Travel Trailer creaks and cracks when moving?

What kind of hitch do you have - you say take it off before backing up? We have the Reese Straightline hitch with the camlocks and you don't have to get out and unhitch anything at all - its wonderful.
Angela

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I'll be greasing up this weekend! And yes, I do take off the sway bar before backing in/turning sharply...had a really good mechanic set me up at Grumbine's RV in Harrisburg, PA. He was really throrough and really knew his stuff!

We LOVE ours, it rained our last trip out and the boys both had their space and DW and I relaxed and did our own thing (knitting and reading). We looked at each other and both said "we made the right decision" I dont think it is right for everyone, but it sure works for us :) Thanks for the post :)

Happy Camping!

Roundtwo-40 wrote:
Are you using a weight distributing hitch with anti sway bars? If so that is what is probably creaking, mine has friction bars that rub metal on metal.

This is way off topic, and I apologize in advance, but I gotta tell you we looked at that Jayco Eagle 328RLTS at the Indianapolis RV show a few months back and absolutely LOVED that rig. Those opposing super slides make that front living space HUGE. Awesome camper....

RedRocket204 wrote:

sbowman871 wrote:
Grease the trunion ends on the weight distribution bars.

Yup. I make it a habit of new grease on the spring bar connections to the hitch as well as the ball every time I hook up. Then a couple of paper towels to wipe off the grease when I unhitch. Wiping off the grease avoids making a mess as well as always having fresh grease the next hitch-up.

Ditto

"Its just your normal noises in here" Tom Petty

Its going to creak to some degree depending on what you have greased. remember that the bars and chain are under a great deal of tension.

Like other have said, grease the bars ,NOT THE ANTI-SWAY BAR where they hook onto/into your hitch. You will see a dramatic difference in noise.

Also, you might want to make sure that you remove the anti-sway bar prior to backing in. I usually take mine off while im stopped and checking into the campground.

My suspension creaks and groans. If I put a drop of oil on the points where the center hanger thing moves then it quits for a month or so then starts back up again.

sbowman871 wrote:
Grease the trunion ends on the weight distribution bars.

Yup. I make it a habit of new grease on the spring bar connections to the hitch as well as the ball every time I hook up. Then a couple of paper towels to wipe off the grease when I unhitch. Wiping off the grease avoids making a mess as well as always having fresh grease the next hitch-up.

Ours makes a racket, especially at slow speeds. It is indeed the EQ hitch creaking and groaning, it is normal. I use the "Sway Bracket Jackets" on my Equalizer and it helps a bit.

Make sure you lube the short end of the spring bar that slide up into the WD head.