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New 2500 ‘floaty’. What to do.

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doonkin

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Just test towed my new 2500 (gas/air suspension)for few 100 miles. It was quite floaty in the front. I didn’t feel in control sometimes - esp windy roads. Was breaking in so kept under 50.
Equipment wise….
I had to replace my 2 inch shank on the husky wdh w a bulletproof 2.5>2 to fit ram. It fits good. Truck hitch / trailer line up perfectly level before I do anything.
I put truck in tire jack mode, then hook it up w weight dist bars , the turn on air susp alt tailer height. It’s all level.
So why the sway?
I do have several washers in center of width that holds it at a slight angle that was set up for the old truck ( didn’t think about that)

Trailer is only 5.5k lbs, and there’s not much in bed. No family w me test run.
Prev TV was a 2012 Nissan titan 1/2 ton n it was solid- never floaty- pretty sure the titans hitch ball was 1-3 lower than level trailer.
Should I try dropping the ball DOWN to next hole? It would be 1.25 inch drop.
It’s my first time with air suspension so I just set it to alt trailer height (I’m clueless w the air thing)

Thankyou for any advice
 
That light of a trailer just use a ball no WDH try it. it will likely feel way better.
 
I dug up the husky WDH manual. It’s telling me the ball should be 1 inch higher than trailer coupler, which goes against what logic I have! Of course air suspension could be messing w all of this. I know it’s a light trailer- I just hate sway/wind too so want to keep it
 
doonkin said:
I dug up the husky WDH manual. It’s telling me the ball should be 1 inch higher than trailer coupler, which goes against what logic I have! Of course air suspension could be messing w all of this. I know it’s a light trailer- I just hate sway/wind too so want to keep it
Click to expand...
Try it without you may be surprised.
 
doonkin said:
Trailer nose down? Dropping the ball 1.25 inch
Click to expand...
Very slightly nose down makes for a steadier bumper pull IME, that and proper cargo distribution / tongue weight.
Never have had weight distribution bars on any smaller TTs myself, too much off road travel. Friction sway control is good unless the roads get too rowdy, we slow down of course and run them loosened to avoid damaging them…tighten again when reasonable.
IMO
 
doonkin said:
Just test towed my new 2500 (gas/air suspension)for few 100 miles. It was quite floaty in the front. I didn’t feel in control sometimes - esp windy roads. Was breaking in so kept under 50.
Equipment wise….
I had to replace my 2 inch shank on the husky wdh w a bulletproof 2.5>2 to fit ram. It fits good. Truck hitch / trailer line up perfectly level before I do anything.
I put truck in tire jack mode, then hook it up w weight dist bars , the turn on air susp alt tailer height. It’s all level.
So why the sway?
I do have several washers in center of width that holds it at a slight angle that was set up for the old truck ( didn’t think about that)

Trailer is only 5.5k lbs, and there’s not much in bed. No family w me test run.
Prev TV was a 2012 Nissan titan 1/2 ton n it was solid- never floaty- pretty sure the titans hitch ball was 1-3 lower than level trailer.
Should I try dropping the ball DOWN to next hole? It would be 1.25 inch drop.
It’s my first time with air suspension so I just set it to alt trailer height (I’m clueless w the air thing)

Thankyou for any advice
Click to expand...
I have a 2022 4x4, I use a 4 inch drop with my twin axel 7x14 cargo trailer and no WDH an never have used one
 
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The idea of not using a Wdh is so terrifying to me. My TT is 5.5k but by the time we load up, jez, it might be 7k w fam n gear.
 
doonkin said:
The idea of not using a Wdh is so terrifying to me. My TT is 5.5k but by the time we load up, jez, it might be 7k w fam n gear.
Click to expand...
I’m a fan of WDH for sway control and “insurance” against the fact the TTs make it nearly impossible to distribute weight properly, but you can definitely do it without WDH at that size.

That said, there’s absolutely no way a properly set up WDH could make handling worse.
 
Sway is almost always caused by improper trailer loading, so I’d make sure you have 13-15% TW.

jsalbre said:
I’m a fan of WDH for sway control and “insurance” against the fact the TTs make it nearly impossible to distribute weight properly, but you can definitely do it without WDH at that size.

That said, there’s absolutely no way a properly set up WDH could make handling worse.
Click to expand...

WDH and sway control are two different things.

I agree a properly loaded trailer with WDH will always handle better.
 
doonkin said:
The idea of not using a Wdh is so terrifying to me. My TT is 5.5k but by the time we load up, jez, it might be 7k w fam n gear.
Click to expand...
I pull a 36ft long by 8.5 enclosed trailer that is bumper pull. Empty is 5500 across the scales. I've had as much as 13k inside grossing 18.5k.

For this particular trailer I have never used a WDH. I do have the air suspension and I check the level of the trailer frequently to make sure I don't get sway. I feel like that's what you need.

My 21 2500 pulled this and now I use a 24 3500. Main reason I switched was for payload out of the 3500. Best of luck to you.

20241019_092750.jpg
 
I will try without the wdh bars.
I always thought the bars help force down trailer onto ball.
Without them then it’s just 1 point of failure. What’s to stop 1 big bounce popping the trailer off the ball.
I don’t have a cotter pin or any 2nd line of defense holding trailer to ball, only that weight clamp thing they all have.
 
doonkin said:
I will try without the wdh bars.
I always thought the bars help force down trailer onto ball.
Without them then it’s just 1 point of failure. What’s to stop 1 big bounce popping the trailer off the ball.
I don’t have a cotter pin or any 2nd line of defense holding trailer to ball, only that weight clamp thing they all have.
Click to expand...
Unless the coupler is completely worn out (rare) the tongue is not just bouncing off the ball…. When you set your WDH bars you lift the truck with the trailer jack so if it can do that how is it bouncing off?

Your hitch is held into the receiver on the truck with only one pin do you trust that with no backup? Not trying to be mean but just to put it in perspective.
 
I get it, just asking questions as I’ve been towing 10 years one way so this is food for thought for me.
Somehow lifting w trailer jack is gentler than a big ole road bounce.

Lots of TT couplers have the weight latch plus a cotter pin in there. Mine does not

I’m going to try it tho
 
I’m guessing you have a Demco coupler? If so, the more pulling force the tighter it holds. It’s not like “traditional” couplers.
 
I’d have to check the coupler on TT. It’s a 2013 Jayco 23mbh. I’d take a photo but I’m at work.
(
 
That’s a light trailer.
First: throw that WDH in the garbage.
Second: check to make sure you have enough tongue weight (you don’t or the wdh is messing it up)
Enjoy.

Side note about the bulletproof hitch it’s the only one I’ve tried where I can open the tailgate with the trailer attached and clear the tongue jack. Very handy with a drawer system. Mine has been extremely sturdy.
 
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Maybe I missed it, if it's been answered, but how does it drive now without the trailer? Need get a solid baseline....
 
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