Truck bucking and jerking while towing

[Gray Goose]

Question for you guys. I got a 31' 5th wheel trailer with a GVWR OF 13,300 pounds so bought myself a new '09 F-350 SD with the 6.4L engine and automatic transmission. It is a long bed with 4WD. I knew the CG and height were off on the trailer as opposed to my old truck so I went in today and had the axles flipped to give me more height and level the trailer to the truck. I am also using a Ranch Hitch 3100 GN adapter (rated at 24,000 pounds) on the RV so I won't have to have a 5th wheel hitch. The option is either the GN hitch OR the 5th wheeel hitch. Since I also pull a 3H GN trailer, there was no question as to which I would want / use. After all this, I get a "jerking" or "bucking" type of ride when I am on uneven road or go over a bump on the highway. The RV dealer says I should install air bags on the truck to solve this problem. The truck is a 1 ton, with a HD supsension, camper package, and anti sway bar. I have used airbags in the past but that was to solve either a front to rear height differnce or side to side sway as in with a cabover camper. What do you think? Have you experienced this type of problem and how did you solve it?

[sea71]

Sorry I cant help you, but WELCOME to the site!

[Evil Eye]

I would get a little bit of both with my 5er and airbags did help. Not sure about a gooseneck setup with flipped axles.

[Big Calo]

In my experience when the trailers I pull bump and jerk real bad it is because there is to much tounge weight. If it is a bumper pull make sure the hitch isnt sticking out to far. Just my $.02. Maybe some pics with it hooked up could help to see if anything wierd is going on.

[RGordon]

I have an 07 F350 Ford Dually 6.0 PSD, crewcab with long bed and have the same issue as you. I have installed AirLift 5,000 lb airbags with onboard compressor and did nothing for the chucking. However, it is great for leveling the truck out when I get the 18,000 lb fifth wheel hooked up. I have experimented with all the hitch adjustments with little help. The only thing that has helped was to load the front basement compartments with very heavy items applying more weight to the truck. I just think it the extremely long wheelbase truck that is allowing some frame flexing and have spent mucho dollars on changing out the Trailair pinbox to a MorRyde pinbox which was no help. I found out that you can spend lots of money with little return.

[Gray Goose]

OK, thanks for the replys so far. The only other thing that may make a bit of sense in the problem I am having is that when the axles were flipped, it seems that the people who had this rig before m had the axles flipped to lower the trailer to fit thier rig, and someone removed the U-bolt plates. I think this is a connection point to the shocks to the trailer. When I towed the trailer up to the shop to have the owrk done, I got some of the jerking or chucking other have mentioned. With the trailer sitting higher, and little shock movement, this may be causing the issue. The trailer is very level and even with the truck with about 6 inches of clearance above the bed.Before I sink another $500 into airbags, I think I'll try the U-bolt plates, which should probably be done otherwise. Other than that, the truck tows great, plenty of power in the tow/haul mode. Mileage stinks so far. I think I will hook up my G/N horse trailer and load a few horses up and see what happens with that. If I don't get the same problem, it has to be with the trailer.

[kasper]

Originally Posted by Gray Goose

Question for you guys. I got a 31' 5th wheel trailer with a GVWR OF 13,300 pounds so bought myself a new '09 F-350 SD with the 6.4L engine and automatic transmission. It is a long bed with 4WD. I knew the CG and height were off on the trailer as opposed to my old truck so I went in today and had the axles flipped to give me more height and level the trailer to the truck. I am also using a Ranch Hitch 3100 GN adapter (rated at 24,000 pounds) on the RV so I won't have to have a 5th wheel hitch. The option is either the GN hitch OR the 5th wheeel hitch. Since I also pull a 3H GN trailer, there was no question as to which I would want / use. After all this, I get a "jerking" or "bucking" type of ride when I am on uneven road or go over a bump on the highway. The RV dealer says I should install air bags on the truck to solve this problem. The truck is a 1 ton, with a HD supsension, camper package, and anti sway bar. I have used airbags in the past but that was to solve either a front to rear height differnce or side to side sway as in with a cabover camper. What do you think? Have you experienced this type of problem and how did you solve it?

Too bad this post is so old. I can't tell you exactly "what" this bucking is, but I can tell you that the replacements you are making are probably not going to help since it is most likely a well kept secret/ structural defect of Ford's.....I too haul a 4H/6H using a gooseneck hitch. When I use the tow/haul, which should be always, I get the most horrible bucking and jerking. Ford told me it was "driver interaction" and "not to wear high-heel shoes when I hauled!" HOW SEXIST. I am not the only person I know who has the same problem. The only way to solve the problem is NOT to engage the tow/haul.... OH, AND NOT to wear your high heel shoes! Hope by now you have solved you problem.

[Evil Eye]

Originally Posted by kasper

Too bad this post is so old. I can't tell you exactly "what" this bucking is, but I can tell you that the replacements you are making are probably not going to help since it is most likely a well kept secret/ structural defect of Ford's.....I too haul a 4H/6H using a gooseneck hitch. When I use the tow/haul, which should be always, I get the most horrible bucking and jerking. Ford told me it was "driver interaction" and "not to wear high-heel shoes when I hauled!" HOW SEXIST. I am not the only person I know who has the same problem. The only way to solve the problem is NOT to engage the tow/haul.... OH, AND NOT to wear your high heel shoes! Hope by now you have solved you problem.

LOL... I won't wear my high heel shoes when I tow!!! What all have you tried to get this fixed? Do you have more information on your truck and trailer setup?

[bad stroke]

Originally Posted by kasper

Too bad this post is so old. I can't tell you exactly "what" this bucking is, but I can tell you that the replacements you are making are probably not going to help since it is most likely a well kept secret/ structural defect of Ford's.....I too haul a 4H/6H using a gooseneck hitch. When I use the tow/haul, which should be always, I get the most horrible bucking and jerking. Ford told me it was "driver interaction" and "not to wear high-heel shoes when I hauled!" HOW SEXIST. I am not the only person I know who has the same problem. The only way to solve the problem is NOT to engage the tow/haul.... OH, AND NOT to wear your high heel shoes! Hope by now you have solved you problem.

I got a very similar response from a ford dealer as well. I have dealt with the bucking now for almost a year with no solution in sight. I took it in several times and no one would find a problem. Now I'm out of warranty.

CHeck the internet and you will see this is a very common problem.
But bigger problem is the danger to the animals you are hauling. They get thrown around violently until you are able to make it stop.

[kasper]

I ditched the Ford and got a Chevy 3500 dually Duramax. It hauls like a dream. Oh, by the way, too late on the "horses getting hurt." One of our expensive hunters was so badly injured he had to be retired. Good luck to anybody willing to sort through this issue. My advise: buy Chevy!