Rocking Horse RV

[Pam Garlow]

I've noticed that when I tow, my trailer will 'rock' forward and back after I hit a bump. It just does it a few times and then stops. I feel it as a 'push/pull' motion. It doesn't appear to be swaying side to side, and the motion doesn't last more than a few 'rocks'. I try to balance my load with the heavies (coolers) over the axle, but now I'm wondering if I need to move them forward, to get a little more tongue weight?
I need some input from all you towing experts. Do I need to invest in a non-digital scale and check the weight on my tongue?

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Pam Garlow

I try to balance my load with the heavies (coolers) over the axle, but now I'm wondering if I need to move them forward, to get a little more tongue weight?

I'd try that 1st. Also, do you tow with your water tank full? The back-and-forth sloshing in a water tank might also produce this effect...

[Andy B]

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

I'd try that 1st. Also, do you tow with your water tank full? The back-and-forth sloshing in a water tank might also produce this effect...

Good idea, but half full would slosh more than full and it could be true for the gray water tank too.

Another thing to check would be the shocks on your tow vehicle.

[Pam Garlow]

New tow vehicle, so that's not it. Water tank is usually 2/3 full when towing. It's empty now, so I'll see if I still have the problem when I take it into the RV place for some work in a few weeks.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Pam Garlow

New tow vehicle, so that's not it. Water tank is usually 2/3 full when towing. It's empty now, so I'll see if I still have the problem when I take it into the RV place for some work in a few weeks.

A short wheel base tow vehicle will give that feeling. I doubt it's really rocking forward and back more likely the rear of tow vehicle is bouncing up and down giving that forward and back sensation. Some of that is to be expected, and will be worse the shorter the wheel base of tow vehicle and the condition of the tow vehicle's rear shocks.

[Loren G. Hedahl]

I usually tow with a diesel Blazer, a very short wheel-base vehicle. Everything was OK until we got to the Gulf Coast in Texas, when the bouncing started.

It turned out that one of the rear shocks on the Blazer had leaked and was not doing its job. A new pair of rear shocks fixed the problem.

[Pam Garlow]

My Tow Vehicle is a 2011, less than 7months old. No shock problems. I'll have to see what the trailer's tongue weight is, maybe that's the problem

[james kent]

How large is your water tank? If it's 20 gal and at the rear like mine you could be hauling about 120-150# of water which will offset your tongue weight quite a bit. Try towing with an empty tank and then fill up at the camp filling station. That might even increase your gas mileage a bit as well.

[RSchleder]

You may have a 2011 tow vehicle, however, if the spring/shock combination cannot handle the additional weight of the travel trailer you're in for bounce! You may be a good candidate for a set of air adjustable shocks, they work really well when you need to "beef up" the rear suspension capability.