Rough ride after adding cargo carrier

[Gregorysc]

I added a cargo carrier to the rear bumper of my jayflight 28RLS . Total weight of the carrier plus cargo is around 80 pounds. If I go above 68 MPH my truck drives like the tires are out of balance. Before adding the carrier, it was a smooth ride at 75 MPH. Any ideas on how to eliminate the rough ride without getting rid of the cargo carrier?

[Camper_bob]

That seems strange to me. Have you tried to remove the carrier/weight and see if it really is that "tail weight" causing a bad ride?

I mean, there would be a reduction in tongue weight, but I wouldn't think it would make that big a difference?

If so, you may want to consider moving some other weight forward in your rig to get back to your original tongue weight, or adjust your WDH...

[Jagiven]

The bumper is way back there and can have a huge impact on your tongue weight. I recommend scale your rig, and review your documentation on your WDH as it might need some adjustments.


I recommend when ready to go on a trip, fully loaded, to run across a CAT scale.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...v-tt-3871.html

Lastly have you checked your tires? both TT and TV.

[goducks]

I doubt you lost much tongue weight. Adding 80 lbs to the rear of the TT doesn't mean you lose 80 lbs at the tongue. Most trailer axle to tongues are in the 60%/40% range.
The 28RLS looks more like %65/%35. In that case your 80 lbs added to the rear would only remove 28 lbs from the tongue.
Not sure how that would affect the ride at all.

[TaftCoach]

You are probably correct but I'm thinking of a teeter totter and thinking the further back from the fulcrum the greater the affect.

Let's say we uncoupled the trailer, it would stay in place with the tongue weight. To get the trailer to raise off we would need weight as far back as possible. Adding weight on or in front of the tires would do nothing to raise it off the ball. As we start moving the weight to the rear the affect would be greater.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

You are probably correct but I'm thinking of a teeter totter and thinking the further back from the fulcrum the greater the affect.

Let's say we uncoupled the trailer, it would stay in place with the tongue weight. To get the trailer to raise off we would need weight as far back as possible. Adding weight on or in front of the tires would do nothing to raise it off the ball. As we start moving the weight to the rear the affect would be greater.

Yes, but the axles are not in the middle of that fulcrum, they're toward the rear. Even if they were centered exactly to the length of the trailer, the most you could reduce the tongue weight (in this case) is 80 lbs. Now, granted, my trailer's tongue weight was closer to 1000 lbs, so -80 lbs I likely would not have noticed.

Since the axles are further back, the reduction in tongue weight is reduced because there's less leverage.

I'm inclined to believe there are other issues at play here, and this is mere coincidence...

My recommendation stands. Drive it with the stinger, then remove it and immediately drive it without. If it truly is the reduced tongue weight caused by the added tail weight, then the only thing you can realistically do is shift some weight forward in the trailer to get the tongue weight back to where it was. Or leave the stinger off and find a different way to transport those items.

But I have another, separate but related concern: How did you add that cargo carrier? Did you attach it to the square tube bumper? If you did, I would re-think that. Those standard tube bumpers are not meant to handle that kind of dynamic load. If it falls off (because that bumper will rip like thin tin foil), you've created a very serious problem for everyone on the road around you.

[Gregorysc]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Yes, but the axles are not in the middle of that fulcrum, they're toward the rear. Even if they were centered exactly to the length of the trailer, the most you could reduce the tongue weight (in this case) is 80 lbs. Now, granted, my trailer's tongue weight was closer to 1000 lbs, so -80 lbs I likely would not have noticed.

Since the axles are further back, the reduction in tongue weight is reduced because there's less leverage.

I'm inclined to believe there are other issues at play here, and this is mere coincidence...

My recommendation stands. Drive it with the stinger, then remove it and immediately drive it without. If it truly is the reduced tongue weight caused by the added tail weight, then the only thing you can realistically do is shift some weight forward in the trailer to get the tongue weight back to where it was. Or leave the stinger off and find a different way to transport those items.

But I have another, separate but related concern: How did you add that cargo carrier? Did you attach it to the square tube bumper? If you did, I would re-think that. Those standard tube bumpers are not meant to handle that kind of dynamic load. If it falls off (because that bumper will rip like thin tin foil), you've created a very serious problem for everyone on the road around you.

I attached the cargo carrier with a bolt on hitch receiver.
The rear bumper has been reinforced with Safety Struts. If it ever stops raining here in SC I will get weights at the Cat Scales and do some testing. I do know that the truck is smooth as silk without the trailer

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Gregorysc

I attached the cargo carrier with a bolt on hitch receiver.
The rear bumper has been reinforced with Safety Struts. If it ever stops raining here in SC I will get weights at the Cat Scales and do some testing. I do know that the truck is smooth as silk without the trailer

Yeah, you guys are getting hammered right now I bet. I grew up near Houston, and now live in S. Central TX and own property on the coast. So I TOTALLY understand tropical storms/hurricanes. So, best of luck, and stay safe!

That's good that you know with relative certainty it's not the truck. One more variable down. And I'm thankful you reinforced the bumper. That's always been a fear of mine seeing some of these rigs going down the road with stuff bolted onto that flimsy bumper. No other way to figure it all out but to add in a variable, then test, then rinse and repeat.

And here are some other considerations: When you're testing, try at different speeds and see if there is any difference, which could indicate a tire balance issue somewhere. I like to ensure my rear truck tires are at max load rated cold inflation pressure when I'm towing/hauling heavy. I also like my trailer tires to be at max sidewall pressure. A lot of tire shops will not bother balancing trailer tires, but I always request that when I'm having my trailer tires serviced or replaced.

FWIW, I'm SUPER curious the delta in tongue weight with/without the stinger.

[FISTEP]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

FWIW, I'm SUPER curious the delta in tongue weight with/without the stinger.

Just looking at the axle position, it can't be much. Less than half, for sure. Give or take 40 lbs tongue weight should not even be noticeable.

[gunafulltime]

Originally Posted by Gregorysc

I added a cargo carrier to the rear bumper of my jayflight 28RLS . Total weight of the carrier plus cargo is around 80 pounds. If I go above 68 MPH my truck drives like the tires are out of balance. Before adding the carrier, it was a smooth ride at 75 MPH. Any ideas on how to eliminate the rough ride without getting rid of the cargo carrier?

What's the make and model of your truck?

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by FISTEP

Just looking at the axle position, it can't be much. Less than half, for sure. Give or take 40 lbs tongue weight should not even be noticeable.

That's kinda what I was thinking...

[Gregorysc]

Originally Posted by gunafulltime

What's the make and model of your truck?

2019 Silverado 2500hd duramax

[TaftCoach]

Theoretically, and almost an off topic twist

It doesn't matter if the axels are in the middle. Take a thirty foot board and hang twenty feet off one side and ten off the other. If I add enough weight to the short side I could achieve a perfect balance. Not much more weight than that and I could cause the long end to raise to the sky. The further away from the balance point the greater the affect of the weight on the lever.

Again, probably not what's happening here but it was a fun dive into physics.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Gregorysc

2019 Silverado 2500hd duramax

Yes, you definitely should not notice such a slight increase/decrease in tongue weight with that truck/trailer combo.

Unless you had a really light tongue to begin with? Maybe?

With your setup, I'd be aiming for 15% of the trailer weight on the tongue, with a slightly nose down attitude. Adding 80 lbs to the tail will lighten the tongue less (likely MUCH less) than 80 lbs. If you're at 15% tongue weight, that reduction (even if 80 lbs) should not be noticeable.

OTOH, if you're a lot lower than that (like less than 10%), you could notice, but it likely would've towed terribly before you made the tongue even lighter.

I think there's another issue at play. It could be related to the stinger, but I don't think it's because of the change in tongue weight.

[Gregorysc]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Yes, you definitely should not notice such a slight increase/decrease in tongue weight with that truck/trailer combo.

Unless you had a really light tongue to begin with? Maybe?

With your setup, I'd be aiming for 15% of the trailer weight on the tongue, with a slightly nose down attitude. Adding 80 lbs to the tail will lighten the tongue less (likely MUCH less) than 80 lbs. If you're at 15% tongue weight, that reduction (even if 80 lbs) should not be noticeable.

OTOH, if you're a lot lower than that (like less than 10%), you could notice, but it likely would've towed terribly before you made the tongue even lighter.

I think there's another issue at play. It could be related to the stinger, but I don't think it's because of the change in tongue weight.

I've been recovering from covid for the last week. Symptoms started 1 day after my return from my Myrtle Beach vacation. I doubt that the addition of the cargo carrier is the reason for the rough ride. I am getting the tires on the truck rotated and rebalanced. Next I will be replacing the tires on the travel trailer. The tires on the right ride are showing cracks that I have not noticed before. After that I will go back through my WDH setup. My TT currently has a slight nose upward position which I realize is not what it should be. Should I load up everything like I'm going camping to do the WDH setup ?

I appreciate all the replies, opinions and suggestions.

Greg

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Gregorysc

I've been recovering from covid for the last week. Symptoms started 1 day after my return from my Myrtle Beach vacation. I doubt that the addition of the cargo carrier is the reason for the rough ride. I am getting the tires on the truck rotated and rebalanced. Next I will be replacing the tires on the travel trailer. The tires on the right ride are showing cracks that I have not noticed before. After that I will go back through my WDH setup. My TT currently has a slight nose upward position which I realize is not what it should be. Should I load up everything like I'm going camping to do the WDH setup ?

I appreciate all the replies, opinions and suggestions.

Greg

Yikes! Good luck with your recovery! I've had it twice, and wouldn't wish it on anyone! Got it the first time well after they declared the pandemic "over". Went 3-1/2 years without getting it when it seemed like everyone around me was getting it, then got it after it was "over". That's my luck though. FIL has it now, so we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, yes, you should have everything loaded for how you will travel when you set up the hitch, or as close to it as you can reasonably get.

And IMO, about 1" nose down is really all you need. 1" nose down is significantly better than any amount nose up in my experience.

This IMO is one of the reasons dealerships never get it right; they're not dealing with loaded weights on the day of purchase when they're setting up a customer's rig.

I have a strong feeling your tire work will solve the problem though. Re-setting the WDH will make it tow that much better.

[Jayhawk 29]

Since the axles are not centered in the running length of the camper, I am in the camp that says you would really need to add a load of weight to the rear to reduce any real tongue weight. Of course we do not know how much weight is on your hitch in the original condition. But still 80 pounds is nothing to create a vibration.

[DAT-IT]

Originally Posted by Gregorysc

I added a cargo carrier to the rear bumper of my jayflight 28RLS . Total weight of the carrier plus cargo is around 80 pounds. If I go above 68 MPH my truck drives like the tires are out of balance. Before adding the carrier, it was a smooth ride at 75 MPH. Any ideas on how to eliminate the rough ride without getting rid of the cargo carrier?

Adding a carrier would upset the wind flow of the vehicle. 68 MPH is enough to start vibration in the load. Could it be that?


Dave

[vcb]

I have a 2022 321rsts 5th wheel with hitch it has a 300 lb tonge weight . It doesn’t have a bumper I put a cargo carrier on it had at least 80lb or more no trouble.

[Gregorysc]

Took the truck in yesterday to have the tires rotated and balanced. Took the travel trailer in today for new tires. On the way there with no camping gear loaded,I had the rough ride. After new tires were installed, I had a smooth ride. At some point, I will load everything up and go for a test drive.