Bouncing on the freeway

[geezerbob]

I'm sure glad this discussion was a thread I thought it was just me that had a problem with some concrete roads. Give me asphalt any day.

Bob

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

There is a section of RT-81 northbound in PA outside of Hazleton that will just about destroy your kidneys with my current truck and trailer, and believe me, I have plenty of truck to handle my towing duties. It is entirely due to the spacing of the joints in the concrete and the harmonic bouncing is just terrible with my truck/trailer on that section of road. It was so bad last summer, that I actually pulled over twice to make sure that nothing was broken causing the problem.

Anyway, my point is that it there may not actually be anything wrong per say with your setup. Rather, just a combination of your tow vehicle/trailer combo and that section of roadway.

The new truck that you buy obviously may do better on that section of road, but even trucks are not immune to that issue.

Wheel base can have an effect on this too.
I had that problem on 81 Northbound Outside of Harrisburg between 83 and exit 72B where we would hop. I had to slow down to 55 to get it to ease up on the harmonics.
Since they repaved this (used concrete again) it has all but eliminated it (for now)

[wabirch]

I'll reach for a lid to the coffee on some stretches of 94 going to MI. I open the fridge slowly after a run through there.

[Tunce the traveler]

There's a streach on the 101 in Central California they call the " Wash board "

[dewey02]

I've traveled quite a bit with my Dodge 2500 pulling a 26 foot TT.
There are just some places (interstates almost exclusively) that will almost make you seasick with all the bouncing. But it is just those sections of road. So, no...likely you have not done anything wrong. It is just that harmonic bouncing effect. And with some sections of road, it doesn't even matter which speed you travel at - it may get a bit better, but there is still the bounce.

[wi-steve]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I've also spoken to a co-worker with a Dodge 2500 who says his construction trailer does the same thing on that stretch. So, hopefully this first freeway trial was not an indicator of how every freeway is going to feel.

Very good to know its not just me.