Chucking?

richardcoxid wrote:
In my mind this is what happens- Chucking

Assume that you are going down the highway in a steady state condition. Level ground, constant speed, smooth pavement etc. this would take a constant amount of power (energy). Now you come to a concrete slab that is say 1 inch higher than than the previous slab.

When the front wheels of the TV contacts the higher slab the front of the TV has to raise which also compresses the front springs to absorb the 1 inch change. It takes energy to raise the TV and to compress the springs (i.e. the TV is going up hill). This energy is subtracted from the energy that is maintaining the constant speed which momentarily slows the TV. At the same time the RV momentum is pushing the RV ahead, Chucking! The same thing happens when the rear wheels of the TV contacts the higher slab, Chucking

When the RV tires contact the 1 inch higher slab the same thing but opposite happens, the RV momentarily slows while the TV is continuing to maintain the constant speed. Chucking!

When the TV comes down off the higher slab the TV momentarily gains speed (i.e. It is going down hill) while the RV is maintaining your constant speed, Chucking!

When the RV comes off the higher slab, same thing except the opposite- The RV momentarily speeds up while the TV is maintaining constant speed, Chucking.

Of course the more slop there is between the hitch pin/hitch jaws and in fact the whole hitch assembly the worse the Chucking. From some of the TDR comments it seems that some outfits are worse than others. RV springs, shocks and tires probably also enter into "Chucking" but the basic problem is the unevenness (chuck holes) of the pavement.

I am sure that some member that is more of a mathematician than I am could calculate the energy gain/loss for say a TV with a 3,000# front axle/ 5,000 rear axle weight and a RV with a 10,000 axle weight.

With all due respect I disagree, because the tow vehicle is pulling the trailer, therefore the trailer is reliant on the tow vehicle for forward and backward movement. Hence the trailer can only push a tow vehicle when brakes are applied or the prime mover is accelerating which causes a rear pull back. But up and down will vary with the road and conditions. This is plainly seen driving through Texas verses Louisiana. And I for one would vote Louisiana as the worst roads in the US, but I will yield that to other to vote on.