Chucking - trouble shooting

[dkuntz]

I’ve found a few strings in the forum on this topic. I’ve come to the point where I’ve concluded there isn’t a silver bullet to resolve the issue unless I want to spend several thousand on a TrailSaver hitch in the truck - which only eliminates the feel of the chucking, not necessarily the chucking. That being said, I’m looking for advice on where to start the process of elimination to first minimize the chucking coming from the trailer, and then the steps to minimize the impact at the truck.
1) Fill the trailer/truck so its loaded similar to how I will be camping and use that as a baseline for the chucking.
2) Add equalizers/shocks to the leaf springs on the trailer
3) Upgrade the factory king pin on the 5W to a MorRyde type rubber pin box
4) If that doesn’t eliminate 95% of the chucking on the truck, then I may have to look at getting an air system hitch on the truck.

For those that will ask; I have a 2019 2500 Duramax, pulling a 2020 5W Keystone Cougar 1/2 ton 29MBS. I’m within all charts/weights/etc. King Ping weight is 1,700lbs. Tire pressures are as spec’d (even though I don’t agree with the people on the forums that this matters with chucking). I added B&W gooseneck hitch to the truck frame and bought the Andersen Ultimate hitch in the truck bed along with the locking plate to the king pin box. The trailer has a front bedroom, middle bunk house, and kitchen in the rear. Cougar has stock “Road Armor” suspension system on the axles. I’ve only towed it so far completely empty from the dealer and to the storage facility. The chucking was miserable.

[dkuntz]

MFL wrote:
You're using the wrong number. With a FW all the pin wt goes on the rear axle. You have lots more available pin, likely 2500-2800 lbs, and still under axle rating. That payload is just the weight of your truck subtracted from a class 2 GVWR.

Jerry

I agree the truck can handle another 1,400lbs per the axle/tire ratings, but I’m not aware of any other “numbers to use” other than payload as its the most restrictive. Payload is what is calculated as any weight added to your truck, regardless of where on the truck its added. Being in Colorado with some serious grades and the fact that I’m double towing, I don’t play around with capacities....seen too many out of control trucks from people not respecting them.

Regular size 5W’s with the layout we wanted were too long for me to double tow, so I had to go to with the 1/2ton model to keep my overall length under 65’ for the State’s I’ll be towing through. Regardless, I’m asking about chucking improvement here as I already have the truck and trailer

[MFL]

You're using the wrong number. With a FW all the pin wt goes on the rear axle. You have lots more available pin, likely 2500-2800 lbs, and still under axle rating. That payload is just the weight of your truck subtracted from a class 2 GVWR.

Jerry

[dkuntz]

Flute Man wrote:
Maybe your pin weight is too light.

Funny story - a 3/4ton duramax only has 2,150lb payload - so 1,700lb pin weigh is right where I want it before I add my family and other stuff to the truck.

[MFL]

^^^Yes, a heavier pin might help. If you are towing nose high, it will help to level the trailer. Rear kitchen usually adds weight behind the axle, and once loaded to camp, fridge/pantry/cupboards full, may even add to your issue. Most get some chucking, on certain roads, but smooth roads should not be a problem.

Jerry

[Second_Chance]

Chucking is a function of interaction(s) between the truck and the trailer and is highly influenced by the road surface. There are solutions FAR less expensive than $2,000 air-ride hitches. One of the best solutions is the MORryde dampened pin box which runs between $400 and $600 depending on which model (weight rating) you need and where you buy it. A similar pin box fixed our chucking issues completely.

Rob

[Flute_Man]

Maybe your pin weight is too light.

[troubledwaters]

So how it works is people just throw money at the problem until the figure they spent enough they can just live with it. When people tell you how great fifth wheels are they never seem to mention that dirty little secret, chucking.