I have a 2015 F350 Super Duty with the 6.7L turbo diesel. I recently purchased a 39’ bumper pull Keystone Sprinter Limited. While traveling I came across some crappy highways mainly in the southern part of the U.S. During the drive I experienced signifiant vibrations coming from the front end while towing my trailer and traveling over crap freeways. I’m fairly certain the track bar or tire rods ends or both are shot. My truck is awaiting diagnosis. Wanted to know if heavy duty shocks or airbags on the rear suspension would improve ride and towing performance? Trailer is 11k fully loaded so the weight is not an issue. Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

Nothing put on the rear axle will help ride or towing performance of the front axle. And if weight truly isn't the issue, then more shock or airbags won't do a thing.

And while you say the trailer is only 11k...how much tongue weight does it ACTUALLY have? Since it's a travel trailer there is a good chance it actually has closer to 20% or more tongue weight, not the 10-15% you would typically want. I have seen 7k empty travel trailers with 1200lb or more tongue weight. So your trailer, at 11k loaded, could be pushing 2k or better for tongue weight, and the ONLY way to know for sure is to hit a CAT scale.

Weight and its distribution is, 99% of the time, the issue. Hit up a CAT scale, run your truck across loaded to camp, grab the trailer WITHOUT WDH engaged as ready to camp, then run across a third time with your WDH engaged, and compare all weights. You want to be returning (in my opinion, not gospel) all the weight taken off the front axle by the trailer, TO the front axle with your WDH, within +/-100 lbs. If you're not in that ballpark, then the vibrations you are feeling could well be your front axle not having enough weight on it. Sure, you may not be over your payload or rear axle rating, but I still recommend WDH setups for most travel trailers, if for no other reason than the added control you get by keeping your front axle loaded properly.

All that said, if your weights are right, rough roads are a killer with a trailer, and often the best thing to do to prevent damage to everything is to slow down if you can see it coming. Worn out parts certainly don't help.