Forum Discussion

Lightning55's avatar
Lightning55
Explorer
Dec 01, 2019

Chucking....is it the trailer or the truck?

I know this has been discussed a thousand times and there are a thousand opinions about it's cause and remedy, but I can't continue to keep changing everything or buying new equipment in hopes of correcting the problem. I have to believe that it has something to do with relationship between the truck and trailer (weight, wheel base, axle-suspension location, or the like). I tow a 37' 5th wheel with a GMC 2500HD Duramax short bed. It was so bad over bumps that I dreaded towing this rig. I finally installed a Moryde pin box and it really did help. It doesn't fix the chucking but dampens it enough to make a difference but I can still feel it and I know it's hard on my equipment. I've changed pin weight, leveled the FW, installed Bilstein shocks and nothing has really changed anything except the rubber pinbox. It is so common with 5th wheels that I'm really surprised that some industry mechanical engineers haven't figured out what's really the cause of this condition. Maybe someone out there has some information that I haven't read about yet?
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Dec 02, 2019
    Chucking (the motion - not the noise it may cause) is a dynamic interaction between the truck and the trailer. It varies based on the characteristics of the truck and the trailer. All the various hitches can do is make more or less noise. The only effective way to deal with chucking is to install a dampened pin box or an air-ride hitch.

    Rob
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Dec 02, 2019
    My triple axle toyhauler was murder over the bridge transitions and sharp bumps like that. I installed the Dexter EZ-Flex kit, with the wet bolts, and it was a night and day difference. Best money I've spend to improve the ride.

    The toyhauler towed worse when there was no weight in the back and therefore a heavier hitch weight. Taking weight off the pin helped the ride. This is with a quad cab 2001 Dodge dually, and a 40' toyhauler.
  • TXiceman's avatar
    TXiceman
    Explorer II
    Dec 01, 2019
    Have you weighed the rig and checked you pin weight and your trucks GAWR and GVWR?

    Either light on the pin or too heavy for the truck can often be a problem.
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Dec 01, 2019
    What hitch are you using?

    Are you airing your tires based on your actual weights?
  • thomas201's avatar
    thomas201
    Explorer
    Dec 01, 2019
    Just ignore it, it does not harm anything. I drove tankers with partial loads, and they had a very lively ride. Sometimes I was afraid I might get seasick.

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