Chucking?

[Blanco1]

As I research more & more I keep learning & the latest thing is chucking?
What the cheapest way to prevent it?

[larry_barnhart]

ReneeG wrote:

ACZL wrote:
Cheapest way to prevent chucking? Don't buy a RV.

Seriously, have nothing of the sort w/ our B&W Patriot.

Or a Hensley TrailerSaver air hitch - "the name says it all".

Neither have we with our easyrider /Reese airhitch.

chevman

[Reddog1]

goducks10, based on your experience, I probably can look forward to a lot of chucking with my little 19 foot 5th wheel. I sure hope not. I have no intention of chasing it with new hitches.

Wayne

[goducks10]

When I picked up my 5th wheel 250 miles away and towed it home I had chucking. I had an old used Reese as a 5th hitch at the time. After getting it home I loaded it with all the normal camping stuff. Towed for a while and still had chucking.
Ditched the old Reese and got a B&W Patriot. Still had chucking. The B&W is set as far forward as possible and the 5er is 1/2-1" nose high with a 20% pin weight.
Used the B&W for 3 seasons. Chucking was off and on depending on road conditions.
Got tired of lifting the B&W out of the truck so I thought I'd give the Andersen a try. Still have the same chucking on the same roads as I did with the old Reese and the B&W.
Way too many factors involved for a one size fits all solution IMO. My 5er is short @28'L so I think that may have something to do with it. It only chucks on bigger bumps and over passes. On smoother roads it's great. Once in a while it will almost go into a non stop chucking mode when on concrete freeways where the undulations are pronounced and are numerous.
FWIW I also added a MORryde pin box. It alleviated some but not all obvious chucking. Added shocks to the 5er also. They did nothing for chucking.
I stand by my theory that its my shorter 5er and truck combo wheel to 5er wheels spacing, since I've done everything possible to alleviate the chucking.
Not going to drop big $$$$ on an air ride type pin box or 5th hitch. 80% of the time it tows great. I can live with that.

[ReneeG]

ACZL wrote:
Cheapest way to prevent chucking? Don't buy a RV.

Seriously, have nothing of the sort w/ our B&W Patriot.

Or a Hensley TrailerSaver air hitch - "the name says it all".

[Reddog1]

I am not confused at all. If you have a preference as to the cause of chucking, you can get verification from one of the many post. I also have concluded that based on these post alone, anything and everything or a combination of things may or may not cause chucking. I have even read that anything you do to stop the chucking is just masking the problem, not fixing it. This one has me scratching my head.

As I to my little 5th wheel down the highway and see movement in my mirrors, I will have a tough time determining if my 5th wheel is proposing, chucking, or just hitting bumps in the road.

I am not confused, but I reary don't think I know any more now that I did before I read this thread.

Wayne

[justme]

At this point of the discussion, how many are confused with all the theories and little to back up and validation of the claimed solutions. I can hardly wait to see how this thread plays out.

[JIMNLIN]

I would concede that leveling the trailer might have some impact on chucking but I disagree about your comment that lowering the front ride height increases the pin weight on the hitch. You can raise or lower the trailer a foot and it won't change the pin weight.

A foot may change the hitch weight very little but agree there is no changes in pin weight in a couple of inches.

Changing pin height may work for some combinations and may make it worse for others. I see where some (not all) either raise or lower the front of the trailer to help with their handling or help with chucking issues

Too many folks think what worked for their combo is the silver bullet for everyone else's chucking problems.

My 3500 drw 4wd crew cab chevy has severe chucking issues with a 36' tri axle GN stock trailer when loaded heavy on the pin.......but not with a 32' tandem dual axle trailer and the same hitch weight.
Stock trailers and flatdeck trailers can be loaded hitch heavy or hitch light. I pull them with two different size trucks. It takes several loads on each truck to find which truck/trailer combo will have chucking issues and which don't regardless of hitch weight.

[Impulse24]

Garyl53 wrote:
Hi,
My opinion is that road imperfections and the effect in the vehicle/trailer certainly impact the ride quality. However, my opinion is that when an OP inquired about “chucking” it is because the the ride qualirlty is unacceptable even on extreamely smooth roads. Things like inadequate pin weight, hitch pin slop, and other truck/trailer suspension issues must be present. I have not been able to resolve or even reduce the “chucking” I experience despite ‘Mor/Ryde RPB, Andersen Hitch, truck air bags, complete trailer axle alignment including caster, camber, adding new shocks to truck/trailer, even tried a BD-3 air hitch, etc. I have about a 23-25% pin weight when vacationing. I have tried increasing pin weight (sand bags in front storage area, decreasing pin weight (sand bags in rear kitchen area) to no avail. It could be that I am concluding that the uncomfortable back/forth motion on us passengers in the front seats is actually the trailer pushing rapidly up/down on the rear of the truck caused by some resonance condition. It can actually be worse on smooth roads than rougher roads which has lead me to this conclusion. The remaining thing to try is to have someone else with a similar vehicle try towing my trailer and to also tow a different trailer about the same GVwR to try to see if there a a difference.

Interesting correction attempts, but the softer you make the ride the more bounce you will create. On another note if your pin is too small for the hitch you will create unwanted movement, and the air bags only help with weight and reduce sagging springs. have you also check your hitch alignment to your axel, if the hitch is in the wrong place you can do many things without correcting the problem.

Love to read how it turns out for you.


PS, Anyone used this hitch ??
As far as I can see it is the only one that you can easily install and swap to another trailer without major mods !

http://www.shockerhitch.com/5th_Wheel.php

[Garyl53]

Hi,
My opinion is that road imperfections and the effect in the vehicle/trailer certainly impact the ride quality. However, my opinion is that when an OP inquired about “chucking” it is because the the ride qualirlty is unacceptable even on extreamely smooth roads. Things like inadequate pin weight, hitch pin slop, and other truck/trailer suspension issues must be present. I have not been able to resolve or even reduce the “chucking” I experience despite ‘Mor/Ryde RPB, Andersen Hitch, truck air bags, complete trailer axle alignment including caster, camber, adding new shocks to truck/trailer, even tried a BD-3 air hitch, etc. I have about a 23-25% pin weight when vacationing. I have tried increasing pin weight (sand bags in front storage area, decreasing pin weight (sand bags in rear kitchen area) to no avail. It could be that I am concluding that the uncomfortable back/forth motion on us passengers in the front seats is actually the trailer pushing rapidly up/down on the rear of the truck caused by some resonance condition. It can actually be worse on smooth roads than rougher roads which has lead me to this conclusion. The remaining thing to try is to have someone else with a similar vehicle try towing my trailer and to also tow a different trailer about the same GVwR to try to see if there a a difference.

[IBcarguy]

I think a foot might have been an exaseration of my point, but even a few inches (which is only a very few degrees) shouldn't change pin weight hardly at all, if any. If I could weigh my pin when perfectly level, then weigh it again with it up a few inches, I bet it would be the same.

[FishOnOne]

A lot of you guys are getting Chucking confused with Bucking which is two different issues.

Chucking

[Cummins12V98]

"For me, I have experienced some Chucking when I forget to select the "Alternate Ride Height" on my Ram 3500 air suspension. It lowers the rear suspension a few inches"

It lowers the standard ride height about 1.5"

[Cummins12V98]

"You can raise or lower the trailer a foot and it won't change the pin weight.


This is inaccurate. It does not change a lot but it DOES change.

[Reddog1]

"You can raise or lower the trailer a foot and it won't change the pin weight. " I'm not so sure this is true. If you are carrying something that is real heavy, and the person on the opposite end raises their end your end will get heavier. I don't know if this would apply to a trailer. Could be the amount raised or lowed is too small to make a difference.

Wayne

[IBcarguy]

Bigg Al wrote:
For me, I have experienced some Chucking when I forget to select the "Alternate Ride Height" on my Ram 3500 air suspension. It lowers the rear suspension a few inches and in that mode, I never feel any Chucking. By lowering the front ride height of the trailer, you're putting more pin weight on the hitch, which, in my case, makes a huge difference with my 36 foot Open Range Fifth Wheel.

I would concede that leveling the trailer might have some impact on chucking but I disagree about your comment that lowering the front ride height increases the pin weight on the hitch. You can raise or lower the trailer a foot and it won't change the pin weight.