How do I ident round bars?

[cwf]

Y'all know I am towing with the hitch setup that has always towed our Excella.

After some disturbing performance with porpoise action on Oklahoma roads, I want to ensure I have things properly setup.

There are no discernible markings on the bars that I can find to tell me what weight rating they are.

Rig appears level...



Here is hitch setup.



Thanks!

[dwightdi]

I do not see any problems with the set up. Porpoising is caused by a harmonic vibration which is caused by the reinforcing constant frequency of road imperfections. You can change your speed to hopefully mismatch the harmonic frequency in the truck and trailer combination with the length of the concrete sections in the road. It is a common occurrence in interstates made in the 70's. Many have been repaired by putting in additional reinforcement between sections and grinding off the high points.

[cwf]

Thanks Dwight.

I did modify speed as first reaction which helped. Seems the length and load and speed were perfect for the oscillation.

There was definitely some damping being done by truck shocks, but insufficient. There were only a couple of these instances, but severe enough to mention. There was no "roll" around the Z-axis, so I am led to think the truck shocks are fairly equally matched. Yet, may be insufficient ? Not likely with the overall performance I think.

Still I wonder how to IDENT the bar weight...

[ventport]

This may help.

[cwf]

Originally Posted by ventport

This may help.

Sweet! Thanks!

[dwightdi]

Andy's post refers to the Reese square bar hitches. You have the lighter weight round bars. There should be a specification on their website. From your picture, it does not appear you have not excessively bent the bars in order to transfer the weight you wish to shift. If your truck settles evenly when you put your bars on, you have properly engineered your setup. You might reduce the porpoising by increasing the dampening shocks on the truck. I do not think they offer higher value horizontal shocks for the Airstream.

[cwf]

Thanks Dwight!

[dznf0g]

I have been told that many of the bars are sourced from the same supplier, regardless of brand. HAHA told me this and said to look at the end of the bar where it goes into the head and SOMETIMES there will be a weight spec stamped into the metal. Not so in my case....but that's what I was told....FWIW.

[cwf]

Located that on the round flat top of bar where it inserts. Mine are 1000# bars. Had a lot of old grease to remove but finally got to it!

Will post pic when I get decent one. Thanks!