Forum Discussion

MrXtrucker's avatar
MrXtrucker
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013

Fifth wheel chucking

I cannot find a thread concerning this subject, so I would be interested in your opinions. I have a 2006 F250 (rear axle air bags) with a Reese sliding hitch and a 2000 Montana 3250RL. On a recent trip in California, we experienced a horrible section of freeway and our rig literally beat us to pieces. I was looking at trailer suspension upgrades and pin box upgrades. Considering Trail Air Equaflex or Dexter EZ flex equalizers and Never Fail bushings. I want a system that will not affect my current coach height. At the pin box maybe a MorRyde. The airbag type pin boxes would address up and down movement but I am not sure they would isolate the fore and aft chucking. I will be doing the installation myself. Your input of your experiences would be appreciated.
  • We have on occasion experienced that famous chucking, even on the interstate. When driving in the Right lane, we chucked, switched to the left lane, everything OK. Thus we watched our mirrors, and moved to the right when traffic approached. Some roads are just that way.
  • I have been on sections of road with my F-250 Short bed that literally made the 5'r leave the road. The same section in my long bed was nice and smooth. Sometimes the concrete spacing just doesn't work for your vehicle.
  • Since you asked for opinions, I will throw my 2 cents out there.

    Before adding any upgrades I would make sure I was at the proper weight ration on the pin box. My 2nd fifth wheel had this issue constantly, and after tons of reading was advised to go to the scales to make sure I was at the proper pin box percentage. Comes to find out I was light and just by dropping the hitch 1 hole the problem mostly corrected itself.

    We now have the air safe hitch with out current truck and trailer, but this was a pre-buy to take any stress off the nose when we start full timing.

    When making the choice between pinbox and hitch, the choice came down to do we want to upgrade something that we may sell in the future, or go with the hitch that we will have as long as we tow.

    Good luck in your quest.
  • I added the 5th airborne pin box and have next to no chucking.. I also added the Mor/Ryde IS system... Joe
  • I have an '07 3075RL Montana previously pulled by an '07 F350, now by a '12 F350. Long beds so no slider. The Montana has the older Moryde suspension. Did not have much chucking to begin with, only on certain (usually concrete) highway sections. I did add a 5th Airborne air ride pin box and it pretty much eliminated what chucking I did have, as well as softening the overall ride.
    But I did have to lower my previous hitch a couple bolt holes to make up for the increased height of the new pin box. My new truck and hitch does not have that adjustment so I now run just a little nose high. Not so much as I am concerned about it though.
    The pin box install would have been a little easier with an extra set of hands, but really a pretty simple one man install with a little up front planning.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Do you have shocks on the 5er?

    That and a set of Bilstien 5100's on the TV!