New 5th wheel doesn't tow well

IBcarguy wrote:
Since I posted this, I have done a lot of reading about 5th wheel chucking. Apparently it's a common problem and a phenomenon that may not be eliminated at all but simply masked but adding buffers at the hitch point to soften the shock caused by chucking -i.e. air bag pin boxes, rubber damper pin boxes, etc. I've also read that replacing springs, shocks, air bags on the TV won't change a thing except the balance of your checking account. I also know that a lot of people do not like goose neck systems or any variation of the goose neck hitch. The Andersen hitch changes the basic design and really the only common thing about the Andersen and a goose neck is that it uses a ball, but that ball is at the pin box instead at the bottom of a "neck" extending down to the bottom of your truck's bed. Anyway, the way I understand it the chucking motion is created by opposing lateral forces between the vehicle and the trailer when hitting bumps or dips in the road. Granted, this can be amplified by looseness or flexing at the hitch point.
For sure it's not going to be an easy thing to remedy and probably will be a process of trial and error. My reason for posting this was in hopes of finding someone that's already been through the "trials" so I could save a lot of headaches and $$ along the way. Thanks for all the input so far.

OP...your right. Not many on here understand what the Anderson Ultimate adapter is. I use it and its far tighter of a connection than 5th wheel hitch.

You may have a double whammy as you have a light truck that may be at full capacity...thats why I sugested airbags. I dont want to hear they wont do a thing for your problem as they fixed mine and they fixed a buddy of mine with a custom gooseneck hauler. Yes even with my dually i run 20-30psig air in my bags and it helped the problem. The goal was to take some of the bounce out of the springs.

My experience was if I ran a concrete bridge as the truck and trailer went over the expansion joints with my head back against the head rest it would bounce my head fore and aft...body as well. When the trailer hits the joint or bump it tugs which in theory also spikes your pin weight. The bump wants to pull the nose of the trailer down. Kinda like running and someone taking out your legs if you will. This apike in pin weight loads and unloads your springs rapidly. If your at max or on your overloads this can be a violent bump...hence my airbag usage and reccomendation. Airbags and shocks. $400 if you can do it yourself.



18 wheelers get chucking as well.