Bucking with truck on trailer

[Highfinance97]

When I put my pulling truck on the trailer I have it all the way to the front of the nose of the trailer(Its the only way i could get good tie down positions) and when towing on the highway it bucks a bit.



Now, (If this matters) I have all the weight and weight box in the bed of the truck that is on the trailer so im guessing the weight is kind of distributed evenly considering the weight of the Front of the truck .



So my questions are...



1. Should the weight be in the bed of the tow rig??

2. Should I NOT nose the truck to the front of the trailer??





And lastly, Where to tie down from??

When shipping over seas they tie down vehicles from the frame so I figured they know what there doing thats what ill do

What is the correct way to tie down a trailered vehicle???



Michael

 

[Ragain]

When loaded, are your overload springs up against the jounce bumpers? If so, that can make for a choppy/bucking ride.

I installed aux. airbags back there and removed the jounce bumpers, (I carry the jounce bumpers with me just in case a bag blows though!) and that seems to give me a much better ride without the bucking.

And for tie downs, I recommend the 2" ratchet straps w/ tire harness ends. (you can find these anywhere class 8 truck flatbed securement supplies/tarps/chains/binders are sold).

If you use the steel "T" style securement, you run the risk of wallowing out the shipping tie down slots in your frame rails if you don't have the heavy binding equipment like the "portable parking lots" use.

 

[PC12Driver]

Yep, a bumper-pull trailer will bounce if the weight is too far forward. You only want about 10% of the total trailer weight on the ball. The farther the load's center of gravity is away from the trailer axles, the deeper the bounce.



But don't get too far back (less than 10%), 'cause then you'll get sway, and that can get pretty scary. Nothing like having the trailer steer the truck for you.

 

[JFaughn]

This sounds like a good time to ask , 32' Airstream , mostly instate hwy 35 , Iowa , going south , then Missouri was worse , a regular bucking , speed change , did not make much difference .
I've got the load equalizer bars with the sway control stirrups , now what to add to get rid of the bucking ?

 

[Ragain]

JFaughn, it isn't hard to get too much tension on those equalizer bars making a ride choppy. I have a 31' Airstream myself and I do not use the weight distributing hitch. (Be sure your frame mount is rated for the tongue weight w/o weight distributing head if you try this)

Airstreams are designed for even a car to pull them, which most did in the 50's thru the 70's.

Also, I-35 through northern Mo. ranks towards the top "Choppy Spots" in the nation. My folks pulled their Airstream through there twice, nearly bucking them out of their seats.