Towing: Shocks & Tongue Weight

[Lotek]

Good Morning,

I have a 1963 Globetrotter that I tow with a F350 Diesel Crew cab 4x4
Long bed. It is lifted moderately- about 4 inches. I noticed that the
rear of the truck seems to be bouncing slightly when I tow. Not
alarmingly, just a bit.

I don't have a weight distributing hitch on there because I couldn't
get a drop shank that dropped it low enough for the trailer to sit level.

Even with the regular hitch the nose of the trailer sits slightly
higher, maybe an inch or two.

It has been suggested that:

1. The truck needs shocks.
2. The trailer needs shocks.
3. There is not enough tongue weight.

What are your thoughts/ suggestions?

Where can I get shocks for a 1963 Globetrotter?

Thanks!

Courtney

PS The trailer tires are balanced.

[Condoluminum]

Courtney-

I assume you'll get a lot more responses, but for openers with a truck that has been "lifted" and trailer from the 60's you may not have too many options that are easy...

1. Normally, folks would suggest air-adjustible shocks for rear of truck, but lift kit probably negates that option...

2. Unless trailer has shocks now you can replace with equivalents via Airstream, it's pretty much not easy to add trailer shocks as add-ons..

3. Adding tongue weight won't change basic tendency to bounce, just make for more amplitude in the bounces (Bigger boing boings..)

Load distributing hitches with spring bars are the accepted cures, and you may want to visit a couple hitch places to see if they can fabricate a special drop adapter to let you use Reese or Draw-Tite style hitch... If your trailer does have shocks, contact Airstream or Inland RV in LA Area to see about replacements. It might also be possible that rubber torsion axles are shot, leading to lower ride height and limited dampening.. Look for threads on Forum with word "axle" in them..

John McG

[Porky Pig]

The F-350 is pretty tall for towing in the stock configuration ... I have the longest drop shank available from Hensley on mine.

Perhaps you should think about lowering the truck back to stock.