5th wheel towing/pin weight help needed !!

[coodle0216]

We have a 5th wheel towing/pin weight question....we have:
2009 GMC 2500HD Sierra Ext Cab with 6.0 engine, 6 speed trans, short bed truck pulling a 2012 Keystone Cougar XLite 27RKS 5th wheel.

Just weighted at CAT scale with full tank gas, people, etc. Truck weight is 7280. Truck with RV connected is: steer axle 3840, drive axle 5420, RV axle 7300. Door tag on truck lists GVWR 9200, GAWR-Frt 4200, GAWR-RR 6084. RV tag lists GVWR 1000, GAWR ea axle 4400. Our problem is that when we hit a bump or cross bridge or such, the RV "teeter-totters". We have done the 5th wheel calculator for our pin weight (1980) and it comes in a 21.3%. We are 6" from the truck bed rail and RV is slightly up in the front.

Has anyone had this problem ?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for long note but trying to get all the info in this message.

[coodle0216]

Thank you so much for all your info and helpfulness. We will check into these.

Thanks again !!

[rhagfo]

coodle0216 wrote:
We have a 5th wheel towing/pin weight question....we have:
2009 GMC 2500HD Sierra Ext Cab with 6.0 engine, 6 speed trans, short bed truck pulling a 2012 Keystone Cougar XLite 27RKS 5th wheel.

Just weighted at CAT scale with full tank gas, people, etc. Truck weight is 7280. Truck with RV connected is: steer axle 3840, drive axle 5420, RV axle 7300. Door tag on truck lists GVWR 9200, GAWR-Frt 4200, GAWR-RR 6084. RV tag lists GVWR 1000, GAWR ea axle 4400. Our problem is that when we hit a bump or cross bridge or such, the RV "teeter-totters". We have done the 5th wheel calculator for our pin weight (1980) and it comes in a 21.3%. We are 6" from the truck bed rail and RV is slightly up in the front.

Has anyone had this problem ?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for long note but trying to get all the info in this message.

Bags are a Band Aid! If you are referring to multiple bounces after hitting a bump, then you need better than stock shocks.

You look great on all weights except the GVWR! You are only over that by 60#, it surprises me at with a 10,000# GVWR 5er your gas 2500 is over GVWR, and that it is only loaded to 9,280#.

I have an 01 Ram, tow an 11,000# 5er with a GVWR of 12,360, yep over TV GVWR by a bit, had a bit of the bounce you speak of and a full set of Bilstien 5100's solved 95% of the issue, shocks on the 5er finished the issue.

Don't have bags as well with in axle rating, sit level and don't need them.

[goducks10]

Air bags.

[rhagfo]

Nothing a good set of Bilstien shocks most likely would fix, or greatly reduce.
Leveling the 5er would help also.

[Old-Biscuit]

Transitions to/from bridges are terrible........


Although you state 5vr sits slightly nose high, how much sag to rear of truck when hitched, how much rise in truck front?

You have good weight numbers, good pin weight percentage, good clearance etc. but the 'load' on rear truck suspension is being overwhelmed either because of weakened shocks, weakened suspension components.
What tires on truck and what pressure do you run rear when hooked up?

"Teeter-tottering" should not be going on.....at least wises not more than a couple of up/downs when going over heavy bumps. First when truck axles go over and then second when trailer axles go over.

[hmknightnc]

Couple observations: 1) you are just over the TV GVWR but well within Axle ratings so no real problem there but you are close to or at maximum weight for that truck so it is going to handle like a heavily loaded truck because it is.

What was your TV individual weights without the RV attached? Curious how much your front axle weight changed. It should have gone up slightly, if it didn't your FW hitch is not far enough forward of your rear axle.

Couple suggestions:
- verify your FW hitch is installed properly via the weight measurement I suggest above. Your front axle doesn't seem heavy enough but I could be dead wrong with that gas engine.
- your fully loaded, if your not already doing it, slow down hitting bumps, entering bridges, and etc
- verify your TV tires are heavy enough, load range E LTs rated around 3k#s
- new heavy duty shocks