TV seems to bounce easily

[jbrandt]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2018 Winnebago Micro Minnie, 3200# dry, and a 2017 4Runner as my TV.

The trailer tows great, it doesn't sway, even with minimal friction on my anti-sway, and with the WD hitch the 4Runner hardly squats under the weight.

My issue is that when I hit some undulations (woops) in the road, the trailer/truck will start to bounce, but more like the rear of my truck will squat and bounce. There were a few road sections I had to slow to ~40mph before it was driveable.

I'm fairly sure it's not over loaded or has too much hitch weight, though I have not weighed it. I only have a couple hundred pound of junk inside (I did weigh most of the unk I was putting in it).

Could this be an adjustment with my WD hitch? I was considering airbags before I brought it home (assumed the trunck wouldn't handle the hitch weight), but seeing that it doesn't squat very much I didn't think they were necessary anymore, but maybe they are? Or possibly replace the boat-like stock shocks with some gas Bilsteins might help?

Thoughts?

[Skip426]

Being " fairly sure " about weights is not a good idea.
This is info you need to know!

Take your truck and trailer out; loaded for travel ;( people , pets and gear) and getting it weighed , is your first step. You'll need the TV axle weights and that of the trailer and then re-weigh the TV axels without the trailer . Then you can start comparing that info to your vehicles ratings.

[poppopc]

Originally Posted by jbrandt

Hello everyone,

I have a 2018 Winnebago Micro Minnie, 3200# dry, and a 2017 4Runner as my TV.

The trailer tows great, it doesn't sway, even with minimal friction on my anti-sway, and with the WD hitch the 4Runner hardly squats under the weight.

My issue is that when I hit some undulations (woops) in the road, the trailer/truck will start to bounce, but more like the rear of my truck will squat and bounce. There were a few road sections I had to slow to ~40mph before it was driveable.i

I'm fairly sure it's not over loaded or has too much hitch weight, though I have not weighed it. I only have a couple hundred pound of junk inside (I did weigh most of the unk I was putting in it).

Could this be an adjustment with my WD hitch? I was considering airbags before I brought it home (assumed the trunck wouldn't handle the hitch weight), but seeing that it doesn't squat very much I didn't think they were necessary anymore, but maybe they are? Or possibly replace the boat-like stock shocks with some gas Bilsteins might help?

Thoughts?

May need a larger tow vehicle.

[keymastr]

You are certainly overloaded. Your vehicle has a maximum tongue weight rating of 500 pounds and your dry weight plus the weight of the WD hitch itself puts you at or over that. If you have passengers and gear in the car as well you are even more overloaded.

You don't mention which Minnie you have but the weights listed start at 3000 and then jump to 3800. If yours is the smaller one you may be just under the limit EMPTY but nobody camps without clothing, food, equipment, water and friends or family. You need a more capable vehicle, no question about it. Airbags or other mods will not change your weight carrying ability.

[jbrandt]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I definitely don't need a bigger vehicle. Even at max weight, the 1700BH is still 1200 pounds under the max tow load of my 4Runner. I don't tow it with water, either - I fill up when I get to a spot.

I did go out and weigh my tongue, and I do appear a tad on the heavy side however, so I'll be rearranging some of my cargo to the rear hatch instead of the front.

For fairly smooth roads it drives very nicely, it's only when I get to a spot (one section of road in particular) where there are several repeating undulations in the road where the hitch starts to bounce a bit. It's a little hairy even when not towing.

I 've been thinking about building a cargo rack for the rear bumper, now that I know the hitch is a tad heavy, this is definitely something to try.

[60sumtin]

If the head is adjustable try tilting it down a bit more. The extra lift will reduce weight on the rear axle, add more to the steering axle and trailer axles. It'll also stiffen up your ride a bit. Since you don't carry much in the trailer its unlikely it will put too much weight on the axle but if in doubt weight it on the scales.

While a cargo rack on the back of the trailer can be used to reduce tongue weight you've also effectively extended the length of the trailer without moving the axles. With that extra weight hanging out back there's a possibility it could introduce some fishtailing tendencies that wasn't there before.

As mentioned you really load up your rig in travel mode and get it weighed.

[jlechmanik]

Originally Posted by jbrandt

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I definitely don't need a bigger vehicle. Even at max weight, the 1700BH is still 1200 pounds under the max tow load of my 4Runner. I don't tow it with water, either - I fill up when I get to a spot.

I did go out and weigh my tongue, and I do appear a tad on the heavy side however, so I'll be rearranging some of my cargo to the rear hatch instead of the front.

For fairly smooth roads it drives very nicely, it's only when I get to a spot (one section of road in particular) where there are several repeating undulations in the road where the hitch starts to bounce a bit. It's a little hairy even when not towing.

I 've been thinking about building a cargo rack for the rear bumper, now that I know the hitch is a tad heavy, this is definitely something to try.

Nobody goes over max tow rate. That means little. You should be looking at your cargo weight and max vehicle weight. That is the weight of your vehicle with full fuel, your passengers, your passengers crap, AND the tongue weight. Most run out of this LONG before their max towing weight....

[shane_the_ee]

Originally Posted by jbrandt

. Even at max weight, the 1700BH is still 1200 pounds under the max tow load of my 4Runner. I don't tow it with water, either - I fill up when I get to a spot.

And, after a visit to the CAT scale on the way to the campsite, I can confirm that I'm 3,540lbs under the max tow load of my Expedition. I can also confirm that I'm right at the max rear axle weight rating. That said, I had similar trouble with porpoising when I brought the trailer home from storage last month. I went up a link on the weight distribution bars and the problem went away.

[jbrandt]

Originally Posted by shane_the_ee

And, after a visit to the CAT scale on the way to the campsite, I can confirm that I'm 3,540lbs under the max tow load of my Expedition. I can also confirm that I'm right at the max rear axle weight rating. That said, I had similar trouble with porpoising when I brought the trailer home from storage last month. I went up a link on the weight distribution bars and the problem went away.

I take that to mean you went one link shorter on the chain(s) on your WD hitch, correct?


Thanks again. I definitely have some experimenting to with the WD hitch and distributing the cargo.


Thanks!

[shane_the_ee]

Originally Posted by jbrandt

I take that to mean you went one link shorter on the chain(s) on your WD hitch, correct?

Yes, exactly.