Wobbling

[Brutal_HO]

My $.02. Regarding OP wobbling when pulling trailer

Wobbles is such a weird word to describe anything related to pulling a trailer unless we’re talking about a herniated belt in a tire or a bent wheel. But I’m gonna take a stab at it.

It seems like people are complaining about the rear suspension but “wobbles” isn’t something the rear suspension can really do. Many people complain about the wheel hop that the 2500 can have but that’s an unloaded problem so maybe we need more tongue weight in this scenario? IMHO most towing issues come down to not enough tongue weight.

He meant, and later stated, "rocking."

Side to side rocking is a very common complaint on the 2500 with too heavy trailers or even to little pin weight. Seems some get lucky in a sweet spot and others not so much.

I can't think of a single complaint where outboard airbags didn't solve the issue when other methods (tires, swaybar) didn't work. The 2500 suspension design is just inherently less capable at handling these situations than an (outboard mounted) leaf sprung truck. It's almost like a rear end "death wobble."

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

He meant, and later stated, "rocking."

Side to side rocking is a very common complaint on the 2500 with too heavy trailers or even to little pin weight. Seems some get lucky in a sweet spot and others not so much.

I can't think of a single complaint where outboard airbags didn't solve the issue when other methods (tires, swaybar) didn't work. The 2500 suspension design is just inherently less capable at handling these situations than an (outboard mounted) leaf sprung truck. It's almost like a rear end "death wobble."

I missed that. That makes more sense.

 

[Brutal_HO]

FWIW, this isn't limited to Ram 2500.

In 2003 I used my son's 2500 Silverado that had the biggest tires he could stuff in the wheel wells and running low pressures. My 98 Ram was in the shop so we used it to tow the jetskis out to Lake Mead and it was rocking/"wobbling" like crazy any time you got up over 60. Added some air and the issue was mostly resolved. That truck's soft suspension certainly contributed.

 

[fly6]

This is not the airport. No need to announce your departure.

Always amusing to see someone come and complain because they bought the wrong truck for the job.

I know, you looked at the marketing payload and towing and paid zero attention to the actual as-built numbers for your config and that's RAM's fault?

You said nothing about the truck model. Hemi or Cummins, mega or quad cab, short or long bed. No payload sticker posted. Nothing about the RV except length. GVWR? Pin weight? What did the scale numbers look like? Was the trailer level when hooked?

2500 hd Cummins don't know what you mean by wrong truck?

 

[Brutal_HO]

2500 hd Cummins don't know what you mean by wrong truck?

Means the 2500 with Cummins is generally not suitable to tow a 5th wheel. What's your pin weight?

 

[fly6]

Buys 3/4 ton truck for job suitable for a 1 ton. Isn’t happy with performance of said truck. Sells truck and buys different manufacturer’s 3/4 ton truck to do 1 ton job.

My fifth wheel is a 34 ft weighs 16000 on a certified scale If this is to big for the truck advertising is wrong

 

[Brutal_HO]

My fifth wheel is a 34 ft weighs 16000 on a certified scale If this is to big for the truck advertising is wrong

"Advertising" tow capacity has "fine print." "When properly equipped."

If you looked up the towing capability based on the model/trim and/or VIN, or more specifically, the payload door sticker, you would have known you were over the truck's limits.

16000 GVWR puts your pin weight at at least 3200. That's too much payload for a 2500 Cummins with probably around 2000 at most. Sure, it will pull it, but there's more to it than raw pulling power.

Like I said, wrong truck.

Add some outboard airbags and it will probably fix your problem.

 

[jsalbre]

My fifth wheel is a 34 ft weighs 16000 on a certified scale If this is to big for the truck advertising is wrong

“Can” and “the best choice” are not always the same thing. To take it to the extreme for the sake of making an example, you “can” tow 37000+ pounds with a correctly equipped 3500. If you do this on a regular basis you’re going to hate life. “The best choice” for that kind of weight is a true HD truck.

In your case, as several of us have said, putting some supplemental airbags would solve the issue. It’s just physics.

 

[VetMoto27]

Sounds like your over your trucks payload and your front tires are light. Just my opinion.

 

[fly6]

Guys My total weight of camper and truck was 23120 truck alone 8720 truck and camper with only the camper on the scales 10940 only truck on the scales but hooked to the camper 8720

 

[4FishLimit]

Guys My total weight of camper and truck was 23120 truck alone 8720 truck and camper with only the camper on the scales 10940 only truck on the scales but hooked to the camper 8720

I don’t think any Cummins 2500’s have over 20K GCVWR rating.

Like many others here have stated, you were overloading your truck which is why it handled so poorly.

 

[johanh13]

I don’t think any Cummins 2500’s have over 20K GCVWR rating.

Like many others here have stated, you were overloading your truck which is why it handled so poorly.

They are all over 20,000! Mine is 27,000 lbs (all the way at the bottom of attached screenshot)

 

[4FishLimit]

They are all over 20,000! Mine is 27,000 lbs (all the way at the bottom of attached screenshot)
View attachment 79307

D’oh, I was thinking max trailer weight for some reason, my bad.

 

[jsalbre]

Guys My total weight of camper and truck was 23120 truck alone 8720 truck and camper with only the camper on the scales 10940 only truck on the scales but hooked to the camper 8720

That math doesn’t work out. How is there 10940 lbs on the trailer axles, and 8720 lbs on the truck axles, but combined you got 23120 lbs?

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

That math doesn’t work out. How is there 10940 lbs on the trailer axles, and 8720 lbs on the truck axles, but combined you got 10940 lbs?

I don’t think he is explaining it right or understanding it correctly or he just typed it in a confusing way.

I think his combined actual is the 23120lb and he said earlier in the thread that his trailer is 16k so the 8720lb truck plus the 16k trailer is the 23120lb gross combined. We have to assume the 10940lb is the truck with the tongue weight on it

 

[whitexc]

You know what happens when we ass u me lol


Sent from me

 

[jsalbre]

I don’t think he is explaining it right or understanding it correctly or he just typed it in a confusing way.

I think his combined actual is the 23120lb and he said earlier in the thread that his trailer is 16k so the 8720lb truck plus the 16k trailer is the 23120lb gross combined. We have to assume the 10940lb is the truck with the tongue weight on it

Just noticed I also typed my post. The last number should have been 23120. Which still doesn't add up, so maybe you're right.

 

[fly6]

I'm pretty certain his problem was that he had a 2500 for a 5th wheel and didn't add airbags. That's never going to be very stable.

Why didn't Ram say that instead of bad tires on the camper?

 

[fly6]

I believe the gmc 2500 has a max tow package or something that brings the capacity close to a 3500. If so then best of luck with the new truck.

what I know is the Sierra 2500 Duramax combo works very well

 

[jsalbre]

Why didn't Ram say that instead of bad tires on the camper?

Because the dealership is never going to tell you to do something that they won’t make any money from, and they’re not going to install airbags.

The GMC 2500 is of course more stable with a high load, because it has outboard-of-the-frame leaf springs, just like the Ram 3500. Your trailer is still going to put a GMC 2500 out of specs.