Frame Stiffing to reduce Porpoising?
Got a question for you seasoned drivers with older rigs. I have a 1999 F350 Dually Quad Cab Long Bed. I've been driving it for thousands of miles and for the most part, it's been fine. However, while ...
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I carry a heavy camper and tow a heavy trailer. Whether it was my F250 with an AF811 or my current 5500 with Mammoth, I look at keeping loaded front axle weight the same or more than when it is unloaded. This may mean loading the camper or truck differently or adjusting my WDH so tongue weight does not lighten the front truck axle. Keeping your load in the proper horizontal CG not only reduces stress on the frame but also helps overall handling of the vehicle.
Reading through this thread, I am not convinced that there is anything wrong with the current truck frame. You want to make sure your axle weights are within limits and the front end is not unloading due to too much weight rear of the axle. The camper should be sitting level in the truck and may need shims in the front or back if the bed crowns in the center. If you are seeing excessive bed movement, perhaps the bed is coming apart and you should look underneath for visible signs of cracking or corrosion. The camper should be evenly anchored at 4 points - With FastGuns or other quick release levers, it is fairly easy to verify tension is the same on all of them. Having uneven tension on the camper tie downs may be good when you are moving slowly on uneven terrain to relieve stress, but not on highways.
I had the adjustable Rancho shocks on my F250. Since the front axle weight really was not changing much from unloaded to loaded, the shocks stayed at mid-level damping. The rear axle was the one that varied greatly (in my case from 2750 lbs to 8000 lbs) and this is where adjusting damping between minimum and maximum gave me the best unloaded and load ride.
Reading through this thread, I am not convinced that there is anything wrong with the current truck frame. You want to make sure your axle weights are within limits and the front end is not unloading due to too much weight rear of the axle. The camper should be sitting level in the truck and may need shims in the front or back if the bed crowns in the center. If you are seeing excessive bed movement, perhaps the bed is coming apart and you should look underneath for visible signs of cracking or corrosion. The camper should be evenly anchored at 4 points - With FastGuns or other quick release levers, it is fairly easy to verify tension is the same on all of them. Having uneven tension on the camper tie downs may be good when you are moving slowly on uneven terrain to relieve stress, but not on highways.
I had the adjustable Rancho shocks on my F250. Since the front axle weight really was not changing much from unloaded to loaded, the shocks stayed at mid-level damping. The rear axle was the one that varied greatly (in my case from 2750 lbs to 8000 lbs) and this is where adjusting damping between minimum and maximum gave me the best unloaded and load ride.
