I recently purchased my first 5er (32ft 12Klb GVWR) and am using B&W Turnoverball with the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch. So far I have been very satisfied with this setup. Its very smooth going down the road however under hard acceleration when the truck shifts from 1-2 or 2-3rd, or a hard downshift pulling hills I get a very noticeable back/forth jerking movement felt in the truck. No noise or clunking just a very noticeable movement in the truck. It does this 4-5 times before finally settling out. It feels like its likely flex between the hitch and trailer frame. I have checked all the bolts on the Turnoverball and Andersen hitch and all are snug so I don't suspect any movement in the hitch is occurring. Is what I am feeling considered normal? Trailer has Lippert 1116 pin box on it which I plan on at some point replacing with a MorRyde unit. I assume the MorRyde would remove some/most of what I am feeling when the truck does a hard shift.

You probably have a common complaint with fifth wheel owners. I don't know that there is a fix other than to go to the MorRyde pin or comparable unit.Your Anderson hitch would actually have less of this problem than many other Pin lock style fifth wheel hitches.I'm using a new B&W Patriot 16K hitch, and it's very tight right now. My truck bucks a very minimal amount.

No, I would not consider this normal. If going over a bump, or dip in the road maybe. I don't have an answer for you, but will ask a couple of questions.How heavy is your pin wt? Going by the FW GVWR I'd guess 2,200. Is your truck suspension bouncing up/down, from the weight? Are you towing your FW fairly close to level?Jerry

have you looked at your tires are they at proper psi shocks? springs could be weak and needs rearched check everything dont uust assume its the pinbox or trailer

Two questions one has been asked before.What is your pin weight percentage?Is the trailer level when towing?

THis is on smooth road and only occurs under hard (3/4 to full throttle) shifts. Dry pin weight is 2015 lbs according to manufacturer specs (not verified). Tow vehicle is a 2012 GMC Duramax with Bilstein 5100 shocks, no air bags or other assist. Trailer is slightly nose high (2-3")when towing. All tires both TV and trailer are at or near max PSI level.Is this what 5er owners typically refer to as "bucking"?

Is this normal? | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

N-Trouble
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
Wanted to follow up as I found the source of the issue. It was the Turnoverball hitch. Found a few bolts that we're not torqued to spec including the ones holding the cross bars to the side plates. Torqued everything down and took the trailer out yesterday and it now feels rock solid.
g4sbrg
Explorer
Dec 04, 2014
well I must admit, being a 1st timer I did notice the "bucking" on my first trip as well and my set doesn't sound near as nice as yalls, only in a hard shifts tying to accelerate, was my intentions was to try manual down shift if I need the acceleration ??? any comment ! I think this was good advice.

Ever consider backing off the throttle? Drive like there is an egg on the throttle and another on the brake pedal. Don't break either egg unless an emergency.

thanks
alboy
Explorer
Dec 03, 2014
I Believe Ranchtex on the Cummins forum may of had a similar issue with some bed flex with his Anderson,heavy pin though.I believe he put extra support under the back area and cured it.
Allworth
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2014
Sounds like it might be a throttle position problem. Back off a little just as it shifts. There should not be anywhere that you need to go at "3/4 to full" throttle. Let the D/A torque do the work.
TimnJo
Explorer
Dec 02, 2014
Do you have your truck in tow/haul mode? If so this could be it, T/H changes the shift mapping and, from what I understand, the duration. I know I notice the difference in shift feel when T/H mode is toggled.
laknox
Nomad
Dec 02, 2014
N-Trouble wrote:
Yes its a toyhauler. Loaded or unloaded doesn't seem to make a difference. On our maiden voyage I had two large ATVs in the back and about 100gal of water (over axles). THis last trip the trailer had no toys or water but still did this jerking when shifting under heavy acceleration.

On our next trip out I think I am going to setup my sons GoPro camera in the bed of the truck to see if there is any movement going on at the hitch/kingpin.

Good idea. Make sure you can see the =bed= at the base of the hitch. The newer GMs have/had bed-flex issues bad enough that B&W has a kit for the Companion to combat this and prevent the bed ribs from actually denting and flattening out. Might have to do something similar for your Anderson. GM went =too= far in trying to save a few ounces by making the bed just too damn thin.

Lyle
N-Trouble
Explorer
Dec 01, 2014
Yes its a toyhauler. Loaded or unloaded doesn't seem to make a difference. On our maiden voyage I had two large ATVs in the back and about 100gal of water (over axles). THis last trip the trailer had no toys or water but still did this jerking when shifting under heavy acceleration.

On our next trip out I think I am going to setup my sons GoPro camera in the bed of the truck to see if there is any movement going on at the hitch/kingpin.
RCMAN46
Explorer
Dec 01, 2014
5th wheel trailers that are nose high have a tendency to buck/chuck when accelerating or braking.

This is most noticeable when the pin weight percentage is low.

Advertised pin weight means nothing. You have to get the trailer and truck when loaded for travel on a set of scales.

If you find the percentage below 20% making changes to get it in the 25% range may fix your problem. With nose high trailers it will require more pin weight than with a level trailer.
goducks10
Explorer
Dec 01, 2014
You have a toy hauler. What are you putting in the back? 2000lbs is the dry pin. If you're loading the back then the pin will or could be less than needed.
psford
Explorer
Dec 01, 2014
Goostoff wrote:
I used to have a huge chucking problem with my old Curt hitch. Once I switched to the B&W Patriot last year it was nearly gone. I seen one of those anderson hitches last year. Make sure the part on the pin box is god and tight so it can not move under the weight ****fing of the trailer.

Apparently you had a pretty sloppy hitch if the B&W cured your chucking. The cheapest hitch in the world would not cause chucking if everything is solid ,and there is no movement between the jaws ,and pin or back, and forth movement in the hitch itself.

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Is this normal?

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