I've been sorting out towing issues with truck and 5th wheel. One issue I'm having is the petal being too sensitive, or too responsive. Sounds crazy I know. On the interstate, when I hit like an expansion joint at a bridge, the bouncing motion created by the trailer and suspension causes me to jerk a little in the seat thus my foot bouncing some on the petal and from there it creates a wave and escalates real quick. Does that make sense? I have to completely let off the petal and get back on it. To make sure I wasn't crazy, I set the cruise over the next few bridges and it drove fine. That's one example, but it happens on any road at about any speed, forward or reverse, where I'm on the petal because of the load. I don't know what to do but it's annoying as crap. Any one else have that issue?

 

Josh,

I tow a 5'r with my F350 as well.

I'm just going to slide this in there............. Have you adjusted the hitch height so the load is correctly displaced?

If it's set too low, your going to experience that.

I raised mine slightly and it made all the difference. It doesn't buck as much anymore and tows nicer.

Denny

 

That's one of the issues I've been working on as well. Funny you bring that up. Just this weekend I installed a 3" lift on my camper. This truck sits a whole lot higher than my dually did. This did take a lot of suspension jerk and pull out of it. Here is how it currently sits. I think this is an acceptable level. Do you?

 

Josh,

Looks close.

I set mine on level ground and used the landing gear to get it level using the leveling bubble. Then backed the truck up with the hitch in and got it close enough to the pad to eyeball the adjustment with it unhitched. After the adjustment, backed it under and took the full weight of the fifth wheel, looked at the leveling bubble and made the final adjustment. Mine measures about a 1/4 inch down at the nose measuring from the front and rear frame rails on the trailer. I feel it's optimum to have greater weight on the nose to avoid having a whip back there.

This was done with trailer tanks empty and the truck full of fuel. Same exact truck you have.

Hope it helps.

Nice looking setup BTW.

Denny

 

I too have this issue, when cruising out of my neighborhood (around 20 mph) every bump in the road is transferred through the throttle, and trying to drive in my deer lease was aggravating as *****

every bump and the consequent surge in acceleration

 

 

I'm relieved to see I've not lost my mind....yet.

So, how do we go about fixing this issue? Because towing is about all I'm doing with this truck.

 

Josh, It's just inherent. My 99 super does the same thing with leaves up front, always has, always will.

The 08 isn't as dramatic but I've learned to use the cruise to its limit and watch the nose to telegraph a throttle response. I must say that towing, I got pretty good about using the wheel settings with the cruise. Pretty much just use the other pedal when I touch the brakes to slow down.

I've spoke with Ram owners and bowtie guys and we're not alone. The torque these rigs put out is so significant I don't think even a major suspension mod would be helpful.

When you go shock shopping for the nose, start asking around the park you have your 5'r in and see if there's any intel. My search since 2001 has been unanswered.

Wear slippers and make your first two sips really heavy to avoid the spill.

Denny

 

I only find this an issue when I am empty and have a bounce going on. I have never experienced an issue when pulling my camper or my cargo trailer.

 

I'm the absolute opposite. Lol.

I've never had a truck do this. This is my 3rd supeduty too. Had half a dozen f150, 4 2500 Chevy's and even pulled this camper with my father in laws 2500 duramax. This is the only one I've had do this. Guess I'll have to find a work around. And it's funny because my UTV is this way. I don't tow with it of course, but trail riding or rock crawling it's a nightmare.

 

My condolences. 🤣

 

I find pedal sensitivity changes with what tune I run, with the high HP tune it's worse and much better with the low HP tune but still there. After 6 years of owning the truck I don't even think about it anymore, it's just the nature of the beast.

 

I agree with Diesel Denny, I would drop the front of the camper a little more if possible.

Also, how is the weight distributed when the camper's loaded?

And, as Bubbasz1 said, your tune could be making the throttle more sensitive.

 

I thought about that as well. I recently turned it down from 150 to 75. It almost seemed worse on the 75. But I had also just installed the lift on the camper. This weekend I have about a 2.5 hour pull with it. I'll probably try a couple different tunes.