anaro
Mebane, NC
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Joined: 01/16/2011
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So we finally got our WDH set up correct this weekend (or so we think). Everything measures correct and the TT sits a little nose down (but that is in another post). What we noticed was going to asheville nc a 220 mi drive into the mountains from home was uneventful and the TT towed beautifully. I was so happy. Coming home today, the TT started out a little unsteady. That is around 55-60mph we would start to get a slight tail wag that didn't exist on the trip in. I ncould feel large trucks and other cars passing me more than the trip in. We racked our brains to figure out what was different. 1. we had empty fresh water tank on way out, 2/3 full on way back. 2. black tank was 2/3 full on way out and almost empty (few gallons in it) on way back. 3. grey was 1/3 full on way out, empty on way back. We stopped and emptied fresh water tank back into the black and grey tanks to put it back to similar to trip in. No real difference. Kept on going. Stopped again and changed the screened tent (approx 30 lbs) from the sofa in the front portion of the slide to on the queen bed in front. TT towed fine from here on but we were out of the mountains at this point. I was able to do 65mph without a problem. Only other things packed differently: we used up the 2 small boxes of wood that usually are in the front compartment. We moved the grill from the back pack n play to the front compartment to compensate. We had also bought a 5 ft folding table that was now sitting at the foot of the front bed. There is a very small amount of groceries put away in fridge and cabinets that were sitting in cooler and in bags about a 1/3 way back from the trip out. Cooler was now weighed down w/ drinks that are normally stored under dinette and in back pantry cabinet so weight should have been equalled out. Is the difference in my packing and moving just 30 lbs made all the difference? Is there a difference in something else in the mountains that made things change? (no crosswinds or open crossings or wind gusts that I noticed). I just want to fix the problem so I don't have it again. Thanks!
2009 Ford F250 Lariat Crew Cab 6.4L diesel 4WD
2011 Crossroads Zinger ZT26BL
Reese Dual Cam
6 nights camped in 2013!
21 nights camped in 2012!
27 nights camped in 2011!
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ramblemutt
Mountains of Utah-7000'
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I'm sure a lot of experts will weigh in on this (no pun intended), but it sounds to me like your tongue weight ratio may be marginal which makes weight distribution sensitive. I like to keep mine around 13-15% all the time...thus giving myself some flexibility. I do carry a tongue weight scale to track this, tho haven't used it in a long time because I've been carrying the same old stuff for years. All else being equal, nose down a bit on the TT is generally OK. Don't forget your tires...most important towing aspect in my mind. Proper inflation at all times and lug nuts tight. Luck.
"WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US"
TWO OF US + THREE FUR KIDS (36 lbs, 44 lbs, 80 lbs)
SADLY, HEALTH ISSUES HAVE FORCED ME TO GIVE UP TRAILERING. MY EXCURSION AND TT HAVE BOTH BEEN SOLD. IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A RIDE.
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gon2dadawgs
I'm here X
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Ramble is on target. Nose down a bit is fine. Sounds like you lost a bit of tongue weight. If you still have your "tow back" as it was retake your measurements....maybe a bit of fine tuning is in order. Consider the location of your tanks, perhaps the answer is clear.
Home is where you unhitch
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WEREGEL
Upstate NY
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Not really a towing techie here and the following is “seat of the pants” but I made two changes to our set up this year.
Over the winter I added a second anti sway bar and at the start of our last trip out I upped our tongue wt. a bit. Both were based on our first year towing experiences and the reading many many posts here. The results were spectacularly good.
Last year on the same trip we experienced a great deal of porpoiseing on older concrete roads in Delaware. It was an absolutely miserable 100 miles or so. We also on several trips saw a bit of 18 wheeler “push”, nothing spectacular and it seemed to depend on the make and style of the truck itself.
But on the same trip this year over the same roads with high winds and heavy rain on the way out we had our absolute best experience towing so far.
Porpoiseing was gone on the same worn out roads and most 18 wheelers went by unnoticed. Trailer tracked great and mpg was actually up a bit.
The WD bar set up was the same as was the overall TT and TV loading but the overall balance was slightly changed by the increased % of tongue wt. to which I ascribe the tracking and “bounce” issues.
I also think the second sway bar further reduced the effect of passing trucks and busses, which often seem worse than trucks.
Assateague National Seashore June 2011
2012 F350 Crew Cab 4X4 6.2L Gas "Surf Fishing Beach Truck"
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anaro
Mebane, NC
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Joined: 01/16/2011
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Showing my newbie side but what exactly is porpoising? I have seen the term used buy don't really know what it describes. Thanks for all the suggestions so far. We have discussed adding a friction bar but wanted to try getting setup correctly and figuring out how to prevent sway to begin with first.
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Sean Boburk
Texas
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Joined: 03/19/2011
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anaro wrote:Showing my newbie side but what exactly is porpoising? I have seen the term used buy don't really know what it describes. Thanks for all the suggestions so far. We have discussed adding a friction bar but wanted to try getting setup correctly and figuring out how to prevent sway to begin with first. Instead of the tail wagging, it is like the TT is teater tottering. Mine felt like I was hauling a big tank of water that was sloshing back and forth.
Sean
2011 Flagstaff 29SKBS
2010 F-150 4x4 5.4L
2011 camping days=23 in 9 locations
2012 camping days=4 in 2 locations
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#40Fan
Colorado
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Joined: 02/13/2011
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Heading down a mountain with the trailer pushing you will make you feel the trailer more than going up.
Porpoising is when the tongue bounces up and down causing the rear of the vehicle to do the same.
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WEREGEL
Upstate NY
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Great descriptions of porpoiseing! You aren’t using any type of anti-sway bars? I would suggest that they are a must.
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anaro
Mebane, NC
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Joined: 01/16/2011
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We have reese dual cam for our setup and Ron Gratz has given me some great help getting it set up. As for porpoising, we are not doing that. It definitely feels a little like tail wag trying to wag the dog but you can feel the reese dual cam doing its job and preventing it from wagging the truck.
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WEREGEL
Upstate NY
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Ahh, Had not noticed the Dual Cam in your original post.
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