5th wheel trouble

[CMast]

on dads last trip to pigeon forge he had some trouble on the way home he has an 01 4x4 quadcab and a 30' wildcat on the way home at speeds around 60 mph he said the camper started weaving and he could not control it he thinks the trouble is in the truck it pulled fine on the way down though he checked the ball joints and tire pressure any ideas would be greatly appreciated

 

[mberry]

Has the load in the trailer changed significantly? Your description makes me think that something changed in the trailer loading enough to cause this.



Or, did he perhaps hit a curb or something on the way out enough to throw off the axle alignment?

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Check the lug nuts on the trailer. Also, check the condition of the tires on the trailer.

 

[DValentine]

I have a Wildcat also. I found the spring perches, or hangers had very sloppy welds attaching them to the frame. I also wore out the shackles in 10,000 miles of towing.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Does he have a sway bar on the hitch? If not, definitely should get one. Towing a trailer with the front too low or high sometimes causes sway problems. As stated above, definitely look closely at the trailer suspension for worn, loose or broken parts. bg

 

[RustyJC]

Does he have a sway bar on the hitch?

He says that it's a 5th wheel, so that wouldn't apply. That's what has me puzzled since sway is just about a non-event with a 5th wheel.



Rusty

 

[B.G. Smith]

He says that it's a 5th wheel, so that wouldn't apply. That's what has me puzzled since sway is just about a non-event with a 5th wheel.



Rusty

Hmmmm? Yeah, that is a strange one. Might be the tire inflation pressure on the truck?? I tow a 5th wheel but I also have DRW. Very little movement back there, sometimes you can feel a good side wind. bg

 

[RustyJC]

You might ask him if he was towing with one or more full tanks when he normally doesn't. We had a 5th wheel with the fresh water tank all the way back at the rear of the trailer. If he had the tanks filled such that he was running significantly lighter than normal on the pin weight, that could promote a change in handling, especially in combination with the other factors already mentioned.



Rusty

 

[CMast]

thanks for the information i will tell him what i've got so far

also i am about to purchase an 05 drw where online can i get a rail kit for a reese hitch

 

[Grizzly]

He says that it's a 5th wheel, so that wouldn't apply. That's what has me puzzled since sway is just about a non-event with a 5th wheel.



Rusty

The problem could be almost anything, from truck to hitch to running gear on the trailer. Trailer loading can very well create a problem. Everything has to be considered. Grizzly

 

[Turbo Thom]

I personally have found nothing to cause my fiver to sway. The only thing I could think of is the broken spring seat to cause the axle to move fore and aft. Possibly the spring alignment pin is broken and the spring is sliding on the spring seat. The U bolts being lose would cause that. this is really a strange one.



. . Preston. .

 

[B.G. Smith]

thanks for the information i will tell him what i've got so far

also i am about to purchase an 05 drw where online can i get a rail kit for a reese hitch

http://reeseproducts.com/ Heres their web site. I bet you could find a set at your local RV dealer or at a hitch place. bg

 

[Ron Bissett]

Sway?

Suspension on trailer ,could be spring dropped out . axle moved do to loose or missing U bolts ,missing parts or broken parts of suspension system . loose wheel ,or under inflation of two tires on same side ,bad wheel bearing or race, A good inspection ,compare both sides , check the frame ,look at the frame pin box location . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville Ky P. S fifth wheel trailers do not sway with out some thing bad wrong.

 

[DPhillips]

Try this place, it is a dedicated web site for Wildcat owners. One of the members found his shackle bolts worn( I think that is what it was) and needed replacing.



http://www.wildcatonline.com/



We are looking for a 5th wheel and looking at Wildcats and found this site by chance. Hope it helps.

 

[CMast]

today dad went over the camper he could not find anything mentioned above that was loose or wrong is it possible that it is in the truck

 

[MChildress]

I dont know if this will help but I know from my experience that too much weight on the front will cause a rough ride from bouncing / too much behind the axles will cause swaying. I always try to load 1/3 on truck and 2/3 over the axles. We put a generator on the rear of a 30 ft bumper pull camper trailer per the manufactures recommendations for added length and weight. We could not drive over 40 mph without it swaying. That 4 Kw Onan is in the barn now.

 

[Ron Bissett]

today dad went over the camper he could not find anything mentioned above that was loose or wrong is it possible that it is in the truck

Its possible its the Truck but not probable . Did Dad jack up each wheel and try to move in and out to check wheel bearings? also watch the spring compression , did he check the square alignment of the axles to the frame by marking and measuring the square to pin of the rig . Did he try to move it trailer a distance straight away and see if trailer will track . Did he try to tow the trailer with a different truck? Lol Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY