jarring ride while towing

[Wiredawg]

You still might get jarred...

I had a 2000 2500 QC LB 4X4 w/ Rancho RS 9000s (love 'em), factory overloads and Firestone airbags. 99 % no problem, but there are highways (I-40 in Arkansas) that have bad interstate. Concrete with joint spacing and badly worn caused truck the see/saw. What seemed to be having is at speed (70 MPH) is the truck/trailer would start the rythem. I had to use cruise control because oscilating wouldn't let me hold constant pressure on the acclerator.



Not trying to deter you, just trying to point out I don't think (IMHO) that any system will alleviate problems on some of these highways.



The Ranchos and Air bags did a lot to fix it on that truck. Me Buying a 3500 did even more to correct this problem.



Wiredawg

 

[SRehberg]

I'm going to give it one step at a time, then keep proceeding until I whip this thing. If I have to "air" everything, I will, as I can't let this beat me. I understand there is no magic carpet that will smooth all the roads all the time, just something to take the sharp edge off the jars. Thanks for all the first hand experience.

 

[n5ifi]

Doing Hotshot work I've found that I get the worst ride on segmented concrete with very little tongue weight. The best ride comes from having the most tongue weight I can get without overloading. I normally pull about a 17,000 lb load for a total gross of around 33,000 lbs. You can still feel the segments but there not as jarring. Bit of advice, Stay far away from I-10 and or I-20 in Louisiana.

 

[Ron Bissett]

First the jarring could be what is known as hi way hop caused by the spacing of the cut lines of the road way , This is due to the length of the rig some will not be feel it as much as others due to spacing of the wheel to( Trailer/Truck,) wheel spacing and the spacing of the crack cut, in the pavement. Slow down , Air up not down the tires of the truck to stop the flex . remove the over load if not needed . Use the black to Top roads see the country save the stomach from the Hi way hop . Just a few thoughts Hi way hop is here to stay , you just have to find a way around it. Ron in Metro Louisville KY. Entry level over fifty years. :-{} P. S The interstate here in Louisville for the most part has ben ground with a large machine that took most of the ruff ride except for the crack lines out of the Pavement. Ron

 

[RVPILOT]

air ride

It is my understanding that rough ride comes from stiff springs that are designed to carry gross weight in excess of unladen weight, shocks alone are not much help at smoothing out the ride, the answer is adjustable air bags. Kelderman ,like the ones installed on my1 ton eliminate the rear spring bracket and use the springs only to support the air bags and act like a trailing arm. Trailing arm by design are very smooth riding as anyone who ever owned a V W bug of the 50's knows. I have run as much as 100lbs of air for some heavy loads. Stormy

 

[SRehberg]

I'm going to try all the things I mentioned, as well as load the trailer nose heavy if need be. The truck isn't hip-hopping, it is a sharp, jarring, jolt, just as if the axle hits the stops all of a sudden. I believe it's from the overloads making contact with the spring stops when the axle comes up. They are the first things to go. I would love the Kelderman set up, but need to try the less expensive first, then if I need it, I'll get it; there is to much of this country to see that I don't need to be tied to the house.



Thanks for sharing all the suggestions, this is a great forum.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Michael... ... ..... The setup I have is where the springs work through the shackles of the springs to the air bags. The rear shackle mounts are removed. Its the same one they sell now.



. . Preston. .

 

[MMiller]

Thanks Preston. Its the same type I have. I have found with mine that at a certain point I can keep airing up the kelderman, but the springs give and more air won't change anything.





Michael

 

[RVPILOT]

Post script to earlier email

One thing I discovered when installing my Kelderman air ride was that the overload springs would contact the stops and thus cancel out the effect of the air bags. This could be eliminated by increasing the air pressure but that would make the ride to rough. solution ? remove the overload springs or do what I did and have some custom u bolts made up to compress the overloads down out of the way. This worked well and at the time I did it I thought that by leaving the overloads in I could use them again if needed, not so hindsight tells me that I should of eliminated the springs as they are not needed with air bags. stormy

 

[SRehberg]

Well, today I took the trailer for a test pull again with the overloads removed, shocks on, and Firestone Ride Rite air bags installed. It helped some, but it was disappointing, it isn't nearly as sharp, but still plenty of axle action. Probably a "normal" person would think the ride was pretty normal but it still is to rough for me. My wife says it would be o. k. for her, but can see where it would be to harsh for me. I tried the bags with 5lbs then went to 30lbs. ; seems like the higher pressure made it stiffer. With the bags directly over the axle and connected to the frame, I can see where it might inhibit the spring action, causing a little stiffer ride. I looked at the trailer while it was working away on the air hitch (Easy Rider) and now wonder if the pin weight is to light. The trailer during all this is empty for all practical purposes, with the exception of a full water tank. I thought I might see what a truck scale costs to see what weight is on the truck.