Towing Porpoising

[Boba911]

I have purchased a 2018 19 ft Tommy Bahama and it came with a Equalizer 14000# hitch setup. I tow with a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and towed a 23 ft AS with no problems in the past. On the 19ft it seems to be porpoising a lot while towing. I have check the tow height of everything and all seen level. I am thinking that the 14000# spring bars in the hitch is too much for this light trailer?? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Boba911

I have purchased a 2018 19 ft Tommy Bahama and it came with a Equalizer 14000# hitch setup. I tow with a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and towed a 23 ft AS with no problems in the past. On the 19ft it seems to be porpoising a lot while towing. I have check the tow height of everything and all seen level. I am thinking that the 14000# spring bars in the hitch is too much for this light trailer?? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

1400 pound bars are definitely too much for a 19'er. Do you have any idea of your actual coupler weight? I would guess that an 800# bar setup is plenty for your rig.....maybe even 600#.

[pmclemore]

Not enough weight on the tongue compared to the rear could contribute. I would get thee to a scale as a first step.

Pate

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

1400 pound bars are definitely too much for a 19'er. Do you have any idea of your actual coupler weight? I would guess that an 800# bar setup is plenty for your rig.....maybe even 600#.

Yes...the lightest bars that will move the needed weight.

...The OP's post mentions nothing about what that weight is.

Originally Posted by pmclemore

Not enough weight on the tongue compared to the rear could contribute. I would get thee to a scale as a first step.

Pate

Yes...this is where knowing the loaded for camping CAT weights enter the picture.

One of our trips CAT numbers
860lb receiver wt with WD set using 1000lb WD bars..
560 to the FA
160 to the AS
720 moved

Bob
🇺🇸

[Daquenzer]

I would try putting better shocks on the back such as Bilsteins. My F150 had the same issue. I put a roadmaster suspension system in and it took care of the problem. I decided to go that direction instead of shocks. But a roadmaster only works if you don’t have independent rear suspension.

[vanderwielen]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

Not enough weight on the tongue compared to the rear could contribute. I would get thee to a scale as a first step.

Pate

THIS^ do this first.

[civeng99]

Waaaay too stiff. You’re going to beat that trailer to pieces.

Evaluate what you really use camping, weigh and update your setup. Do you even need wd or just a friction bar?

[Tim A.]

I, too, think your bars are too stiff. We have towed our 19' for 20 years with a Hensley hitch having 750# bars. On extremely wavy road surfaces, we have a little porpoising, but it is really a small amount. No, we have never had the unit on truck scales. Of course the Hensley hitch itself adds considerable tongue weight.

Tim

[Boba911]

I purchased a Camco EAZ-LIFT TR3 600# hitch weight model. The trailer info stated that max hitch weight is 500#. After call in the factory service they recommended this model. On my last trip i had several rivets pop on the inside panels. My conclusion was that the bars are too strong exerting to much force onto the trailer. Thanks all for your input.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Boba911

I purchased a Camco EAZ-LIFT TR3 600# hitch weight model. The trailer info stated that max hitch weight is 500#. After call in the factory service they recommended this model. On my last trip i had several rivets pop on the inside panels. My conclusion was that the bars are too strong exerting to much force onto the trailer. Thanks all for your input.

More likely the TV suspension could be stiffer than needed.
The more compliant the lash-up the less chance of ill effects.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Mollysdad]

According to the spec sheet for a generic 19', the tongue weight is 525#.
Equalizer makes a hitch with 600# bars.
IMO, the best ride is when the bars match the tongue weight.
Sadly, the heads are not interchangeable, so you can't just buy new bars.
Now's the time to decide if you want to continue with the Equalizer (I use one) or try another brand (Blue Ox?, Husky? Reese?)

[SEA Cyclist]

I was having the same problem so I installed airbags to the rear springs of my 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser and swapped out my Blue Ox for an Equalizer. Not sure which did the trick but I no longer have the problem.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by SEA Cyclist

I was having the same problem so I installed airbags to the rear springs of my 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser and swapped out my Blue Ox for an Equalizer. Not sure which did the trick but I no longer have the problem.

I doubt it was the add-on AB'S.
A hitch set up & spec't properly and a balanced load in the trailer has always worked for us.
But that does not take into account any harmonic imbalance in the highway.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Boba911]

I also thought that the hitch would make a biggest difference set properly. This is why I call CAMCO service and explained my problem. The Jeep Gladiator does have a stiff suspension which I don't want to change. I do believe that the hitch will do the trick but we will see. Also I did tow a 23ft AS duel axil FC with no problems and used an Equalizer hitch setup. The hitch was noise but no porpoising. Does a trailer with 2 axils not have this problem?

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Boba911

I also thought that the hitch would make a biggest difference set properly. This is why I call CAMCO service and explained my problem. The Jeep Gladiator does have a stiff suspension which I don't want to change. I do believe that the hitch will do the trick but we will see. Also I did tow a 23ft AS duel axil FC with no problems and used an Equalizer hitch setup. The hitch was noise but no porpoising. Does a trailer with 2 axils not have this problem?

Agree with comments above; bars are way too stiff. Thats a lighter trailer for sure. Why did you go down to a single axel from the 23"?

[Boba911]

I went to the smaller trailer because I wanted a Tommy Bahama model. I go trout fishing a lot and the size is not a problem for one person. Also I purchased the Tommy Bahama for on $62K, which i think was a steel, and it was never used! It was stored in a heated garage for 4 years and taken out in the summer to sit on the lawn for a day or two every now and then. The owners made one 500 mile trip when they first purchase the trailer and never made another. The only regret I have is that the 23 foot had more windows and a skylight which made it feel like it was bigger and more bright inside.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Boba911

I went to the smaller trailer because I wanted a Tommy Bahama model. I go trout fishing a lot and the size is not a problem for one person. Also I purchased the Tommy Bahama for on $62K, which i think was a steel, and it was never used! It was stored in a heated garage for 4 years and taken out in the summer to sit on the lawn for a day or two every now and then. The owners made one 500 mile trip when they first purchase the trailer and never made another. The only regret I have is that the 23 foot had more windows and a skylight which made it feel like it was bigger and more bright inside.

Understand. My, how these have gone up in price! Hope you get your towing worked out so you can enjoy the tow!

[AlbertF]

I would not expect the Jeep suspension to be overly stiff. In fact, off roaders tend to have compliant suspensions.

The bars are too stiff. Look for a hitch with tapered spring bars, and don’t be afraid to experiment with the tension to find the sweet spot.

[SailorSam205]

Not helping the OP, info for others. On my setup, I had a small amount of porpoising with my prior F150, no where near scary, just there occasionally. My current F150 has the "active damping" option. Once the truck realizes it has the trailer attached again, porpoising is down to maybe 2 oscillations. So, for all intents, it is gone. It takes 5-10 miles of towing to be fully active.

[Ndcctrucks]

Try towing on the ball only.

-Ken