Rougher ride than expected

[johnmyster]

I’ll definitely give that a watch when I have a few minutes. I ordered an Equalizer that delivered today and I’m going to swap that out. It’s mostly because the Continuum has almost no resistance to sway and basically feels like towing straight on the ball (aside from the WD itself of course), while all of our previous Equalizers have eliminated all “wiggle”.

You have equalizer experience and you didn't ask, but I'll share anyway.

I recently started using the $11 isolation pads on the brackets. It's quieter than no grease but not as quiet as grease. I couldn't keep the grease from migrating and always ended up on my hands. I do still grease the ball and bar sockets, but I cover the head with an $8 drawstring jack cover bag from amazon when not in use. It makes it easier to handle when off the truck (I can put my hands anywhere) and less of a grease threat when it lives on the truck.



I also lost one L pin early in my equalizer experience, so I removed the retainer/spring bales and cross drilled them for some $1, 1/4" lynch pins from the tractor parts aisle. Apparently I'm the only person that has ever had that problem. I now have an extra L pin because they only come in pairs.

I also suspect I would be happier with the more compliant 10k bars vs my 12k bars despite my 1700 pound hitch weight, but that's another topic.

 

[whitexc]

Once set up properly I had no issues and was pleased with how the Equalizer worked with our 8k TT. Good luck.


Sent from me

 

[Dirtstiff]

As a side note..I also can't stand the grease all over everything.
Lightly load to the front axle with WDH (three links), no trailer feedback. Loaded trailer is < 12k#.

 

[AH64ID]

The stock 2500 ride is pretty good on most roads, better once the front sway bar came off, and excellent once the Thuren/Fox suspension went on. When I say it’s rough towing this trailer I mean that on I-86 and I-84 the other day I was struggling to keep my coffee down on road surfaces that I barely noticed with our last trailer.

Loaded the airbags are sitting around 50-55ish pounds.

She definitely has high expectations, but she’s not unfamiliar with the way an HD truck rides, and doesn’t expect perfection, just not pain. It’s hurting me to drive too, and I’m a mountain biker so I willingly subject myself to abuse all the time.

That’s a LOT of air for less than 6K RAW, I mean a lot! You’re probably way overinflated and combined with the short arms of the B&W hitch (which means they need a lot more tension to transfer the same weight as longer bars) I could see where it might get rough.

You’ve got different rear springs, but I usually recommend only enough air to support payload in addition to the tongue weight. You’ll likely need some for the softer springs. Maybe try 25 loaded.

I know it’s not exactly the same, but for reference on my 05 I had a 2” level and would run 7-7500lbs on the rear axle and use 50-60 psi to keep the truck level and the ride was bad. I took the 2” level out for a 1” level and only needed 35 psi to keep the truck level and the ride was so much better with more weight on the trucks springs vs the airbags.

 

[jsalbre]

You have equalizer experience and you didn't ask, but I'll share anyway.

I recently started using the $11 isolation pads on the brackets. It's quieter than no grease but not as quiet as grease. I couldn't keep the grease from migrating and always ended up on my hands. I do still grease the ball and bar sockets, but I cover the head with an $8 drawstring jack cover bag from amazon when not in use. It makes it easier to handle when off the truck (I can put my hands anywhere) and less of a grease threat when it lives on the truck.

View attachment 88688

I also lost one L pin early in my equalizer experience, so I removed the retainer/spring bales and cross drilled them for some $1, 1/4" lynch pins from the tractor parts aisle. Apparently I'm the only person that has ever had that problem. I now have an extra L pin because they only come in pairs.

I also suspect I would be happier with the more compliant 10k bars vs my 12k bars despite my 1700 pound hitch weight, but that's another topic.

The little bracket pads make a huge difference for noise level. I consider them a must have unless you absolutely need the most sway prevention possible (as they slightly reduce friction). I only grease the top and bottom sliding contact surfaces of the sockets and the ball itself, as directed by the instructions. I’ve never put any grease on the bars of an Equalizer.

I thankfully have never lost an L pin on one of my Equalizers.

The hitch I now have sitting in the bed of the truck is the 1600/16000# version. I once used a 1000# TW equalizer hitch on a trailer with a 1300# TW and the amount of extra washers I had to put on it to get the FALR % where it was supposed to be was extreme, and the bars did not look happy. It would suck for something to break as well. This hitch head is noticeably heftier than the head of the two smaller size Equalizers I’ve used in the past.

 

[jsalbre]

That’s a LOT of air for less than 6K RAW, I mean a lot! You’re probably way overinflated and combined with the short arms of the B&W hitch (which means they need a lot more tension to transfer the same weight as longer bars) I could see where it might get rough.

You’ve got different rear springs, but I usually recommend only enough air to support payload in addition to the tongue weight. You’ll likely need some for the softer springs. Maybe try 25 loaded.

I know it’s not exactly the same, but for reference on my 05 I had a 2” level and would run 7-7500lbs on the rear axle and use 50-60 psi to keep the truck level and the ride was bad. I took the 2” level out for a 1” level and only needed 35 psi to keep the truck level and the ride was so much better with more weight on the trucks springs vs the airbags.

Interesting that you’re saying that’s high. Lots of previous threads on here about airbags with WDH seemed to conclude that you should get the suspension back to about an inch below unloaded before engaging WDH. The B&W does require a lot of pressure, but because the springs are composite instead of steel every review claims it makes for a “softer” connection.

I’m definitely game to try less pressure though.

Some quick searching and math tells me that since the bags are rated for 5000# at 100 psi then they get 50# of support for every 1 psi. So my ~55 psi is good for holding up 2750#. Does that sound right? If so then yeah, that may be my problem. I’d think that would make me sit higher than empty though, wouldn’t it?

 

[Jmonty]

With our previous TT (AlphaWolf 26RL - GVWR of 9750) on stock 2500 suspension I only used about 20psi in the bags and our blue ox WD hitch, ride was never painful. Even with our just under 12k 5th wheel I only ran about 45psi in the bags. It took quite a lot to sort out PSI and WD hitch tension to get the setup right in the TT was one of the reasons among many we moved up to 5th wheel. The blue ox was nice because you could adjust per link how much tension you wanted/needed to run based on RV weight. I always tried to run as little air as possible and then use the WD to get weight back onto the front axle.

 

[johnmyster]

Interesting that you’re saying that’s high. Lots of previous threads on here about airbags with WDH seemed to conclude that you should get the suspension back to about an inch below unloaded before engaging WDH. The B&W does require a lot of pressure, but because the springs are composite instead of steel every review claims it makes for a “softer” connection.

I’m definitely game to try less pressure though.

Some quick searching and math tells me that since the bags are rated for 5000# at 100 psi then they get 50# of support for every 1 psi. So my ~55 psi is good for holding up 2750#. Does that sound right? If so then yeah, that may be my problem. I’d think that would make me sit higher than empty though, wouldn’t it?

It sounds like you're on the path to being an expert via experience.

The B&W requires lots of "pressure" because the area of underside of the hydraulic ram is small. That is one thing that I don't like (in theory) about the B&W hitch: monoleafs are pretty linear and they only sell one leaf package for users that occupy a wide range of weight redistribution requirements. The hydraulic system allows fast adjustment of preload but not rate...which is what is being "adjusted" when you pick one size of spring bars vs another on an equalizer, or to some degree when you adjust the frame brackets further/closer from the hitch (changes effective length of the spring bars.) Maybe B&W nailed it but WDHs of all brands come in a range of compensation ranges so it seems like a compromise. If I found a deal on a used system, I'd probably give it a try.

1 psi per 5# comes out to an effective bag diameter of about 5.6", which sounds plausible. However, airbags tend to be high spring rate (the pressure rises rapidly in them over short displacement due to short stroke, low internal volume, relative to large piston area) compared to what your coils probably are. Relying more on bags will make your suspension stiffer going down the road. Relying more on coils, the opposite.

Same would be true for your older 10k equalizer setup with more flexible bars. It would take the same amount of preload to achieve desired WD, but the rate of loading/unloading as the system moves would be less severe than with stiff bars.

If you can't tell, I'm in favor of a more compliant (low rate, relatively linear) suspension, including WD, to absorb bump inputs from the ground, and then using dampening to control response after the bump and inputs from the trailer to the truck.

WRT the snap pads vs grease on equalizer frame brackets - I haven't found that our rig needs sway control. I credit the high truck to trailer ratio, longish wheelbase of truck, and high (1700#) tongue weight.

 

[AH64ID]

Interesting that you’re saying that’s high. Lots of previous threads on here about airbags with WDH seemed to conclude that you should get the suspension back to about an inch below unloaded before engaging WDH. The B&W does require a lot of pressure, but because the springs are composite instead of steel every review claims it makes for a “softer” connection.

I’m definitely game to try less pressure though.

Some quick searching and math tells me that since the bags are rated for 5000# at 100 psi then they get 50# of support for every 1 psi. So my ~55 psi is good for holding up 2750#. Does that sound right? If so then yeah, that may be my problem. I’d think that would make me sit higher than empty though, wouldn’t it?

For the most part WDH is for tongue weight and airbags are for additional (non-trailer) payload, otherwise they fight each other and either make it harsh or reduce WDH effectiveness.

Yes, 55 psi supporting 2750# sounds right.

I’ve always wanted to try the B&W, but haven’t had the opportunity. The short arms do make me wonder, but composite should have more give even thou the tension is higher.

 

[DarkHorse8]

What about a Shocker Air Hitch?

 

[scdo]

It might be the trailer. On our 2023 ORV Backcountry Series one of the axles was damaged during manufacturing. I found it just prior to the 1 year warranty expired when I removed a tire. The axle assembly was entirely replaced. View attachment 87989

I'm not sure I can add much but I'll say this is 100% wrong.

I have a Z Air 295, towing with a 2500. It pulls great, smooth ride. I have the Weigh Safe WD system though I've towed short distances without the bars and it's been ok.

 

[jsalbre]

For the most part WDH is for tongue weight and airbags are for additional (non-trailer) payload, otherwise they fight each other and either make it harsh or reduce WDH effectiveness.

Yes, 55 psi supporting 2750# sounds right.

I’ve always wanted to try the B&W, but haven’t had the opportunity. The short arms do make me wonder, but composite should have more give even thou the tension is higher.

You sir are my hero. We hitched up this morning and I dropped the bags to 35psi, then we drove from Boise to Sun Valley. It felt nearly like driving the truck unloaded. You’ve likely saved my spine and my marriage!

I owe you a beverage of choice sometime.

 

[AH64ID]

You sir are my hero. We hitched up this morning and I dropped the bags to 35psi, then we drove from Boise to Sun Valley. It felt nearly like driving the truck unloaded. You’ve likely saved my spine and my marriage!

I owe you a beverage of choice sometime.

Awesome! Enjoy the weekend. We had the van and mountain bikes up near Galena Lodge last weekend.

 

[jsalbre]

Awesome! Enjoy the weekend. We had the van and mountain bikes up near Galena Lodge last weekend.

Riding there in the morning!

We’re up here til Labor Day. So plenty of time to enjoy it all.

 

[AH64ID]

Riding there in the morning!

We’re up here til Labor Day. So plenty of time to enjoy it all.

View attachment 88752

It was my first time riding there, I’ll be back!

The wife and I did some snowshoeing in and she rode there while I ran the Legends Never Die 55K last October. Great little spot.

Some really fun camping areas too. We saw some goats where we stayed last weekend.

 

[jsalbre]

It was my first time riding there, I’ll be back!

The wife and I did some snowshoeing in and she rode there while I ran the Legends Never Die 55K last October. Great little spot.

Some really fun camping areas too. We saw some goats where we stayed last weekend.

It’s our favorite place. Came up here for a bike race on Labor Day 2013 and we’ve come back for it every year since. We usually spend a couple weeks up here each year.