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03-13-2015, 12:44 PM
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#1
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New Camper
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Delaware
Posts: 3
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Towing problem with Sunset Trail travel trailer
I just purchased a 2012 Sunset Trail Reserve 30RE. When towing above 50 mph on a concrete highway, a bouncing motion began that was very unsettling. I felt like I was bouncing on a large exercise ball. No trailer sway was noticed. I have used the tow vehicle, a Dodge Durango with V8 and tow package, to tow a similar size but lighter trailer before with no problems. With the new trailer, I have not exceeded the GCVWR or the GVWR for either the Durango or trailer. The tongue weight is heavier, but within limits for the Durango and I am using a Blue Ox weight distribution hitch. Anyone experienced similar bouncing issues and know the cause? I am thinking I might need to change the spring bars on the hitch to 1000 pound bars from the 750 bars I have. Any thoughts?
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03-13-2015, 01:01 PM
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#2
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: May 2013
Location: So IL
Posts: 1,811
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Sometimes the road itself can be the problem. Have you towed on that particular stretch of road before? I know of a particular concrete stretch that no matter what you drive you get this rhythmic kinda hop due to the expansion joints.
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Tim
13 ST25RB
08 F-250 SC 6.8L XLT 4x4
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03-13-2015, 01:41 PM
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#3
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 688
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I agree with Tim. Happens to me every time I travel on 84 to 81 in Pennsylvania near Scranton. The expansion joints are perfectly spaced to cause a horrible bounce. Slowing down, speeding up and changing lanes has little effect.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
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Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
B&W Patriot 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch
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03-13-2015, 04:25 PM
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#4
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 72
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A section of route 13 in Delaware also has this issue, it has more to do with the concrete and the expansion joints in my opinion. All you can do is slow down and hold on...
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2014 Crossroads Sunset Trail Reserve ST33PB
2013 Ford F150 SCREW 4X4 EcoBoost Max Tow 6'5" bed 3.73 Tuxedo Black
Equal-i-zer Hitch
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03-13-2015, 04:36 PM
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#5
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: 1
Posts: 2,036
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Heavier bars will probably help. Have you actually weighed the trailer and also hitch weight on a certified scale? As I recall from my TT days is you should have about 15% of the TT weight on the hitch ball.
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03-13-2015, 04:47 PM
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#6
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MS
Posts: 2,746
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Heavier bars will help. When I had the TT with the Durango I put LT tires on in place of the P tires made a lot of difference
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Frank and Janet Henn
2000 Monoco Lapalma
being pushed by a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Traveling with Rainbow the wonder dog and now with Sunshine the rescue Schnauzer.
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03-13-2015, 07:37 PM
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#7
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mebane, NC
Posts: 2,394
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Sounds like porpoising which can be fixed by adjusting the wdh. Just curious, are you under weight by using dry weights, scaled loaded weights or trailer gvwr weights? How close to max are you? That is a lot of tt for a Durango (looks to be dry weight of 6300 lbs). Best thing up do is load the tv and tt like you would to go camping and weigh it. Get 1 pass just tv (front axle on scale pad 1, rear axle on scale pad 2). Get 2nd pass with tv and tt no wdh. Tv as in 1st pass, tt axles on scale pad 3. Get 3rd pass tv, tt with wdh. Goal of the wdh is to return the front axle weight to as close to unloaded weight as possible without going heavier.
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2014 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
2011 Zinger ZT26BL-sold
2014 Sabre 34REQS
***Member of the Mason-Dixon Group***
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03-14-2015, 10:59 AM
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#8
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: United states of america
Posts: 1,570
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Anaro is spot on here. You need to get your trailer weighed when your loaded. I bet your higher than you think on the hitch. What year is your Dodge? I thought the max on those with RWD and tow package topped in the mid 7,000s?
__________________
2017 Ford F350 Super Duty 6.7 King Ranch Crew
Sold the 2016 Crossroads Sunset Trail Grand Reserve 32BH
2020 Grand Design Momentum 320G
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03-14-2015, 11:45 AM
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#9
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 650
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Quote:
Originally Posted by anaro
Sounds like porpoising which can be fixed by adjusting the wdh. Just curious, are you under weight by using dry weights, scaled loaded weights or trailer gvwr weights? How close to max are you? That is a lot of tt for a Durango (looks to be dry weight of 6300 lbs). Best thing up do is load the tv and tt like you would to go camping and weigh it. Get 1 pass just tv (front axle on scale pad 1, rear axle on scale pad 2). Get 2nd pass with tv and tt no wdh. Tv as in 1st pass, tt axles on scale pad 3. Get 3rd pass tv, tt with wdh. Goal of the wdh is to return the front axle weight to as close to unloaded weight as possible without going heavier.
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X2.
The split CAT scales are nice.
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Bert, Cathy, Kylie & Kaitlin
2014 SunsetTrail Reserve 32BH
2009 Silverado 3500HD LTZ 4X4 6.6L Duramax
YouTube LetsRV Instagram LetsRV_
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03-14-2015, 12:11 PM
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#10
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Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 190
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frisbyh
I just purchased a 2012 Sunset Trail Reserve 30RE. When towing above 50 mph on a concrete highway, a bouncing motion began that was very unsettling. I felt like I was bouncing on a large exercise ball. No trailer sway was noticed. I have used the tow vehicle, a Dodge Durango with V8 and tow package, to tow a similar size but lighter trailer before with no problems. With the new trailer, I have not exceeded the GCVWR or the GVWR for either the Durango or trailer. The tongue weight is heavier, but within limits for the Durango and I am using a Blue Ox weight distribution hitch. Anyone experienced similar bouncing issues and know the cause? I am thinking I might need to change the spring bars on the hitch to 1000 pound bars from the 750 bars I have. Any thoughts?
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Does this happen on all concrete highways? I had a 2011 Sunset Trail Reserve 30RE and ran in to that one time. That was on I86 in western NY and it got worse when we crossed into PA. We were taking that TT to the dealer to trade for our current TT. As there was an acceptable alternate route to go home, I have not pulled my current TT that highway. I did not know if it was just the right combination of distance between joints and that particular TT and my truck or what caused it as I had never experienced it prior. BTW It got worse with increasing speed on that occasion. I ran an E2 hitch with 1000 lbs. bars.
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~Mike & Kim~
NW Pennsylvania
2014 Rockwood Windjammer 3008W Diamond
2012 Toyota Tundra, 5.7L
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03-14-2015, 12:13 PM
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#11
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: United states of america
Posts: 1,570
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I think its a bit of both the expansion joints and you may be a shy high on the hitch weight contributing to the amusement park-like ride affect you are having.
__________________
2017 Ford F350 Super Duty 6.7 King Ranch Crew
Sold the 2016 Crossroads Sunset Trail Grand Reserve 32BH
2020 Grand Design Momentum 320G
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03-14-2015, 02:47 PM
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#12
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 72
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Common in Manitoba in the spring---expanding expansion cracks
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03-14-2015, 07:07 PM
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#13
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: United states of america
Posts: 1,570
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Expansion joints aside, I still think you're probably close or over a bit on the max once you're loaded. You should really take it to a scale and double check. Upgrade your bars at the very least.
Good luck and let us know what you end up doing
__________________
2017 Ford F350 Super Duty 6.7 King Ranch Crew
Sold the 2016 Crossroads Sunset Trail Grand Reserve 32BH
2020 Grand Design Momentum 320G
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03-15-2015, 03:48 PM
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#14
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 43
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I also have the 30RE and Blue Ox setup and use the 1000# bars. I thought dry weight on the tongue for a 30RE was over 750 pounds? I find once I fill the fresh water and with full propane and batteries the tongue weight is a lot more...I am thinking over 1000 pounds
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2013 F150 XLT Supercrew Ecoboost Max Tow
2014 Sunset Trail Reserve 30RE
Blue Ox Sway Pro
Firestone Work-Rite
Kipor IG2000p
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06-12-2015, 08:12 PM
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#15
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New Camper
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: IN
Posts: 4
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It's the road. It seems that the concrete surfaces do that. See if it does it on the asphalt surfaced highway.
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06-14-2015, 07:25 AM
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#16
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
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Install some air bags - may help.
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06-21-2015, 08:54 PM
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#17
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Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Iowa
Posts: 234
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My Durango could not tow an open car trailer and a 3000 lb car safely. Yes I towed it numerous times locally with out issues. Went on two long tows to races and almost lost my car and trailer a couple times.
At that point I said I would never tow with it again and traded it.
I will also never tow with the P rated tires they put on light duty suv's.
__________________
2014 Z-1 ZT301BH--- Got hail damaged and been replaced.
2016 REZERVE RFZ-31BH
Reese Pro Series 16k hitch
2006 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L ext. Cab 8' bed.
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