Towing Question
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 60
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
Towing Question
After hooking up my 35' Raptor Toy Hauler my 2011 F250 XLT was sagging badly and did not even have my toys in it. I added Airlift bags and on board air compressor. The sag has gone away but I'm concerned about something else. On some not all bridge/overpass transitions, my camper bounces at the hitch/kingpin and feels like all heck breaking loose.
I have airbags pumped up to 100psi which brings the truck back to the stock height before hooking up the fifth wheel.
Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mark
I have airbags pumped up to 100psi which brings the truck back to the stock height before hooking up the fifth wheel.
Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mark
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
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From: Greenwood, SC
I'm surprised you need 100psi. Might back that down a bit. Also, sounds to me like you are describing what happens when there is too much weight behind the trailer axles. Maybe your kingpin weight is too low?
Otherwise, towing really heavy like that, sounds like you need to slow down for rough roads/swells. You really don't want the trailer to pick your drive wheels up off the ground on one of those road dips.
Otherwise, towing really heavy like that, sounds like you need to slow down for rough roads/swells. You really don't want the trailer to pick your drive wheels up off the ground on one of those road dips.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2011
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Wow! 100 psi? On my '05 250 with a 2900 pin weight I ran 25-30 psi. This brought the truck to "flat" not exactly raked as with no trailer. Also adding your toys will decrease pin weight and balance the trailer rearward as toy haulers need their toys! Another thing is we have added a Trailair pin. That really smoothed things out.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 64
I also pull a 36' toy hauler. With my 2500HD GMC I would add anywhere from45-65 psi of air.
Is there a reason you are trying to get back to stock height? Why not just "level"
I would think with 2500-3000 pounds of pin weight that 100 psi is a bit too much.
Is there a reason you are trying to get back to stock height? Why not just "level"
I would think with 2500-3000 pounds of pin weight that 100 psi is a bit too much.
SPONSOR
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 543
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From: Michigan
As everyone else has mentioned 100 psi may be too much and reentering too much of the load to the front tires. How level is your trailer when you are running a 100 psi?
Do you by chance have a side shot photo with the trailed hooked up?
Do you by chance have a side shot photo with the trailed hooked up?
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
I agree with everyone here, 100 lbs is a LOT of pressure to put in an air bag. When you are going over said transitions you could even be doing damage if your suspension is overextending. You could have demolished your shocks if this happened, which would certainly cause some goofy handling.
This whole thing just sounds dangerous with that much pressure...what made you think that it was a good idea to have them cranked up that high?
This whole thing just sounds dangerous with that much pressure...what made you think that it was a good idea to have them cranked up that high?
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
Well, looks like the consensus is clearly too much air in the bags. Please excuse my ignorance as this is my first fifth wheel. Had two travel trailers first. As for the reason for so much air, was that I saw a video somewhere that basically said to add enough air to bring it back to stock height.
Is the pin weight the same as hitch weight? If so, the hitch weight is 2390lbs.
What is a trailer pin?
As for destroying my shocks, I think the verdict on that one is that the shocks are garbage to begin with. I intend on changing those out to the Bilstiens.
I will have to try less air and maybe just bring truck up to level and see if any improvement. Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I appreciate it. Mark
Is the pin weight the same as hitch weight? If so, the hitch weight is 2390lbs.
What is a trailer pin?
As for destroying my shocks, I think the verdict on that one is that the shocks are garbage to begin with. I intend on changing those out to the Bilstiens.
I will have to try less air and maybe just bring truck up to level and see if any improvement. Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I appreciate it. Mark
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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Since this is your first fifth wheel, it might be time for a reality check, so I have to ask - is the 2390 lbs the weight from the dealer's brochure or some other paperwork, or is that the actual weight you got from taking the entire rig across a set of scales?
If you haven't weighed your rig, load it up like you will normally travel, take it to a truck stop and pay the $8 to $10 to get weights by axle. Weigh the truck by itself, then weigh the truck with the trailer attached. Then we can figure out your real pin weight.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 60
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
glsurratt,
Yes, the hitch weight that I listed came from various paperwork/website. I have never actually weighed the rig.
As for the trailer pin, let me clarify something before we go any further. Toyhauler Tug posted something about a TrailAir pin and I noticed you have something called TrailAir as well. What are we talking about there?
Yes, the hitch weight that I listed came from various paperwork/website. I have never actually weighed the rig.
As for the trailer pin, let me clarify something before we go any further. Toyhauler Tug posted something about a TrailAir pin and I noticed you have something called TrailAir as well. What are we talking about there?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
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The trailair pinbox is a replacement for the box at the front of your trailer. The TrailAir has an airbag and shock absorber built into it. I have 4,000 lbs of pin weight. The TrailAir pinbox made a world of difference in the ride both in the cab of the truck and in the ride in the trailer (things quit "walking around" in the trailer, we don't ride in the trailer.) I also have a Trailair Centerpoint suspension on my triple axle and airbags on the truck.
The current version can be had for about $1200 and includes a recent improvement that includes a fore and aft isolation system to reduce "chucking" which is what I beleive your original post is complaining about.
You can read more about it at http://www.trailair.com/products/airpin/
Tweety's of Houston sells them at a good price here: http://tweetys.com/trailairfifthwheelpinboxes.aspx
You'll need to call either the vendor directly to tell them what brand and model of trailer you have because the mounts on the trailers are different for different brands.
The current version can be had for about $1200 and includes a recent improvement that includes a fore and aft isolation system to reduce "chucking" which is what I beleive your original post is complaining about.
You can read more about it at http://www.trailair.com/products/airpin/
Tweety's of Houston sells them at a good price here: http://tweetys.com/trailairfifthwheelpinboxes.aspx
You'll need to call either the vendor directly to tell them what brand and model of trailer you have because the mounts on the trailers are different for different brands.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
10-4, thanks glsurratt. I will research that right now. Will also work on getting the truck and trailer weight.
Now, stupid question. If I don't have sufficient pin weight, do I just put more stuff in the front of the trailer? Mark
Now, stupid question. If I don't have sufficient pin weight, do I just put more stuff in the front of the trailer? Mark
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
Likes: 4
Shifting weight in a fifth wheel is tough because of the design of the storage space. The easiest way to shift significant weight is to determine where your fresh water tank is located. If it is behind the axles, run with it empty and fill it up right before you get to your campsite. If it is forward of the axles, fill it up and that weight will be on the pin. 100 gallons is about 800 lbs. If it is over the axles, it doesn't make any difference.
Loading up your toys in the back end might lighten the pin weight somewhat.
Loading up your toys in the back end might lighten the pin weight somewhat.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,383
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From: Frederick, MD
30 lbs is all I ever put in mine...I am running about 2800 lbs for the kingpin.
Get your truck on the scale.
with mine and the 30 lbs I am around 5200 in the front and 5700 lbs over the rear axle. pretty well distributed.
do a search for cat scales in your area...well worth the 9.50 to get the per axle and total weights
Get your truck on the scale.
with mine and the 30 lbs I am around 5200 in the front and 5700 lbs over the rear axle. pretty well distributed.
do a search for cat scales in your area...well worth the 9.50 to get the per axle and total weights
