Horrible Bumpy Ride in 1/2 ton pulling TT

Spanousis wrote:
Ok our truck weighs 5600lbs, our Springdale TT weighs 8200 loaded. Our truck is supposed to be able to tow 10,500. How do we get proper WD and tongue weight? What does that mean? Btw my husband doesn't know either and that's why I'm posting. Thanks!

Before spending money on anything, do some homework on your weight carrying requirements.

Assuming your weights are accurate, your tongue weight should be between 984 and 1066 pounds. That's 12 - 13 percent of 8200 lbs loaded trailer weight. WD hitches, have various weight ratings. Is your hitch rated to handle your actual tongue weight?
Maybe, you have 800 lb bars, trying to handle 1000 lbs of tongue weight. Maybe, your hitch is rated for the weight, but, not set up correctly.

Besides knowing the actual weight of your truck, you also need to know it's GVWR and payload. Check the loading sticker, on your drivers door post. It should show these numbers. If it does not show a payload, you can calculate that by subtracting the trucks actual weight, from it's GVWR.

Payload is weight capacity to carry fuel, driver, passengers, cargo, aftermarket accessories, WD hitch, and trailer tongue weight, combined. You will run out of payload, before you get close to that mythical "max tow capacity".

We know that you need at least 1100 lbs of payload available to carry your trailer weight. What we don't know is, how much payload you need to carry your driver, passengers, and truck bed cargo. Figure out how much weight you need to carry, and compare that to how much payload is available on your truck.

People have mentioned, swapping "P" passenger tires for "LT" tires. That is because passenger tires are made with softer sidewalls, for passenger comfort. When you hang a 1000 lbs tongue weight on the back end, you are getting close (if not over) on what your truck is rated to carry. Stiffer sidewalls ("LT" tires) would reduce the possibility of sidewalls flexing, thus, the unstable feeling. Pumping your tires to max pressure (printed on the tires) will also reduce sidewall flexing.

If your weight carrying requirements are above what your payload is, you may be going down the road, overloaded, on soft tires, and with a soft suspension.

Keep in mind, trucks of a certain make / model, are not all created equal. Depending on suspension, tires, cab configuration (regular, extended, crewcab), drivetrain (2 or 4 wheel drive), transmission, wheelbase, etc, their GVWR and payload can vary considerably. Good example is F150's. They can be found with payloads as low as 750 lbs, and as high as 3200 lbs. A blanket statement, that a half ton should pull your trailer just fine, is not true. Some can, some can't.

Do you need a bigger truck? Only you can make that determination. Without all the numbers, we are stabbing in the dark.