Should my 5th wheel have shock absorbers?
I'm about to purchase a small 5th wheel, a 1998 Nash 21-5r, which has a GVWR of 7000 lbs. It does not have shock absorbers and the seller, who is the original owner, says it never has had any. We ...
Forum Discussion
You don't need them. Try the rig for a couple of outings and see if you don't agree with me.
1. No, or at least not until you've given it a try.
2. Because they are not needed.
3. IMO? Not much. The purpose of shocks is to limit spring rebound so that tires remain firmly in contact with the road. On a car/truck that is important because you can't steer if your tires are loosing traction. You don't steer your trailer. Controlling bounce also helps with braking, because you can't brake if your tires are bouncing and loosing traction. But it doesn't have much affect on trailer braking.
roamermatt wrote:
-- Should I put shocks on it?
-- Why wasn't it equipped with them originally?
-- What purpose do shocks serve on RVs?
1. No, or at least not until you've given it a try.
2. Because they are not needed.
3. IMO? Not much. The purpose of shocks is to limit spring rebound so that tires remain firmly in contact with the road. On a car/truck that is important because you can't steer if your tires are loosing traction. You don't steer your trailer. Controlling bounce also helps with braking, because you can't brake if your tires are bouncing and loosing traction. But it doesn't have much affect on trailer braking.
