck but that's another "weight police" topic.
-- Chuck
If your truck has the air suspension turn it off to set the hitch. You can turn it back on later. The automatic leveling will hide poor weight distribution.
The front rear suspensions should compress equally. Dealer will only spend enough time to get you off the lot. Plan on half a morning to get it set up right.
Do it yourself on a level street or parking lot. If the front suspension doesn't compress you're not transferring weight, simple a that. Easy to measure at the wheel wells.You also want the trailer to tow level so every hitch change may call for another change -- plan on most of the morning.
An electric tongue jack will ease the setup and when it's time to hook up.
My personal opinion is the trailer is too heavy for the truck but that's another "weight police" topic.
-- Chuck
chuck s
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John Christopher
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If after making the adjustments suggested by Bedrck47 if you still have the bouncing, I would change the shocks. As you said they have 130.000 miles on them. Good Luck.
Thanks, everyone that is some good information! I need to take the camper and find some level ground. I will report back with the numbers. I am considering changing out the shocks/struts with the Rancho Quicklifts. First they are already assembled and they seem to offer different levels of damping. Has anyone benefited from these for towing? By the way I don’t have air suspension on the Expedition
The Swagonmaster
Well-Known Member
When we got our new (to us anyway) tt I watched the tech at the dealer when he set up the hitch and after he got through he backed up about 30 foot and just looked at the setup. He told me that what we were looking for was for the whole rig, truck and trailer to be level without either one being noticeably up or down. Thats the end goal.
