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Mrernestp's avatar
Mrernestp
Explorer
Sep 12, 2023

Fifth wheel chucking (practical help needed)

I am in search of some practical (layman terms) help for fifth wheel chucking.
I am relatively new to fifth wheeling and towing in general.
I have a 29 ft fifth wheel with a 11,000 lb GVWR (older so heavier).
My truck is a 2023 GMC Sierra 2500HD. Not full size but longer bed (6’ 10”) I believe.
Curt flex air hitch (for short bed so it has a longer neck.)
Reese 20k receiver
I have horrific chucking! Teeth grinding, mind numbing, coffee splattering, child waking level jolting over bridge seems ect.
I’m talking horrific.
I need help.
I understand (tell me if I’m wrong), that my pin/hitch weight needs to be 20% of the total trailers GVWR (loaded weight).
If my pin weight is that target, and I’m still experiencing this horrid chucking, WHAT do I do?
I’m going to upgrade to a newer and larger fifth wheel at some point, but to be honest I am terrified the issue will remain and don’t know how to resolve this or identify it before buying another rig.
Is it because it’s such a short trailer or causes too much hitch weight?
Is it because the shocks are old and spungy?
Is my stuff loaded improperly inside trailer? (Note it chucks with or without a load and there’s not much rearranging contents even possible in a small trailer)
Any practical information for a novice would be greatly appreciated.
  • Hitch and also the suspension. We have a TrailerSaver BD3 with air bags AND Equa-flex spring suspensions. We boondock a lot taking FS roads, but even on paved roads, we don't have that chucking.
  • Did you take it to the CAT scales to see what the real weights are?

    What kind of roads were you on? Was it all kinds or one specific stretch? I know of one stretch near where we live where the joint spacing causes rhythmic bouncing...even just the truck by itself.

    My guess is the fancy airbag hitch has something wrong. 5ers are known to pull great with no need for adjustment or fancy add ons.
  • Western pa (Pittsburgh area). I’ve wondered also about the air bag not working properly. The arrow and line that shows where it should sit hitched is right. So I “think” there is the correct amount of air.
    The hitch is mounted with the GM mounting brackets which as far as I understand is the only place on the frame it can go.
  • Check the location of your fifth wheel hitch, It needs to be forward of the rear axle, preferably 4". Since you have a short bed truck, chances are it is centered on or behind the rear axle
  • it could be a lot of things..... what part of PA are you from?

    I HAD a Lippert Flex Air hitch ( basically the same ) and had chucking from the airbag being low at times.... thats a fast check