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09-23-2016, 01:04 PM
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#1
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New Owner 😊
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Cary
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 15
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Bouncing while towing
Bouncing while towing my 25f fc...have blue ox sway pro. Is this normal?
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09-23-2016, 01:20 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Bouncing while towing
If you are describing the front if the tow vehicle feeling like it is bouncing up and down, it may be you are too light on the front end. This is usually referred to as 'porpoising'. It's not normal.
This indicates that you are not getting enough weight shifted back to the front end. If the rear of the tow vehicle is sagging and the front comes up above the normal unhitched height, that is what is probably going on. You need to either tighten your existing weight distribution bars more, or consider switching to stiffer (heavier weight rating) bars.
There are tons of threads on air forums about this. Have a look.
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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09-23-2016, 01:22 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
1989 32' Excella
Sharon Springs
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 172
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While there are some very experienced folks out there who may have a better answer, thought I would try to help. I have only towed an AS for a year, but have towed other TTs for 25+ years. I have had bounce on certain roads (upstate New York) and none on others, so could be road conditions. Your tongue weight may be light (TW=9-15% of total trailer weight). I bought a tongue scale ($200+), need to weigh your trailer at trip ready load weight before you can calculate how much tongue weight you should have. Not sure how old your AS is but your axles may need to be replaced at 25 yrs or so. Pretty drastic, so start with the easy stuff first. Hope this helps...
Jim
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09-23-2016, 01:25 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Could be depending on the road. If your front end is porpoising (bouncing up and down)a lot you don't have enough tension on the chains. Usually you want to go from the loose end down to the 7th or 8th link in the clamp. Do you know what weight your bars are for?
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09-23-2016, 04:16 PM
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#5
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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The ones I see on the highway all over US "bouncing" are usually nose. down. Trailer must be dead level. That's a beginning on hitch lash up
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09-23-2016, 04:21 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Venice
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,024
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My only bounce is highway related. If your rig is set up right you should not bounce.
__________________
Joe
Venice, FL
2016 FC 25RTB
TAC FL-47
2018 Nissan Titan XD Cummins Diesel
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09-23-2016, 04:59 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Ditto, I use the BOSP and the only bounce I get is also road related (Louisiana, uuk!). Cure is to slow down.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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09-23-2016, 06:37 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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Older segmented concrete roads can set up an oscillation that is self amplifying. It varies in severity in relation to the distance between worn expansion joints and the distance between your axles. If it tows great otherwise, the cure for segmented concrete is either avoidance or to vary your speed to break up the frequency...
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
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09-23-2016, 07:38 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
2015 22' FB Sport
Toronto
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 64
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I will ditto that I've only experienced this particular version of hell in upstate New York. It seems to be the way the roads are grated / segmented
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09-23-2016, 08:51 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Spokane
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,843
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I tow a 25ft with my Tundra and don't have a problem with bounce. I am surprised since you are using a PP hitch and from what is posted here on the forum these are the best hitches in the world. Perhaps you need to look at how it is set up.
My first reaction is that you have an issue with your hitch. You might want to get someone to help you with the PP. I get "bounce" but that is usually caused by rough road conditions and the ever problematic cement roadways out there.
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09-23-2016, 08:53 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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What is your TV and who set up your hitch?
Discounting those roads, concrete divides like route 10 in Louisiana, that are know to contribute to porpoising the hitch and TV are next for consideration. As mentioned above the hitch is more than likely not set up correctly
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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09-23-2016, 08:55 PM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
2017 23' International
Waukee
, Iowa
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 28
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The porpoising thing is a function of the road - probably concrete with joints resulting in sea-sickness between 65 - 75 mph while towing. You'll find it gets less bad at certain speeds and goes away entirely on asphalt.
Airsafe hitch will remediate this.
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09-23-2016, 09:13 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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I find that trailer and TV cargo loading seems to have a big effect. If I get porpoising, another 1/2 to 1" on the ProPride WD jacks totally stops it. Last time it happened I was a bit heavy in the truck bed and in the front of the AS. Pulled over in a rest area, cranked tighter, and no more bounce.
I should get off my butt and actually measure tongue weight with my scale and front fender height with a tape to get a better handle on this.
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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09-25-2016, 06:56 PM
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#14
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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And then just run it across the CAT Scale three times. Still the best way to set the hitch. And most of all get a dead on reading of TV tire loads.
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09-26-2016, 07:54 AM
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#15
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New Owner 😊
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Cary
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 15
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Bouncing/porpoising
Well - It seems that the hitch/Blue Ox was not set up correctly for our truck at the dealer. We had some very helpful Airstream owners at our campground help us out this weekend. We did have trouble with porpoising on the way from dealer to campground, but our new friends advised us on adjusting the hitch and sway bars. Our trip home yesterday was MUCH better. The only time we felt the bounce was on concrete sections of road. Our TV is a 2014 F150 3.5L Ecoboost/2017 25F Flying Cloud and as I said...the dealer set-up our hitch before we hit the road. We are brand new to RVing so this is a learning experience for us. So long story short...it was the hitch set-up!:roll eyes:
Thanks so much for everyone's help! So glad to have this forum!!!
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09-30-2016, 04:38 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2005 25' International CCD
Westlake Village
, California
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 508
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Similar to rmkrum example:
We have 25FT SS Rear bed 5300 dry 6300 wet. 2014 GMC 1500 5.2 4x4 short bed. 1488 cargo 9600 tow cap. EZE-Lift WD hitched using 2-1/2 links loose (used a through bolt/nut for the 1/2 cause 3 links too tough to yank in place. With 10 gal fresh water, 800 mile trip up and back to Sequoia Natnl Forest. Lot of pulls and decends.
Sweet ride all the way up on many road surfaces good to bad. Totally tight, balanced with NO porpoising. Never better feel. We've had it before but rocking gone on this trip.
On way back same exact loading but could only do 1-1/2 loose links due to uneven ground while hitching up.
BIG, BIG difference that 1 loose link made! Much more consistent porpoising, and bounce on the same roads back. Felt like a completely different set up and hitch.
Note to Self: Keep the 2-1/2 loose links set at all times !!!
__________________
Relaxing is hard work.
Vantair
2005 25ft International CCD SS
2020 GMC Sierra Denali Diesel 2500 4X4 10 spd 3.43 Int sway/tow controller
1981 Honda Trail CT110 1X0..no sway control
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10-06-2016, 01:49 AM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
2016 19' International
Orange County
, California
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 70
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Quote:
Originally Posted by runningjill
Well - It seems that the hitch/Blue Ox was not set up correctly for our truck at the dealer. We had some very helpful Airstream owners at our campground help us out this weekend. We did have trouble with porpoising on the way from dealer to campground, but our new friends advised us on adjusting the hitch and sway bars. Our trip home yesterday was MUCH better. The only time we felt the bounce was on concrete sections of road. Our TV is a 2014 F150 3.5L Ecoboost/2017 25F Flying Cloud and as I said...the dealer set-up our hitch before we hit the road. We are brand new to RVing so this is a learning experience for us. So long story short...it was the hitch set-up!:roll eyes:
Thanks so much for everyone's help! So glad to have this forum!!!
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Since you are running the Blue Ox setup, make sure you use molybdenum grease per the manufacture recommendations. Look for "Moly" grease. A rep at Blue ox told me that lithium grease is the same thing. After some digging I realized molybdenum isn't actually a base, it's an additive. It's designed for metal to metal applications.
You should fill the the two zerk fittings and grease the ball before every trip (at least I do). I just did this earlier on today. Good luck!
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