Truck "Squat"

[Adam Hunter]

Originally Posted by mileshuff

I have a 2007 Dodge 2500 SB. Not a heavy trailer. 8800lb loaded, 1800lb pin weight as weighed at scale. 5'er sits almost level. Truck squats about 1 1/2". Main issue is the front end feels very light while towing. Not horrible but causes truck to want to wander requiring constant slight corrections the entire time. Are air bags the solution?

Miles,

At the start of this thread I showed my 3500 hitched to my trailer, full pin weight.
Someone suggested it wasn't squat - but in fact it is! In my case airbags "help" the rear springs do their job.

When we hitch and retract the jacks not only are we loading the rear axle with pin weight we are changing the center of gravity of the tow vehicle, additionally you reduce the load on the front axle and steering components. The end user may see "lightened" steering inputs and response or worse improper brake performance.
Not to sidetrack the thread but in many, many motorhomes even Prevost units they are near or exceed the manufacturers front axle load limits. While many people using fifthwheels tow more weight than they should - its usually not a overloaded front axle at fault.

Air bags are helpful but not the only soloution to the problem. Consider how you load other articles in your truck box, or consider if you have the trailer properly loaded - think bedroom and basement stuff.

Finally I talk to so many peolpe that think because they have airbags they have now somehow changed and increased the capacity of their tow vehicle. They are simply a accessory, nothing more.


Adam

[glennwest]

I would take it to some scales and see if weight is coming off the front. Is it possible the hitch is too far back? If an B&W Companion it is adjustable

[Dasmoeturhead]

No worries, I was just saying how mine rides. No bashing here.

[Dasmoeturhead]

My Ram CTD pulling a 15k + 5th wheel averages 11-12 mpg at 57 mph. That avg is over 4,000 mi, and it just gets better and better. Im pulling mostly the entire time in the western mountain ranges, and mostly all secondary hwy's. Got to get on the interatates sometimes, but we try to avoid them if possible.
I thought about air bags when I 1st got the 5er, but since then I realize that wasn't necassary.

[sk734]

Originally Posted by Adam Hunter

Miles,

At the start of this thread I showed my 3500 hitched to my trailer, full pin weight.
Someone suggested it wasn't squat - but in fact it is! In my case airbags "help" the rear springs do their job.

When we hitch and retract the jacks not only are we loading the rear axle with pin weight we are changing the center of gravity of the tow vehicle, additionally you reduce the load on the front axle and steering components. The end user may see "lightened" steering inputs and response or worse improper brake performance.
Not to sidetrack the thread but in many, many motorhomes even Prevost units they are near or exceed the manufacturers front axle load limits. While many people using fifthwheels tow more weight than they should - its usually not a overloaded front axle at fault.

Air bags are helpful but not the only soloution to the problem. Consider how you load other articles in your truck box, or consider if you have the trailer properly loaded - think bedroom and basement stuff.

Finally I talk to so many peolpe that think because they have airbags they have now somehow changed and increased the capacity of their tow vehicle. They are simply a accessory, nothing more.


Adam

I think you have been given some great suggestion here. Getting it weighed would be number one on my list. I also have a Companion hitch and as stated above it can be moved up or back. If you have rails in your truck bed they make a Patriot hitch which does the same thing and the price is very reasonable. Good luck.

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by Adam Hunter

Miles,

At the start of this thread I showed my 3500 hitched to my trailer, full pin weight.
Someone suggested it wasn't squat - but in fact it is! In my case airbags "help" the rear springs do their job.

When we hitch and retract the jacks not only are we loading the rear axle with pin weight we are changing the center of gravity of the tow vehicle, additionally you reduce the load on the front axle and steering components. The end user may see "lightened" steering inputs and response or worse improper brake performance.
Not to sidetrack the thread but in many, many motorhomes even Prevost units they are near or exceed the manufacturers front axle load limits. While many people using fifthwheels tow more weight than they should - its usually not a overloaded front axle at fault.

Air bags are helpful but not the only soloution to the problem. Consider how you load other articles in your truck box, or consider if you have the trailer properly loaded - think bedroom and basement stuff.

Finally I talk to so many peolpe that think because they have airbags they have now somehow changed and increased the capacity of their tow vehicle. They are simply a accessory, nothing more.


Adam

We can debate "squat" forever here but the fact is you are under on your rear axle rating with your load and your truck is designed to ride like that.

You should never lighten the front axle load. Proper pin placement is +- 2" forward of centerline of rear axle. With 4,500# pin I add less than 200# to front axle loaded.

With my load I run 30# in my bags AFTER I am hitched. It does not change the ride height it just helps with some of these horrible roads.

IMHO bags are a Band-Aid for needing a more capable truck.