"Porpoising" - How to Tame the Rocking Camper
Struts are the only solution Lance parts representatives can offer for out of control forward and back rocking of a camper. Trouble is they don't support my 2019 Lance 650 on my 2016 Toyota Tundra (wi...
Forum Discussion
Whoa... let's consider what porpoising really is.
It is the frame of the truck flexing at or near the cab/bed location. All the weight of the camper in the bed causes to frame to flex when that weight is set into motion.
Struts are meant to dampen the movement relative to the cab. It doesn't stop the initial porpoising, it just tries to end the flexing sooner than without the struts. Previously, I had my 1181 on a 2004 F350 CC dually and my struts were effective as designed. It is too bad your camper is not meant to have struts.
Unfortunately, there is not much else you can do. For example, tightening the tie downs does not improve the frame flexing since it is the bed movement that is the problem. You will remain frustrated...
...unless you have the means to replace your truck. The Ford Aluminum Super Dutys used some of the weight savings to make the frame members fully boxed (square cross section) vs older open frame members on Fords and frames still found on most other brands (C cross section). The new frames are rated to be 24 times stiffer.
On my new 2019 F350 CC dually, I have ditched the struts and porpoising is virtually non-existent. It is a whole new driving experience for me since I don't have to watch so vigilantly for road anomalies.
Rick
Edited for spelling :(
It is the frame of the truck flexing at or near the cab/bed location. All the weight of the camper in the bed causes to frame to flex when that weight is set into motion.
Struts are meant to dampen the movement relative to the cab. It doesn't stop the initial porpoising, it just tries to end the flexing sooner than without the struts. Previously, I had my 1181 on a 2004 F350 CC dually and my struts were effective as designed. It is too bad your camper is not meant to have struts.
Unfortunately, there is not much else you can do. For example, tightening the tie downs does not improve the frame flexing since it is the bed movement that is the problem. You will remain frustrated...
...unless you have the means to replace your truck. The Ford Aluminum Super Dutys used some of the weight savings to make the frame members fully boxed (square cross section) vs older open frame members on Fords and frames still found on most other brands (C cross section). The new frames are rated to be 24 times stiffer.
On my new 2019 F350 CC dually, I have ditched the struts and porpoising is virtually non-existent. It is a whole new driving experience for me since I don't have to watch so vigilantly for road anomalies.
Rick
Edited for spelling :(
