Forward and Back motion while towing

[Avalov]

Hi all, looking for some help. I just purchased my first RV a few months ago. A jayco eagle 317 RLOK fifth wheel. I am getting a significant forward and backward motion while towing. I tow with a 2016 GMC 2500 HD and a Curt A20 hitch. theres no side to side motion or up and down, just a constant rocking back and forth. wondering if something could be out of alignment or maybe feed back from the electric brakes. At first we thought it might be because they put like 30 gal in the fresh water tank and it was sloshing back and forth but now all tanks are empty and it still happens. All help is appreciated in narrowing this issue down and getting rid of it.

[Screwby]

It’s called “chucking” if I’m remembering correctly. Mine does it a little bit on rougher roads but not constantly. They make cushioned King Pin Boxes for that very reason. I still have the stock non cushioned box, but my trailer doesn’t pull my F350 dually around enough to justify it yet. If I pulled it much more than I do I think it would be a good upgrade.

[Avalov]

I have the Morryde rubber pin box as well as the morryde suspension.

[RoadrunnerII]

Ditto on the cre3000on the suspension and the morryde rubber mounted kingpin. Previous trailer did not have the rubber pin box and it chucked quite a bit. This one is much better. We are using a pullrite autoslide on both trailers and both had the morryde cre3000 on the suspension so it is definitely the rubber pin box that is reducing the chucking. You
can get an air ride pin box or hitch would likely help too. We are happy with ours as is.

RoadrunnerII

[Screwby]

You’ve run all the numbers and made sure your truck isn’t overloaded? I know there was a huge difference going from my borderline capable (for the weight I was pulling) 3/4 ton to my 1 ton dually. Assuming everything is tight with your hitch and pinbox connection it sounds like the trailers weight is jerking you around.

[Avalov]

It is closer to the towing capacity but still about 20% under it. i run pretty dry and its around 11,000 lbs, the towing capacity for the truck is 14,000.

[Screwby]

I know the feeling your describing. It’s not a bounce or a sway, it’s a feeling like someone is pulling your truck back and forth front to back. I’ve even had the same feeling pulling my bumper pull TT before I upgraded as well. I’m not sure if maybe there is a way to adjust the load in the trailer. Maybe it’s nose or tail heavy, if that would even make a difference in “chucking”. If there is a CAT scale near you where you could pull onto it a couple times it would tell more how it’s all distributed. Hopefully a better CAT scale weight distribution guru will chime in soon!

[Riverman]

I'd want a one ton with that much trailer.... but, just glad I only tow 5000#.

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by Riverman

I'd want a one ton with that much trailer.... but, just glad I only tow 5000#.

Lol, when we take the 23RB it’s like it doesn’t exist back there now

[triplebvalp]

Avalov, I experience the same thing … it's called "chucking" and is part of the fifth wheel "experience" :-) Unless you are experiencing this chucking at a dangerous level, you are probably good to go. I do have the Morryde rubber pin box and cre3000 suspension that helps to reduce this affect.

[bstannard]

The Morryde pin box is the answer. We pull our 321RSTS (which is about the same trailer as your 317RLOK) with 2017 2500 DMax with no chucking. Goose neck equipment trailer (about the same weight) bangs us pretty good. Our dealer insisted we’d want the Morryde-think he was right.

[Dascro]

We have a 317 RLOK. It’s equipped with a Moryde pin box and CRE 3000 suspension. We tow it with the truck in my sig. We have no chucking. It tows pretty well. Ready to camp, no water, ours weighs in at 12,200 lbs with 2,600 lb pin weight.

[RipinSC]

Make sure you are level when hooked up. If you are slightly nose down, you will get more chucking. When my FW was perfectly level, I noticed allot of chucking. I then raised the front by lowering the king pin to the next set of holes and the chucking was gone. I raised the front only about 1 inch. You can also do the same by raising your hitch if you have enough adjustment in it.

[Avalov]

What does truck in my sig mean?

[garyp4951]

It is usually caused by slack in the FW hitch, and roads with expansion joints in them.
If it's doing it on a smooth highway, I would go scale it one axle at a time.

[Avalov]

It looks pretty level to me, I have a picture but cant see how to attach it. I do have another adjustment on the hitch, either up or down, it's in the middle right now. Also considering putting air bags on the truck so it's more level during towing as well.

[Dascro]

Originally Posted by Avalov

What does truck in my sig mean?

The truck listed in my signature line below

[videoguy]

We had a 28.5 RSTS that we towed with a 2016 Silverado 2500HD, gas engine, with a basic basic Curt e16 5th wheel hitch and we no chucking at all. Our trailer was just under 10,000 lbs loaded so slightly less than yours. We did have the Morryde suspension and pin box so that may have made the difference.

When towing, the rig was slightly nose high and the truck squatted about 2 inches. Truck was stock.

Seems like you need to tweak your setup as I don’t think that is normal and maybe add the Morryde pin box if you don't already have it.

We have upgraded our truck to a 3500HD Dmax and ordered our new rig with the Morryde upgrades in hopes of the same great towing experience. Good luck with your issue!

[SteveH]

I had the same issue, however I was using the Curt A16 5th wheel hitch and I have the MoRRyde rubber pin box as well. I replaced the Curt hitch with a another hitch that didn’t have the rubber dampening built in and no more chucking. I’m assuming the A20 is built the same way. I’m pulling a 30.5 CKTS with generator and weighs in at 11k (accurate weight as I weighed on scales with truck unhooked, 2400 lbs on pin) with a 2006 2500HD gas 6.0 with a 4L85 (I’m maxed out and then some)but as I stated problem cured by removing Curt hitch. I just got back from a trip when winds were blowing:25-30 and very smooth ride. Extremely happy now

[SteveH]

Here’s a picture of what I’m trying to describe