thank you.. that is VERY helpful to me.. neither bucking or surging.

that sounds to me like the typical gooseneck pin overload bottoming out feedback feeling.


Sam

 

or, weigh it with your load.. and then later without..

sam

 

I have to agree with you, I drive big trucks and from that description I'd say he's overloading the rear axle. I'm not an expert on equestrian trailers, and I'm sure it doesn't have a slide axle, so I'd say try and load more of your gear at the tail end over the wheels if possible. Its probably a trailer weight distribution problem.

I recall a time when I had dumped my air bags (removed all air pressure) to get under a really low trailer and forgot to recharge the air supply to them and had a similar noise and bucking problem occur until I realized that the bags were deflated. Lucky I only went about a mile.

I know you installed airbags in your truck, does it have a self leveling valve? is it adjustable? What is the pressure setting? Try and see if you can adjust it for a higher ride height without exploding the bags. Sounds a lot like the bags can't handle the weight, check to be sure you have the right bags. Also check your rear shocks (if you have them) and any steel springs for any cracks or noticeable sagging. Check all the nuts and bolts as well, especially that 5th wheel or goose-neck ball.

if you could take a picture of your suspension and post it with, and without the trailer attached. I'd like to see how much the suspension is dropping.

 

here is my wt ticket, shows per axle and total. That is what you want to do.

 

It almost sounds like there is too little weight on the pin. Too little weight would cause it to lift which could create "bucking/surging feeling". 16000lb trailer a 3000lb tongue weight could be the ticket up from your 2500 estimate.


Try This- Hook-up the trailer and load it so that there is more pin weight and give it a shot. Then load it so there is less pin weight and give it a shot.

 

I agree with Kirk; also go to the scale at each try and see how much weight your really putting on the rear axle and check it with your door sticker. Just as Kirk pointed out; too little could cause it to pull up, but I also stated that too much will have a similar effect bottoming out the suspension with a lot of tongue weight.

 

You have to remember that horse trailers axles are set WAY back for a smoother ride for the horses so the tongue weight is going to be quite a bit more than you think. I'd definitely get it on a scale.

 

See I was thinking the same as Capn Kirk. What he's describing to me sounds like it's pushing and lifting from too little pin weight. I've had that happen to me with bumper pulls that were loaded heavy to the rear and it's a nasty experience.

But I didn't want to say that without seeing actual weights. Without actual weights we're just guessing. It's true that many horse and stock trailers are set with the tandems far to the rear, but I've seen some that aren't that way also.

 

I think weighing the truck/trailer is best bet and I have not had a chance to do that yet. Once I do that, what kind of weight distribution am I looking for? If there is a possibility of too little weight, then how do I know what the weight distribution "should" be?

As to the level on the airbags. They are adjusted by a console panel control. There is no self leveling. I have tried everything from 40# to 90#. As the dealer bought them for me, I hope they are the correct bags.

Thanks

 

If you check my gallery under new 5th wheel you can see my cat scale ticket. I am running around 5200 front 5600 rear and then over 10K trailer axles. Something like that and for me that is pretty stable with a srw truck.

 

See if this helps.

 

just a thought i have to turn the traction control off when towing my big bob-cat. if i don't i get that bucking- surge. and a few times i saw the low traction warning flash.

 

the low traction flash was probably a result of the trailer lifting the rear allowing the rear tires to slip a little

 

Hey Gearloose1, where did you find that quote about the bucking/jerking being associated with the drivers foot on the accelerator.

News for today: I hooked up to a friends Hart trailer yesterday. That trailer was 18,500# GVWR and I had no issues with hauling it. No buck, so surge, no jerking. Just smooth hauling.

Still need to get over to the scales and will try to do that tomorrow. Had my purse stolen yesterday with all of my money, driver's license, credit card, etc. etc. etc. What a pain. Kind of took the wind out of my sails for the day.

 

that can be a big buzz kill but it definitely sounds like you either need more or less weight towards the front of the trailer