Pulled our GD 303RLS home on Wednesday with our '05 Chevy 2500HD (D/A, CC, LB, 4X4)... smooth sailing the whole way... couldn't be happier...Got to the house and loaded about 300# of 'stuff' in the basement and as soon as we departed, I noticed we had developed a shudder from the driveline... I'm not 100% sure, but it feels like a driveshaft issue... Plan right now is to add an Air Lift product to the truck (LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate)... seemed to squat quite a bit as we loaded the 'empty' trailer onto the bed anyway... more forward weight just exacerbated the squat...Anyone else's truck exhibit this behavior as the 'tipping point' was crossed? Some of the Duramax sites point me in the direction of the pinion-gear angle becoming too great as 'excess' weight is added to the bed... a somewhat common issue... some went as far as replacing the two-piece driveshaft with a one-piece from a late model truck...

This is somewhat common with 2 piece driveshafts in pickups. Some get it when truck is empty, others loaded. As the driveline angles change so can the harmonics when spinning. Assuming you have a 2 piece ds. Could try shimming the carrier bearing. Usually it's shimmed down for empty or lifted trucks. Maybe there's a washer or spacer you could remove to raise the carrier bearing slightly?Just a suggestion if you're pretty certain it's the driveline and all the components, ujonnts and carrier don't have slop in them.

The truck is smooth while empty/lightly loaded... which is where I spend the majority of my miles..If I shim the carrier so as to pull the FW shudder-free, will I just transfer the shudder from the loaded to the unloaded state?

KnowNuthin wrote:If I shim the carrier so as to pull the FW shudder-free, will I just transfer the shudder from the loaded to the unloaded state?Most likely

You may be close to a U-Joint failure or a dry U-Joint. The change in angle aggravated the failing U-Joint and you get the shudder. This happened on one of our trips. Quick change of the U-Joint and the shudder went away.

Since it's only when loaded down I'd be looking at the carrier bearing as well. My old Ram did the same thing. Shimming can cause reaction you may not want ( driving unloaded) launch shudder. I went with the one piece shaft and problem went away. I'd give you a link but the company is no longer in business.

CrewCab Long bed shudder | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

Huntindog
Explorer
Dec 18, 2015
KnowNuthin wrote:
Pulled our GD 303RLS home on Wednesday with our '05 Chevy 2500HD (D/A, CC, LB, 4X4)... smooth sailing the whole way... couldn't be happier...

Got to the house and loaded about 300# of 'stuff' in the basement and as soon as we departed, I noticed we had developed a shudder from the driveline... I'm not 100% sure, but it feels like a driveshaft issue...

Plan right now is to add an Air Lift product to the truck (LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate)... seemed to squat quite a bit as we loaded the 'empty' trailer onto the bed anyway... more forward weight just exacerbated the squat...

Anyone else's truck exhibit this behavior as the 'tipping point' was crossed? Some of the Duramax sites point me in the direction of the pinion-gear angle becoming too great as 'excess' weight is added to the bed... a somewhat common issue... some went as far as replacing the two-piece driveshaft with a one-piece from a late model truck...
Does it shudder only when accelerating from a stop?
If so, then many trucks do this with no ill effects. As others have said, the driveline pinion angle is what causes it. When accelerating from a stop, the angle changes quite a bit, then it settles down into it's running position... Since it spends little time in the shuddering position, then it hasn't proven to be a problem for most. Just an anoyance. Many fixes have been tried. Some have success, others not.
I have had this on both of my crewcab long beds... I did have a u joint failure at 110,000 miles on the first truck. I thought that was an acceptable mileage for that part, so I don't worry about it.... I tow heavy and often.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Dec 18, 2015
Sounds like you need the air bags anyway but if you can do any more than flex the rubber around he carrier a little, it shot and that's likely your problem.
24fb_freedom
Explorer
Dec 18, 2015
I had an 05 3500hd duramax 4x4 cc LB and it did the same thing until I put the Firestone airbags to help with the pin weight of 5th wheel, that took care of it.
KnowNuthin
Explorer
Dec 17, 2015
I'm gonna start with airbags...as I feel there's too much squat out back when the trailer is hooked up...

I had a chance to crawl under the truck the other day... Shook the various bits of the driveshaft as much as possible... The carrier moved a little (maybe 1/4 - 1/2 inch) as I pushed and yanked... U-joints look good(no movement or rust evident) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's the pinion angle that's making such a ruckus....

Maybe I'll start putting some coin in the piggy bank ... Saving up for a new one-piece replacement in the future...
trail-explorer
Explorer
Dec 17, 2015
mkirsch wrote:
Maybe I'm just over sensitized to it but my first thought went to "frame beaming."

If any GM truck was going to experience frame beaming...

This sentence seems to be missing a few words. As it's written, or doesn't make sense because it's incomplete.
jmaotto
Explorer
Dec 17, 2015
I have a 2002 2500 LB-CC with the Duramax and a 2 piece drive shaft. It does not shudder either loaded are unloaded. Check U joins and carrier bearing.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Dec 17, 2015
Maybe I'm just over sensitized to it but my first thought went to "frame beaming."

If any GM truck was going to experience frame beaming, yours would. From what I can tell it's more common in the longer wheelbases.
ACZL
Explorer
Dec 17, 2015
My old '91 GMC did the same thing. GM replaced/relocated driveshaft mounting points. No more vibration/shimmy.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2015
my last F 250 did the same thing. Air bags took care of that.
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 16, 2015
the bear II wrote:
You may be close to a U-Joint failure or a dry U-Joint. The change in angle aggravated the failing U-Joint and you get the shudder. This happened on one of our trips. Quick change of the U-Joint and the shudder went away.

My first thought is that is a failing u-joint or bearing. If both are fine, it is the drive line angle when you are loaded.

Moving the weight farther back in the RV so you have less squat with the same amount of weight will tell you if it is an angle issue. Bags or helper springs will correct this without changing your unloaded angle.

Forum Discussion

CrewCab Long bed shudder

15 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Transmission shudder

New trailer brakes shuddering

How long?

Long trips

Major Ecoboost repair, long delays