Towing problem with Sunset Trail travel trailer

frisbyh · 03-13-2015, 12:44 PM

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?

Tim D · 03-13-2015, 01:01 PM

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.

cw3jason · 03-13-2015, 01:41 PM

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.

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SJEagles609 · 03-13-2015, 04:25 PM

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...

Stan · 03-13-2015, 04:36 PM

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.

fhenn · 03-13-2015, 04:47 PM

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

anaro · 03-13-2015, 07:37 PM

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.

OhioMark · 03-14-2015, 10:59 AM

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?

Bert · 03-14-2015, 11:45 AM

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.

X2.
The split CAT scales are nice.

MEHoffman · 03-14-2015, 12:11 PM

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?

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.

OhioMark · 03-14-2015, 12:13 PM

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.

Winterpegger · 03-14-2015, 02:47 PM

Common in Manitoba in the spring---expanding expansion cracks

OhioMark · 03-14-2015, 07:07 PM

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

crowsnestflyfisher · 03-15-2015, 03:48 PM

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

Indy72 · 06-12-2015, 08:12 PM

It's the road. It seems that the concrete surfaces do that. See if it does it on the asphalt surfaced highway.

NorskeNY · 06-14-2015, 07:25 AM

Install some air bags - may help.

jakesz28 · 06-21-2015, 08:54 PM

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.

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