boaz
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 8
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Post by boaz on Dec 14, 2012 22:46:27 GMT -5
We just purchased a 2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200 and tow it with a 2012 Tacoma Access cab 4x4 with the I4 engine. The truck did great towing the camper. The only area of concern was when we were going over some bumps in the road it felt like the trailer was causing the truck to buck forward and back. It wasn't severe but almost like rocking us in a rocking chair.
I have a Husky weight dist. hitch and sway stabilizer on it. I don't think we have the electric brake adjusted properly yet though but we weren't braking when this would happen.
Suggestions?
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Post by joecamper on Dec 15, 2012 12:36:04 GMT -5
That was one of the reasons we eventually moved up to a 5th wheel. I always liked to refer to that action as "porpoising". You won't notice it usually except on really bumpy sections where there are quick changes in "altitude" of the bumps.
Do know that the heavier duty the tow vehicle is the less pronounced the issue.
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Post by majorloser on Dec 15, 2012 14:58:01 GMT -5
You may need the WD hitch adjusted better.
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Post by lynnmor on Dec 15, 2012 16:01:23 GMT -5
The "bucking" problem will be more pronounced with a single axle trailer.
Be sure that you have 13% to 16% of the total trailer weight on the hitch. The trailer needs to be level when weighing and when connected to the tow vehicle. You should weigh the trailer and the hitch loaded, ready to travel, but disconnected from the tow vehicle. My guess is that about 450lbs would be about right.
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Post by honeymooners on Jan 2, 2013 20:56:20 GMT -5
I had a similar issue with my Silverado and 28' KZ Sportsmen. I installed the Firestone Airbags www.jcwhitney.com/firestone-air-spring-universal/p3088858.jcwx?filterid=d2193y2012g519u0j1 and the problem went away. Worth every penny. Took about 1hr 30min to install but I am anal and routed airlines through frame and made it clean so you cannot notice the lines or fill valves. If you go this route please keep in mind to fill the bags once you are all loaded. If you fill before and then hook up to TT you can blow the bag. (EX. the bags have a max of 100psi. If you fill to 60psi empty and have a heavy tongue load you just exceeded 100psi. Hitch up first then will fill with air. I also purchased a nice little digital air gauge from Home Depot www.homedepot.com/buy/husky-tread-depth-tire-gauge-discontinued-925d-6hom.html You will want at least 5psi in the bags even when not trailering. My ride actually improved when not loaded as well. Hope this helps! |
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Post by padavis66 on Apr 9, 2013 19:30:16 GMT -5
I just bought a KZ Spree 28ft TT. I am towing with a 2012 Expedtition 5.4 V8 XLT with heavy duty towing pkg. The Exp. has a smooth soft ride under normal driving. When I hook up the TT with the weight distribution and sway control it still feel a little in the front. I called the local Ford dealer and talked about the Firestone airbags. They have never installed them but would if I could find some for the Exp. I called another local truck and trailer dealer and they could not find the airbags that would fit a 2012 Expedition. Any suggestions?
Expedition GVWR 7500 GCWR 15,000 can tow 9,200 with dist. hitch
Spree 2605 4630 unloaded
440 hitch weaight
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ijk
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 1 
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Post by ijk on May 23, 2014 12:54:17 GMT -5
Just bought a Spree Escape 200S - does anyone out there have an Equal-i-zer on the same or smaller model? TV is a jeep wrangler unlimited. Loaded TT weight is < TV capacity, and I've pulled the TT fine, but it is a little jerky and a bit light up front. Dealer included a 4 pt sway control in the quote but now says the TT is too light to make the system effective. The Equal-izer rep (Progress MFG) has two models suitable for the TT weight and dealer carries both, but to this point will not install. Any suggestions?
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Post by Nina D on Jun 2, 2014 5:58:15 GMT -5
I had the same issues with bucking while towing. I am towing a 16 RBT with a 2009 Pontiac Torrent. Have all the proper hitch things.... WD bars and Sway Bar too. I have decided to purchase a Ford F150.
My question is since I am moving to a TV with lots of tow capacity to spare, would I need to use the same hitch set up? The truck is rated at a 9800 lbs Tow Capacity and the trailer is rated at 2800 lbs full. I'm thinking I could just hook up to a regular hitch and have no need for the WD and sway bars.
Any advice would be great! Thanks!
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Post by shoestring on Jun 2, 2014 17:19:08 GMT -5
Last year we purchased a Sportsmen Classic 170....19' 9" and a GVWR of 3500. Owning a 3.9liter Dodge Dakota, I spent the extra money to have the dealer install a WD hitch w/ anti-sway bar. The V6 magnum did a good job. It worked all the time...and I mean ALL the time. Even on flat ground! It got the job done. It got pushed around a bit; especially when something bigger/heavier passed me. I am sure it would have been worse without the extra help. @ ijk...Get a second opinion....find another dealer to do the work. Plus, there are a lot of website showing how to install a WD hitch. Pretty simple if you are at all mechanically inclined. I just reconfigured mine today...hardest part....I have NO air tools. Had a friend loosen the bolts. Used all the stregnth I could muster with a 150ftlb torque wrench to get it set up, will take it back to that friend to have it tightened to the recommended 300ftlbs. @ Nina D...I just reconfigured my hitch because I bought a new RAM 1500 a few months back. I had a 4" rise on the Dakota, this new shank has a 7" drop. NO MY TRUCK IS NOT LIFTED, it is a regular cab, 8' bed, 2wd truck. These KZ trailer sit low. Did I need the EXTRA hitch. No, not really, but since I already own it (the new shank was a $157.00 modification), so why not use it. I drive trucks for a living, so I have had several conversation with "transporters" (the guys/gals who take trailers from the manufacture to dealers) while at the fuel island. Most use WD hitches even when way under their capacity because the DOT (inspectors) like to see them. Long story, longer....why not use it. Any amount of drop in the rear, will cause a bit of floating on the front. Why not eliminated it?  Anti-sway can help with any tow vehicle. |
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Post by shoestring on Jun 3, 2014 13:44:57 GMT -5
Have you ever questioned the factual truth of your own statement? I make a boo-boo in my last post. When I bought the new shank at the dealer yesterday, I did so based upon recognition of the model number I needed. Had a 63970, needed a 63971. The kid at the counter said it had a 7" drop. That simple did not sound right, even after I posted it!!!!!!!!!
CORRECTION: The old shank (63970) had a 6" rise...1 1/4" drop. The new shank is listed as having no rise, and a 5 3/4" drop. I did use up all that drop. My local shop put a 300 ftlb torque to the 3/4" bolts for me today. We are on the level, and ready for travel.
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Post by leeandsandi on Jul 22, 2014 17:06:27 GMT -5
Look up Timbren springs.com,,,,you might only have to replace your bump stops on the rear axle,,,,I did and its excellent now,,,,no air bags ,,just pull out stock rubbers and pop in the beefed up ones. Check it out.
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Post by leeandsandi on Jul 22, 2014 17:19:35 GMT -5
Look up Timbren springs.com,,,,you might only have to replace your bump stops on the rear axle,,,,I did and its excellent now,,,,no air bags ,,just pull out stock rubbers and pop in the beefed up ones. Check it out.
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Post by leeandsandi on Jul 22, 2014 17:21:08 GMT -5
I do have a Ram 1500 but it helped a lot,,,levels the truck,,,no rear sag!!!!
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Post by leeandsandi on Jul 22, 2014 17:27:10 GMT -5
I was also told,by my dealer,,Parkview Rv in Smyrna De. that using a weight dist hitch on that small of a trailer might bend the frame at the hitch. Just something to be aware of,,,I have a KZ190.
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clown
Newbie RV’er
Bear watching me hook up our E196S to the 2010 F150 with towing package
Posts: 28
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Post by clown on Aug 18, 2014 10:30:29 GMT -5
Saw several folks saying they had a vehicle with several thousand pounds towing capacity and don't need a weight distribution hitch (wdh). That is not true in many cases!!! Most receivers have 500 pound tongue weight max without a wdh but several hundred more with one. If your camper comes close to the 500, then you need the hitch so that you do not damage bearings in your rear axle of the towing vehicle, and it will help smooth out the porpoise effect as well.
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Post by Tim_6000 on Aug 18, 2014 10:58:54 GMT -5
I had the same issues with bucking while towing. I am towing a 16 RBT with a 2009 Pontiac Torrent. Have all the proper hitch things.... WD bars and Sway Bar too. I have decided to purchase a Ford F150. My question is since I am moving to a TV with lots of tow capacity to spare, would I need to use the same hitch set up? The truck is rated at a 9800 lbs Tow Capacity and the trailer is rated at 2800 lbs full. I'm thinking I could just hook up to a regular hitch and have no need for the WD and sway bars. Any advice would be great! Thanks! Im not sure if you already found this out or not. It would be advisable to keep all the same WD stuff you use. Even with a light weight trailer and increased capacity truck it won't hurt. My experience has been you just may not need the sway bar. I have an enclosed trailer i pull as well that is 2500 pounds and when i load that down it WD still helps for a more smooth ride. |
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Anti-sway can help with any tow vehicle. 