This weekend I took the camper out again. Only issue that didn't occur the first time out was the bouncy feeling, just when going over a pretty good bump on the interstate. The whole truck would bounce up and down for about 4-5 times after going over the bump. Otherwise, smooth sailing, a little uneasy on the bumps though. I've been playing around with the pressure in the bags. Had it at 70psi, too bouncy on normal driving, took it down to 55psi, much better, but I'm right at 42" fender height front to back. So, I'm perfectly level. There is about an inch of clearance between the spring pack and the overload leaf. If I were to air down enough to have the overload springs resting on the spring pack, would that help? My problem is, in doing that, I'd now be squatting in the back, due to how I've lifted the front of the truck up to clear the tires. So, should I look for a 1-1.5" lift block to gain back that height? Or is my problem that the 5th wheel box and king pin assembly is a solid/fixed position, and adding a Trail Air king pin would separate the truck from the camper to help with the whole thing bouncing? Any help would be welcomed. I had the camper weighed at a CAT scale this weekend. 12,745lbs, with camper of scale only, truck on scale with pin weight added, 9180lbs, so I'm under the 9200lb rating of my truck. Chris

It's your airbags in combination with the junk stock shocks. I would put a good set of shock on before you try anything else.

If that doesn't do it, axe the airbags for a good add a leaf.

The good shock thing was another option I forgot to mention. Thinking Bilstein's. Axing the bags isn't an option, had a hard time convincing my wife I needed something to begin with. Wouldn't be fun around my house if they are gonna work!:rolleyes: Thanks, though. Chris

Did you have less pin weight for this trip? Almost sounds like you need more but since you're right under gvwr I'd play around with the air pressure in the airbags.

I never use my airbags with towing my 5th wheel because of the bounce I added a add a leaf and run rancho 9000

Shocks!!

I would also say better shocks and play with pressure in the bags.

Thanks guys. The shocks are next, can't decide between Rancho, Bilstein's, or the Monroe's. Also going down on the psi in the bags. I just wish I could get the overload leaf to rest on the leaf springs without having the truck squat. Still thinking I may need a 1.5" block to raise the suspension, to get back the 3" height difference front/back, I lost cranking the bars. That way I could lower the psi more, but not let it squat. Some of the bounce has to be from the overload leaf contacting the other leafs going over a bump and then the bags push back, almost like a pogo stick. Could this explain some of the bounce? Chris

If you run the Rancho 9000's, you can dial them up for heavy towing and turn them back down for normal driving and they have a lifetime guarantee. I run about 35-40 psi in my air bags with about 1950#pin weight. Since this rv is new to you, try adding more wgt. toward front of rv to settle the rear of truck down from bounching as much. :D:D

Chris,
I think I know just your situation. Difference only being, you, a fiver, me, a slide-in. I lifted mine up front 2" also. Bags installed by Lance dealer. Rancho RS 9000's by self. My prob was, I believe, like yours, when aired-up, truck comes up off the single helper spring on the bottom of the stack, right? Solution was a taller bump-stop on the ends of the helper. This helped me a bunch with sway as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/freewayrandy/bumpstops.jpg

Where did you get these, that's exactly my problem. Single leaf makes no contact except going over bumps, then it bounces on and off it. Chris

Chris, I didn't get right back with you on this, got carried away changing oil, lubing the Vette.
Here's what they are...
http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/bsp2.html
got mine through a local off-road shop. Didnt check to see if you can order direct from the company. Mine are the red 11/16, there's thicker ones if needed. I wanted mine to contact only when loaded and not empty and these were the closest to doing that per my measurements. Measure your gap empty and loaded to see which one will work for you. To install I had to jack the truck up by the frame to let the axle hang in order to get the thicker 'bump stop' in.

Randy

p.s. got their poly motor mounts for the Vette too.

Thanks, I appreciate it! I'll try those out. Chris

I usually run about 50psi in my bags when towing. Also there is another thing that makes a big difference, does your trailer sit level when you are hooked up? I have noticed over the years and having several different trucks, that the more level the trailer is, the better it tows. That also reduces stress on the axles/tires.

Same as ABQ said, I run 50 psi level trailer,Another thing you might be missing don't have too much psi in the bags, This is important cause your lifting the load off the leaf springs hence the BOUNCE. You only want enough air in the bags to stop the leaf springs from bottoming out, try playing around with difference pressures every combo and person is different You might not like my ride. vice versa.Don't be disappointed once you get it set up right you'll love them. It took me several trips to get it right, and i still change around depending on the road surface, once you get a good set up the adjustments after that are easy.

You have the air ride in the wrong location...the air bags on the truck are nice, but you need air between the truck and trailer.

Thanks, the trailer is perfectly level, maybe just an inch higher in front. I'm going down to 45psi and see there. And the Trail Air King pin is the last resort, if I can't get it right, then I'll drop another $1300 on the Trail Air. Just thought of this, I dropped the air pressure in the tires down to 72psi cold, went to 80 when hot, noticed it went to 91psi hot when it was 80psi cold previous time. Would that change anything? Chris

I added the 5th Airborne pinbox to my fifth wheel. It took out 95% of the bounce and chucking. My pin weight is 1960# and the trailer weighs in at 13,200#. I run about 40# in my airbags.

Same as ABQ said, I run 50 psi level trailer,Another thing you might be missing don't have too much psi in the bags, This is important cause your lifting the load off the leaf springs hence the BOUNCE. You only want enough air in the bags to stop the leaf springs from bottoming out, try playing around with difference pressures every combo and person is different You might not like my ride. vice versa.Don't be disappointed once you get it set up right you'll love them. It took me several trips to get it right, and i still change around depending on the road surface, once you get a good set up the adjustments after that are easy.


I agree....

I just had put my bags on but not a in cab adj. and I started with the first run at 95psi. Bounced like crap (I have Bistein's). Then I drop all the air and re-installed to just bring the truck back to ride height. I ended up with 70psi and the truck sat the same as no load. Ride was WAY better.



Nor-Cal Nick

trail-air is night and day towing. i had the standard steel to steel hitch setup and baught a trail-air and 90% bouncing is gone. i run 55psi in left bag and 45 in right bag along with my add-a-lefs...

Thanks, guys. I haven't been out camping since this post, not going back out until second weekend of May. I'm dropping the psi to around 40 and then seeing how it rides. Chris

I know this is an older thread I started, but I'm getting ready to go back out this weekend. First time since the thread started. I have the 5ver hooked up and aired the bags to 35psi. The overload leaf is completely resting on the leaf pack in the rear, but the front of the overload leaf is a 1/2"-3/4" away from touching. Is this normal? I'm at 41.75" front, 41.75" rear, perfectly level. I may end up needing the bumpstops for just the front of the overload spring. Just wanting thoughts of the setup. Chris

Just a thought, does the 5th wheel have shocks? The first 5th wheel I had did have shocks and almost neaver had a problem with bouncing, the Jayco I have now does not have shocks and there is more bounce. This is traviling over the same interstate with the same truck.

Just a thought, does the 5th wheel have shocks? The first 5th wheel I had did have shocks and almost neaver had a problem with bouncing, the Jayco I have now does not have shocks and there is more bounce. This is traviling over the same interstate with the same truck.
i think the OP meant bouncy feeling on the truck with it loaded down, not on the 5th wheel

Yeah, the truck is doing the bouncing. But after this weekend and having the 35psi, it rode much better. Only slight bouncing. Probably now nothing more than what a decent set of Bils couldn't fix. Still may go with a Trail Air king pin setup in the future. Almost had the overload leaf hitting the leaf pack @35psi, still may need a bump stop to have contact. And I didn't let the bags down to my normal 10psi afterwards, and found the truck rides better at 35psi empty. Chris

Yeah, the truck is doing the bouncing. But after this weekend and having the 35psi, it rode much better. Only slight bouncing. Probably now nothing more than what a decent set of Bils couldn't fix. Still may go with a Trail Air king pin setup in the future. Almost had the overload leaf hitting the leaf pack @35psi, still may need a bump stop to have contact. And I didn't let the bags down to my normal 10psi afterwards, and found the truck rides better at 35psi empty. Chris
i have the trailair on my raptor 5th. night and day towing difference...

i have the 5th airborne hitch well worth monet rides like a dream now