Need help - Weight distribution hitch installation pics

[bobby7718]

Hi,

I have bought a Jayco travel trailer together with a Camco Recurve R3 Weight Distribution Hitch recently.

The ride has been bouncing and swaying. Second visit to the dealership this afternoon, the technician adjusted the hitch a bit, seems getting a little better, but still bouncing and swaying on the way back to home.

Here is the detailed info of the TT and TV.

- TT: Jayco 267BHS, 30 feet, dry weight 5975.
- TV: 2017 Ford F150 with towing package (checked with dealership via VIN, was told max payload is 3000 lbs, and max towing capacity is 14,000 lbs).

Please also see the attachments for the pictures I took after today's adjustments.
- the altitude of TT and TV
- how does the setup looks like
- measurements before and after W/D





I know I need to expect some swaying if there is big sized truck driving by, not sure how much to expect. The ride I feel uncomfortable and unsafe. Need some help before either upgrade the TV.

Can someone please help to take a look at the pictures to see if anything significantly out-of-line could explain the bouncing/swaying.

In addition to the camper dealerships, where are the places to get the WDH professionally installed ?

Thank you in advance.

[spoon059]

bobby7718 wrote:
3000 lbs max-payload could well be the dealership was lying to me.

An interesting story - When I visited CampingWorld, the service department couldn't find any towing capacity for my vehicle(via the towing chart). Then she called dealership(who sold me the TV), and confirmed that the max payload and towing capacity. Those numbers(agreed increditably high) are different than what the yellow stick says(which is 1814 lbs). The manager, who said she has been working in the industry for 25 years, said "The yellow stick could be off if there are some customization package installed to the TV", and for a fact, I knew from the windowsticker the previous owner had bought it with the towing package(not sure whether it's the max-tow-package though).

With that being said, I still wouldn't trust those numbers, wouldn't put crazy load on it, but thinking loaded TT 7000 lbs shouldn't be too much for it.

The current tire does have 50 PSI rated. See the attachment below.

Yea, if your yellow sticker says 1814, that is the limit of your payload, not 3000. Having P rated tires and 2700 lbs of carrying capacity ensures that you don't have 3000 lbs payload!

That said, I still think your hitch isn't pushing enough weight to the front axle.

[2112]

It looks like you have the 600Lb kit. The trunnion bars may be maxed out.

A trip to the CAT Scale loaded ready to camp is in order

[BenK]

Here's my $0.02...and IMHO, which has no skin in your game...nor does anyone else providing advice on a freebie forum

Think you have the rare, unicorn half ton Ford and why there is so much confusing advice based on the other 14 or so Ford F150's. Telling will be the RGAWR and the tires, which will be LT class (note that the lower rated F150s will have passenger class tires ("P" rating) that require reducing their weight carry ratings by a min of 9%. The OEM has already done that when they designed 'that' F150. Not clear, as some "P" class tires do have higher PSI's these days...in the old days, easy as they rarely were rated higher than 35-40 PSI.

All of these things are dials and knobs to adjust to the final setup goal, which is to have enough trailer tongue to make the trailer handle better...that the trailer is level after setting up, or pointed slightly down...and that the TV is in the orientation of your glove box manual says it should be at after completing the setup

Gather inform from all the labels on your TV and trailer. NOT brochure info, but OEM labels the OEM put on your TV when it left the factory. Plus any modifications/accessory's/etc you have done/added.

TV GVWR, FGAWR, RGAWR, actual weights (go and weigh it fully loaded ready to tow) axle by axle.

Trailer's brochure UNLADEN weights (this will tell what the architecture is and that is whether a 10% tongue, 12% or more). If toyhauler, that is another story. As the architecture has the trailer axles farther back so that the "toy's" will balance the trailer

Your WD Hitch bar/trunnion rating. Note that too high a rating for the load will have the whole setup bounce more.

Until you post those numbers, everything is just an educated guess at which dial/knob/etc you should touch and change.

Good luck!

[Grit_dog]

bobby7718 wrote:
called the close-by Ford dealership, she said she's going to do a bit research and get back to me tomorrow. But the appointment is now booked till Oct 4th. 😞

Called the dealership where I bought the truck, was told, they won't take the truck plus trailer for troubleshooting. Suggested another repair shop close by(to them).

bgum wrote:
After your last post I would seek professional help adjusting the package.. it won't cost much and will be safer.

There is nothing wrong with your truck (unless you suspect something you're not saying).
I'd suggest what I said, try all combos first and see what helps.
The other part of that is so if you take it to a camper dealer, they adjust hitch, tire pressure, whatever, you don't get the benefit of learning how to set up a trailers.
Towing isn't an APP, its a real life task that "should" require some basic skill and knowledge for your safety and those around you on the road. Now is a good time to learn. IMO.

[Grit_dog]

bobby7718 wrote:
3000 lbs max-payload could well be the dealership was lying to me.

An interesting story - When I visited CampingWorld, the service department couldn't find any towing capacity for my vehicle(via the towing chart). Then she called dealership(who sold me the TV), and confirmed that the max payload and towing capacity. Those numbers(agreed increditably high) are different than what the yellow stick says(which is 1814 lbs). The manager, who said she has been working in the industry for 25 years, said "The yellow stick could be off if there are some customization package installed to the TV", and for a fact, I knew from the windowsticker the previous owner had bought it with the towing package(not sure whether it's the max-tow-package though).


With that being said, I still wouldn't trust those numbers, wouldn't put crazy load on it, but thinking loaded TT 7000 lbs shouldn't be too much for it.

The current tire does have 50 PSI rated. See the attachment below.

Your TV is certainly still very well suited for towing a trailer that size and yes the dealer is FOS (full of ____). The placard on the vehicle is how it left the factory.
Without getting into people's theories about how much weight is too much, know that you don't have any issues with the capability of the truck.
(If it did have the HDPP, which it doesn't, it would have come with higher rated tires OE and stiffer rear springs)

[bgum]

You need a RV person not a Ford mechanic.

[bobby7718]

called the close-by Ford dealership, she said she's going to do a bit research and get back to me tomorrow. But the appointment is now booked till Oct 4th. 😞

Called the dealership where I bought the truck, was told, they won't take the truck plus trailer for troubleshooting. Suggested another repair shop close by(to them).

bgum wrote:
After your last post I would seek professional help adjusting the package.. it won't cost much and will be safer.

[bgum]

bobby7718 wrote:
Could you please share more details regarding "adjusting the package" ? Go to the dealership(I have a Ford dealership, which I didn't buy the VT from).

bgum wrote:
After your last post I would seek professional help adjusting the package.. it won't cost much and will be safer.

Go to a good RV dealer who installs hitches.

[Grit_dog]

bobby7718 wrote:
Actually came back from the test drive.

Inflated the TV's tire pressure to the max(50 PSI), the ride was very unsafe. Even worse than before. A lot of side-to-side movement on the high way. Not quite sure whether it's the TV or the TT swaying. Couldn't look too much on the posture of the TT as I had to 100% focusing on holding the steering :(.

Felt like losing traction, or driving on the snow .

Provided you weren't driving with significant cross winds, generally un-invoked (is that a word) trailer sway is caused by not enough tongue weight and/or significant/excessive length and/or weight behind the trailer axles. (Compared to overall length/weight)
I suspect a good portion of what your feeling is a combination of this and maybe some questionable trailer tires?

I could be wrong, but everything I've suggested is free to try, to diagnose the issue.

[bobby7718]

The trailer tire pressure is maxed out at 65 PSI.

Grit dog wrote:

bobby7718 wrote:
Actually came back from the test drive.

Inflated the TV's tire pressure to the max(50 PSI), the ride was very unsafe. Even worse than before. A lot of side-to-side movement on the high way. Not quite sure whether it's the TV or the TT swaying. Couldn't look too much on the posture of the TT as I had to 100% focusing on holding the steering :(.

Felt like losing traction, or driving on the snow .

Hmmmm, it aint the truck tire pressure making it sway/squirm. Front tires don't need to be aired up at all. 40psi is fine, your front end is lighter not heavier. Stiff steer tires may make it a little more responsive but won't induce sway.
Rear at 50psi will only serve to help your issue as well.

Based on the appearance and the height numbers, first, that trailer isn't too heavy for the back of the truck, it basically just leveled it out, like it should. And (you know), you don't have hardly any tension on the bars, based on your dimensions.

Part of it, is you have a very lightweight trailer (for the length) and it's not very tongue heavy as is. In order to keep big lightweight TTs manageable, they have a little more tail (length behind axles).
This translates to wanting to wiggle more.
Another thing, whats the trailers tire pressures? Get them suckers pumped up hard. If they're soft it will wiggle more. Does it have 50psi tires? Those will be about maxxed out, at full pressure. And even softer at lower than max pressure.
You can test how much is the trailer tire squirm. Air them up (temporarily) to, say 65psi and take a test run. It should be better. If so, stiffer, higher load tires will help.
Lastly, I'd test it with no wdh as well. Better or worse? Truck might not want any weight off the hitch. And try it with WDH cranked up harder than yo u have it.

When your testing stuff, do it one thing at a time, or you won't know what fixed what.
Good luck.

[bobby7718]

3000 lbs max-payload could well be the dealership was lying to me.

An interesting story - When I visited CampingWorld, the service department couldn't find any towing capacity for my vehicle(via the towing chart). Then she called dealership(who sold me the TV), and confirmed that the max payload and towing capacity. Those numbers(agreed increditably high) are different than what the yellow stick says(which is 1814 lbs). The manager, who said she has been working in the industry for 25 years, said "The yellow stick could be off if there are some customization package installed to the TV", and for a fact, I knew from the windowsticker the previous owner had bought it with the towing package(not sure whether it's the max-tow-package though).

With that being said, I still wouldn't trust those numbers, wouldn't put crazy load on it, but thinking loaded TT 7000 lbs shouldn't be too much for it.

The current tire does have 50 PSI rated. See the attachment below.

[Grit_dog]

bobby7718 wrote:
Actually came back from the test drive.

Inflated the TV's tire pressure to the max(50 PSI), the ride was very unsafe. Even worse than before. A lot of side-to-side movement on the high way. Not quite sure whether it's the TV or the TT swaying. Couldn't look too much on the posture of the TT as I had to 100% focusing on holding the steering :(.

Felt like losing traction, or driving on the snow .

Hmmmm, it aint the truck tire pressure making it sway/squirm. Front tires don't need to be aired up at all. 40psi is fine, your front end is lighter not heavier. Stiff steer tires may make it a little more responsive but won't induce sway.
Rear at 50psi will only serve to help your issue as well.

Based on the appearance and the height numbers, first, that trailer isn't too heavy for the back of the truck, it basically just leveled it out, like it should. And (you know), you don't have hardly any tension on the bars, based on your dimensions.

Part of it, is you have a very lightweight trailer (for the length) and it's not very tongue heavy as is. In order to keep big lightweight TTs manageable, they have a little more tail (length behind axles).
This translates to wanting to wiggle more.
Another thing, whats the trailers tire pressures? Get them suckers pumped up hard. If they're soft it will wiggle more. Does it have 50psi tires? Those will be about maxxed out, at full pressure. And even softer at lower than max pressure.
You can test how much is the trailer tire squirm. Air them up (temporarily) to, say 65psi and take a test run. It should be better. If so, stiffer, higher load tires will help.
Lastly, I'd test it with no wdh as well. Better or worse? Truck might not want any weight off the hitch. And try it with WDH cranked up harder than yo u have it.

When your testing stuff, do it one thing at a time, or you won't know what fixed what.
Good luck.

[spoon059]

bobby7718 wrote:
Inflated the TV's tire pressure to the max(50 PSI)

Wait... I cannot believe that you have 3000 lbs of payload and 50 psi tires.

Take a picture of the yellow door sticker with your actual payload. I'd be willing to bet that you don't have nearly 3000 lbs payload. Changing your tires to E rated would help feel a lot better.

Also, looking at the numbers it doesn't seem that your WDH is pushing enough weight forward.

[bobby7718]

Heard back from the manufacturer of the WDH, the impression he got is the rare axles seem squat too much(not lifted up due to insufficient weight distributed). 

Here are his suggestions. 
- The hitch ball needs 7 degree towards the trailer
- Hanger needs to be 1 hole up
- The hanger's direction needs a bit adjustment(to allow the spring bar resting on both end of the hanger)

Will give it a try soon.

[bobby7718]

Could you please share more details regarding "adjusting the package" ? Go to the dealership(I have a Ford dealership, which I didn't buy the VT from).

bgum wrote:
After your last post I would seek professional help adjusting the package.. it won't cost much and will be safer.