2007 Ram 1500 with hemi - push and pull

[thomdial]

I have towing with a 2007 Ram 1500 with hemi for about a year now, and I can't seem to correct a push-pull sensation that I get while towing. I tow a 79 Safari with a loaded weight of 4955lbs. I have tried two different WD styles to no avail. The first one was a Husky round bar setup with the chains. I upgraded to an E2 trunnion style, but it is still doing it. My wife doesn't notice it, but I almost get car sick from the movement. Any ideas? It does this while coasting in neutral as well, so I don't think it is the engine.

[AldeanFan]

Can you be more descriptive about what it is you feel?

I tow a similar trailer - '77 Safari, with slightly less truck - '05 Tundra with a round bar and a friction sway control. My combination feels very solid but it took some work to tune in the set up. The truck has Yokohama Geolandar ATS tires which I run at higher air pressure than recommended on the door tag, I checked the tire specs and wheels and they are good for the added air pressure. This took some of the bounce out of the truck when towing. I also upgraded to Michelin LTX MS2 tires this year, The trailer seems to be more stable and track better with the new tires, I think because the Michelins have a stiffer sidewall than the previous tires.

These late '70's safari's have a very high tongue weight for a relatively short trailer. Several people have asked why I have such a heavy hitch on such a short trailer, and it is because of the roughly 850lbs of tongue weight of the Safari. Make sure your hitch is properly transferring weight to the front axel of the Truck.

Also, My trailer had sticky brakes after sitting one winter. In the spring, when leaving a stop it felt like the trailer was holding the truck back. When stopping if felt like the truck was stopping faster than the trailer. A simple brake service and adjustment fixed all that.

[thomdial]

It sometimes feels like a constant back and forth. It irritates me more than anyone else. In fact, I'm the only one that notices it. You may be on to something with the tongue weight. I have added a dinette to the front with a solid surface corian table. I would guess that has added another 150 lbs.
With the WD hitch, the back does not go down very much. I tightened the bars (transfer more weight to the front) on the way home on the last trip and it ( the sensation) actually seemed worse.
Do you think that helper springs or air bags might help? I am planning to replace the table with something lighter, but that is gonna have to wait till next year.

[thomdial]

Also, I should add that this is with brand new axles and brakes. It was doing the same thing before I changed them.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Aftermarket air bags will do nothing but level a sagging rear end.

Have you gone to the Cat Scales to get your weights?

Are the trailer and tow vehicle level with WD set?

Bob

[Aage]

I believe what you have is called "porpoising". Try the search here and see if you can find any other threads about it.

We had that effect once when driving on a section of the 401 Highway that was under construction and a particular patch of concrete was at the rough-surface (called 'groomed') stage.

We found that slowing down made it less evident.

Our hitch installer did some adjustments to our system and that disturbing affect was gone.

[thomdial]

They are level. Spot-on, in fact. I don't have a tongue weight, just the total weight which is 4950

[thomdial]

Is it possible that with my trailer modifications, I have transferred too much weight to the tongue?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by thomdial

Is it possible that with my trailer modifications, I have transferred too much weight to the tongue?

Very possible...thats why the Cat tickets are important.
Measurements got us close, weights got us right.

Bob