I doubt if there is anything wrong with the truck provided you have good shocks that are in good condition.
What strength are your spring bars? It sounds to me like you either have spring bars that are too light for the job or it's not properly adjusted and not transferring enough weight. I recommend that spring bars be sized for a tongue weight of 15% of the trailers GVWR. With my trailer that means spring bars rated for 1,200 lb. and that's within a few pounds of what my ACTUAL loaded tongue weight is. Your trailer is apparently heavier than mine so would need heavier spring bars to handle towing in all loading conditions. The only way to KNOW how your set up is would be to weight the rig at a CAT scales or some other multiple platform scales.
If they're properly sized then adding more pressure by tilting back the hitchhead more (lowering the trailer ends of the bars before latching them up) than latching up using the same link will add spring pressure.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
It's easy to say, "just go drop $60,000 on a new 1 ton," but I'd prefer to go to a CAT scale and spend $10 on getting an accurate weight. If you are still within specs of your GMC, consider getting a Hensley Arrow or Propride 3P. You'll spend less than $2,000 (check eBay and Craigslist) which is a LOT less than the shellacking you'll take on trade in of your trailer. The HA or 3P are easy to sell if it doesn't work out and you still want to get a 5er.
Mike Butts
DW+DD+DS+Camping Poodle
2013 Sunset Trail 29SS, 2004 Ford Expedition 5.4L with H.D. Tow Package
I am using 1,000 lb bars that Camping World installed on my TT. The GVWR on my TT is 11,000lbs. The hitch is not angled back at all. When I do hitch up, i use the tongue jack to get an extra length on the chains. Also, the front of my TT seems to be ever so slightly tilted up in the front when hooked up. There isn't any more notches to drop the hitch lower. I have also measured the trucks sag before and after hitching up. The rear sags about 1.75 more than the front if this helps. Thanks for the info. Please keep it coming.
davisenvy wrote: I am using 1,000 lb bars that Camping World installed on my TT. The GVWR on my TT is 11,000lbs. The hitch is not angled back at all. When I do hitch up, i use the tongue jack to get an extra length on the chains. Also, the front of my TT seems to be ever so slightly tilted up in the front when hooked up. There isn't any more notches to drop the hitch lower. I have also measured the trucks sag before and after hitching up. The rear sags about 1.75 more than the front if this helps. Thanks for the info. Please keep it coming.
As mentioned you probably have enough truck and receiver, but you do really need to get the tongue wt. and properly rated WDH bars and then get it adjusted properly. I would guess that the bars are too light and the WDH is not adjusted properly. In any case a 36' long bumper pull trailer is a load for any TV and is almost getting into park level trailers.
M GO BLUE wrote: A better hitch does not take the place of an inadequate TV...upgrade the truck
He has a 2500 HD thats more than enough for his trailer! I think what you meant to say was a bigger truck will not take the place of an improperly setup hitch!
I think the op needs to weigh his truck anf trailer and see where his numbers really are. I think if you get a Reese DC and setup the hitch properly with the right sized WD bars you will see a hige improvement!
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Son Brandon 11yrs
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davisenvy wrote: I am using 1,000 lb bars that Camping World installed on my TT. The GVWR on my TT is 11,000lbs. The hitch is not angled back at all. When I do hitch up, i use the tongue jack to get an extra length on the chains. Also, the front of my TT seems to be ever so slightly tilted up in the front when hooked up. There isn't any more notches to drop the hitch lower. I have also measured the trucks sag before and after hitching up. The rear sags about 1.75 more than the front if this helps. Thanks for the info. Please keep it coming.
The camper should be level or slightly nose down. You could try lowering the amount of weight distribution to bring the nose of the camper down. If that does not work, you need a longer shank to bring the hitch ball down.
M GO BLUE wrote: A better hitch does not take the place of an inadequate TV...upgrade the truck
He has a 2500 HD thats more than enough for his trailer! I think what you meant to say was a bigger truck will not take the place of an improperly setup hitch!
I think the op needs to weigh his truck anf trailer and see where his numbers really are. I think if you get a Reese DC and setup the hitch properly with the right sized WD bars you will see a hige improvement!
Dodge Guy is spot on. You have plenty of truck, but if you have never taken a trip to the scales and weighed your combo set up for camping you really have no true idea where you stand or how balanced your combo really is.
Do you have 12%-15% tongue weight? What is your scaled loaded weight. No guessing! Are your 1000# bar enough?
I do recommend a better hitch at least a dual cam or Equalizer. I was not satisfied until i purchased a Hensley When I towed my 39' 1OK loaded TT.
Your truck is more than adequate but you need to put the time and effort into getting it set up properly.
Based on your comments I am pretty sure your hitch is not set up properly. The bright side is based on my experience and the knowledgeable people on this forum your rig can be made rock solid.
07'Duramax dually,12'Open Range 399BHS
Hawkshead TPMS,Hensley BD3,Killerbee exhaust brake
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14'Porta Bote w/8.0 Nissan
Vu Cube 2000,Splendide 2000S
Truck is more than suitable for the trailer. My bet is your bars are too light. You say the dry tongue weight is 860lbs. Add a battery and propane tanks (not included in dry weight) plus a % of anything added into trailer and I'm sure you'll find your actual tongue weight to be well over 1000lbs. Before dropping tons of money, spend some time and weigh the tongue. Try this or spend a few bucks and get a Sherline tongue scale. I'll bet you find the ride better with heavier bars. If sway is a concern, consider the Reese dual cam or Equil-l-izer with built in sway or if you have the bucks go for a Hensley. IMHO friction style sway bars would do little for that length of trailer.
'07 Toyota Tundra Crewmax Limited
'06 Forest River Flagstaff 26BH(sold)
'13 Keystone Bullet Premier 31BHPR
Hitched by Hensley, Viewed by McKesh
With a dry weight of 8600 pounds you are more likely around 10,000 pounds loaded with water and camping supplies. Water is 8.3 pounds per gallon. That would bring the dry brochure weight that we never use up to 10,000 or so pounds and a tongue weight of around 1300 pounds. Are you sure the 1000 pound bars are what you really want? Many that have a premium hitch such as the ProPride, PullRite or Hensley say that the towing issues are totally eliminated. So,I suspect you are looking at a hitch issue.
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