First Tim 5r dissapointed

[gzach]

My wife and I just purchased a 30' 2008 Rockwood Signature Ultralight Model 8285SS. I pull it with a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 Diesel. I had the dealership install an Airsafe hitch. The one he installed was the Airbox Model 18018. The reason I wanted an Airsafe hitch was because my wife suffers from very severe migraines and anything I can do to keep the ride comfortable was a good idea.In my research I had done it seemed like the Airsafe was the best choice. We picked it up in Menomenee Falls Wisconsin and have had it for 12 days travelling the I 94. I am so dissapointed. Whenever I stop and start it makes a big jerking and clunking noise which cannot be good for the vehicle or the 5th wheel. Then there is the forward backward jerking. I believe this is called chocking??. At one point I told my wife that I felt as if I were riding a horse. I know that the Interstates sometimes are pretty bad (I am used to Alberta highways which are amazing)but are not these hitches supposed to take care of or at least cushion the extreme bouncing and jerking. The installation of the hitch is fine and the pressure in the air bag is OK. In the middle of the green guage.
I am used to pulling a bumper pull with a load levelling hitch and never had such a bad towing experience.
I am new at pulling a 5th wheel so I would really appreciate some input and maybe some solutions. Is this typical of pulling a 5th wheel. Is it my truck, 5th wheel combination. Is it the hitch. I Please help as I am so dissapointed with pulling the unit already.
Thanks Guys
Gill

[fivecodys]

I agree with the idea that you may be tail heavy.
My trailer has the rear kitchen and pantry.
We have noticed that when SWMBO loads the kitchen up heavy that we get the same "porpoising" that you describe.
My solution has been to fill the fresh water tank up to the top.
I used to only keep maybe 10 gallons of fresh water for emergency use.
This has helped a lot.
I am also looking at better rear shocks on the truck.
I have air bags but that seems to give the truck axle a nice rubber ball to bounce on! 🙂

Bill

[SteveB]

I also had chucking when we first got our Jayco. I added a 5th Airborne pinbox and shocks to the 5er.
Yours is not a really heavy trailer but as mentioned, you should check weights. Make sure it is towing level. Make sure there is no slop in the hitch. It is unfortunate that you spent money on the hitch before trying out the rig first but with some adjustments it should be OK.
As for shocks on the trailer I beleive that rig has the rubber torque suspension. Not sure if it is easy to add them.
Best of luck in your quest.

[Golden_HVAC]

Hi,

My guess is there is some sloppyness in the air ride hitch.

Fred.

[tvfrfireman]

I too had the chucking and bouncing on rough roads. Sometimes the bounce was so severe I though the trailer was going to brake lose. I was about to spend big bucks on a new hitch and other remedies when someone on this site told me to replace my stock shocks that had about 30K miles on them. I bought a set of the blue and yellow Bilsteins and wow, what a difference. Another thing some do beside that is to move (if you have the adjustment) is to move the hitch forward two inches. Best of luck. I know you will get this sorted out. David

[romore]

I suggest taking it across a scale, I suspect you are tail heavy. You want about 20% of the trailer weight on the pin. Is the trailer close to level behind the truck? Also ensure that the hitch is set up properly, the jaw may not be completely closed.

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[wirenutz]

mine did the same thing, only I had the air hitch and the air pin box as well, the problem was my trailer was 14,400 pounds and my truck weighted about 7500 pounds, a dodge 3500 SWD diesel, after changing out my truck to a MDT a freightliner FL-60, no more chucking, I still have the air ride pin box but not the air ride hitch, BTW the freightliner cost way less than a newer truck would of cost me, it has air ride cab, air ride seats, my wife suffers from the same thing, with the 7' back seat that lays down into a bed she can crawl back there and take a nap http://www.pinterest.com/pin/551339179353517264/