Community Forums

TT_TR250RDS · 10-24-2019, 07:36 AM

Hi all,

I just did a nice 500 mile one way trip with my ORV250. Everything went well but man was there a lot of white kunkle moments from I'd assume wind, and possibly lack of towing assistance.

Truck:
05 2500HD, 6.0 gasser, single cab, long box
7500lbs airbags with 80psi in them when towing
Curb weight - 6,100lbs
GCWR - 16,000lbs

Trailer:
31' overall length
GTW at the time of towing - 8,000lbs

So I was about 2,000lbs shy of my GCWR. The truck towed the trailer fine and stopped it with no problems.

The issue I was having was when a vehicle would pass me, or wind would hit. The trailer would saw side to side. The same feeling you would get with a single axle trailer that was not loaded properly. I also had a lot of bucking front to back.

Any suggestions would be great!

HJLowell · 10-24-2019, 07:46 AM

Bucking
Swaying = to light on the front of the trailer.

In my opinion.

Load leving hitch.
To tight ?

grindstone01 · 10-24-2019, 07:52 AM

I agree with try loosening your load bars some. Looking at your truck rear end, I don't see any sag like there should be with some weight on the hitch.

tuffr2 · 10-24-2019, 08:05 AM

I looked at your picture and thought you had a 1500 series truck. I think your wheelbase is too short and the truck is too little. Just for kicks drive by a Chevy dealer and see how much bigger a 1500 is than your truck.

The wheelbase on the 2020 GM 2500 trucks is 159". What is the wheelbase of your 2005?

Also the frame on the 2005 is not very solid and was redesigned in 2011 to be a lot beefier.

grindstone01 · 10-24-2019, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I looked at your picture and thought you had a 1500 series truck. I think your wheelbase is too short and the truck is too little. Just for kicks drive by a Chevy dealer and see how much bigger a 1500 is than your truck.

The wheelbase on the 2020 GM 2500 trucks is 159". What is the wheelbase of your 2005?

Also the frame on the 2005 is not very solid and was redesigned in 2011 to be a lot beefier.

The OP has plenty of truck.
"05 2500HD, 6.0 gasser, single cab, long box"

I used to have a 27' TT and towed it with a Chevy 1500 and I would have to tighten up the load bars to keep the truck from sagging. When I towed the TT with a Chevy 2500, I was able to leave the load bars off, the truck didn't need any help.

Question - Does the OP use a sway bar?

n0mad · 10-24-2019, 08:26 AM

Nobody is mentioning the air bags here. They can increase sway, especially with 80PSI in them. Add some StableLoads or try letting some of that air out and using your WDH to level out the rig.

Ssgritton · 10-24-2019, 08:51 AM

Agree with adding Stable loads, I have 5300 LBS on my back and when they are engaged no rocking, a better add might be a heavy duty sway bar on the back of the truck. I would call Torklift (stable loads) or and Hellwig (sway bars) and ask what they think they have techs that will help with a solution.

The cheapest advise I heard was letting air out of the airbags and see if more weight helps on the front

Good luck

jlechmanik · 10-24-2019, 10:07 AM

Maybe I am missing something but I don't see a Weight Distribution Hitch mentioned. Are you using one? Does it have anti sway? And any idea of your tongue weight?

I use an equalizer 4 point WDH and I am rock solid with 28ft trailer. I also run about 13% tongue weight. I live in the Columbia Gorge home of wind junkies. So leaving and coming home from trips I face 30 plus mph winds and trucks all the time.

HJLowell · 10-24-2019, 11:11 AM

A picture from the OP of the hitch area, from both sides would help.

volks1963 · 10-24-2019, 11:19 AM

I have a 2006 2500HD GMC 4X4, same long bed, single cab but have a camper shell on the back. 8.1 motor and pull my 21RBS Outdoors RV with no sway at all when getting passed by big rigs either going the same way or on the opposite side of the road. Equalizer WDH with the sway controller on the side. No air bags on my truck.

TT_TR250RDS · 10-24-2019, 11:35 AM

Hey everyone,

Thank you all for the quick replies and information.

Let me provide a bit more information which will help.

I think my wheelbase is 133" but I would need to check.

There is no WDH. I am using a standard ball/hitch set up. The airbags had to be put up to 80psi to get the truck and trailer, not to V.

There was nothing really in the trailer when towing it besides some clothes in the bedroom and pots and pans in the kitchen area.

CecilD · 10-24-2019, 11:40 AM

Use your weight distribution hitch to level your truck and deflate the air bags. The air bags inflated to that level will cause your rear axle to serve as a a fulcrum and unload the front end of your truck. If you inflated your bags after setting up your hitch, you may have completely defeated the effects of the WDH. If your hitch has built in anti-sway, you could have defeated that also.

I followed my son once and his trailer was all over the place. He couldn't understand it as his air bags had on board air and he had it to the max. We took up a link on his WDH and lowered his bags to 20 lbs. Nice tow from there.

Jghall00 · 10-24-2019, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TT_TR250RDS

There is no WDH. I am using a standard ball/hitch set up. The airbags had to be put up to 80psi to get the truck and trailer, not to V.

This is likely the problem right here. I suggest getting a WDH with integrated sway control. I use a Husky 32218 on on my Expedition EL. My trailer is 7,000 lbs and it tows fine.

tuffr2 · 10-24-2019, 03:48 PM

I had just a Drawtite WD hitch with no sway control. Even that helped with sway as I did not have any. This was a 5,500lb. trailer behind a F-150. I was very happy with this rig and even let the wife drive.

I do not know how you could try one just to see how much it helps other than buy one.