Poor ride quality

[dave737]

I am looking for some suggestions to improve ride quality. My setup: 2019 Chevy 3500 DRW LB. Curt A20 hitch. 2017 36 RL with tri glide pin box. sailun 215/75/17.5 set at 90 psi cold. 110 psi towing. RW weighs 15500#, pin weight 3200#
I am mainly getting my poor ride on overpass expansion joints, which seem to be every mile. Its better if i slow down from 65 to 55 mph. A little for to aft chucking, but mostly up and down motion. My truck is just barely touching the overload springs when hitched. Trying to figure out if air bags or Sumosprings will help. Is it a truck or 5th wheel problem?

[Ford truck guy]

I (and many others) found that changing the Redwoods suspension to the Morryde Independent Suspension took care of Most, if not all of that.

Even if you cannot afford that, by upgrading to their Morryde sre4000 was a great upgrade... What is your suspension now?

[piper guy]

When we first started with our RL and Dually, I almost went back to the dealer after the drive home and said “ get me the hell out of this thing and into a DP”. Tracy and I hated the ride that badly and I would watch her see a bridge coming and see the hand going for the grab handle which I knew would be followed by some (sometimes violent) up and down motions. Usually followed by not repeatable words .......

I did a lot of research, talked to a lot of people. This condition varies tremendously from rig to rig. The following is what I’ve done to ours, you may not need as much. Tracy likes to read her iPad and occasionally nap as we travel, so I went for the best ride and handling possible. The end result is that our rig is very comfortable. Unless we hit something REALLY BAD, it is just a minor inconvenience when going over a bridge or in a rough road. If you are familiar with Gulf or East Coast, we consider I-10 around New Orleans Or I-95 through South Carolina as minor inconveniences. I know others would say differently.

So- here goes with what’s been done to our truck and trailer -

Truck is a 2013 F350 Dually with the Max Tow option. Essentially this is 450 running gear and GCWR but not rated as a medium duty.
Stuff added -

Airlift 5000 airbags with onboard compressor and wireless remote
Helwig BigWig heavy duty sway bars front and back
Bilstein 4600 series shock absorbers
Bilstein 5100 series steering stabilizer
Comfort Ride Hitch 245 series cushioned hitch
Innovative Diesel tow tuning
K&N air intake system

36RL Coach

MorRyde IS suspension system ( done 7 years ago)
Kodiak disc brakes
MorRyde pinbox
Sailun 17.5 H rated tires

With all of the above mods, Tracy very seldom puts her iPad down, very seldom reaches for the grab handle, and overall “feel” of the rig is tight and great handling. Very little moves around in the coach and in fact the toaster oven and coffee maker isn’t even taken off the counter above the stove. Braking is fantastic, I can stop the whole rig including the car almost as short as the truck itself (car has an onboard progressive braking system ).

In your case, I would get rid of the Triglide pinbox as it’s a mess waiting to happen. At that point, go to either a MorRyde pinbox and a cushioned hitch like Michelle and I have, or if you want to stay with a cushioned pinbox, go to a Flex Air and then a B&W hitch.
Just my .02

[piper guy]

This is ours

[dave737]

I have the OEM suspension on RW. Not looking to dump a bunch of money in the camper at this time. Probably do the morryde I/S in 5 years or so. For now, I was just wondering if you guys thought my truck may be bouncing on the overload springs or bump stop. This trucks payload is around 4900# i think. We probably have 3500-3800 of weight on the truck. 3200 pin. cargo and pax 400-600.

[travelin' texans]

My '13 GMC was just barely touching the overloads when hitched up which in my opinion was the problem, once it made contact it was like a catapult with every expansion joint.
I added Timbrens, very similar to the Sumo Springs, which helped a bit, but wish I'd of went with the air bags with onboard compressor, I cheaped out, so I could've adjusted while traveling to keep it further off the overloads.
My '05 GMC I removed the stops for the overloads which was a great improvement, they weren't needed as just like the '13 it just almost touched them loaded. The '13 I was unable to do that for some reason I don't recall now.

[GTXRAS]

I used to have an 04 3500 SW Ram and a 40 foot race trailer. The overloads would just hover below the pads and make the ride bouncy. I got 2.5 inch poly bump stops from a 4WD store and replaced the pads. The truck than set down on the overloads and made for a better ride. Course I had to take them off when the race season was over. Overloads would touch when not towing.

Rick

[dave737]

I was thinking of going cheap with the summo springs. Just to provide a little cushion for the up and down motion. i guess a better question would be: Do you guys with I/S think the truck air bags are necessary? If so, will it increase my ride height on the RW?

[xtasee]

I had the same issue and agree with Danny 100%. installed the airbags with the onboard compressor and remote control. The ability to adjust on long trips makes the remote worth it. The airbag also stabilizes along with dampening the bounce.

I also have the airbag on the hitch...

[dave737]

Thanks for the help everyone. Once again, I pirated another persons post. As the Traveling Texans were privy too. Sounds like this ride issue is a common problem for a lot of folks. Once again, the advice on this forum far surpasses a Camping World! I will go with the Airlift 5000 with the compressor and remote. Do it right the first time, or spend twice as much fixing it later. (Speaking from experience

[mhs4771]

I would highly recommend that you dump the Tri-Glide before it comes apart and leaves you stranded. After all Lippert took them off the market for a reason, and brands like DRV went back to the MORryde pin box after the Tri-Glides started coming apart.

[travelin' texans]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

I would highly recommend that you dump the Tri-Glide before it comes apart and leaves you stranded. After all Lippert took them off the market for a reason, and brands like DRV went back to the MORryde pin box after the Tri-Glides started coming apart.

I agree!
If I recall Lippert will work with you on a replacement, either the Flex Air or the RotoFlex if you contact them.

[markw]

I installed Air Lift bags on my 08. I have about 3300 on the pin. They helped a lot with expansion joints. I only use about 35#.
Mark

[RWJSIM2003]

Here is the list or Upgrades I have done to smooth out the ride in our 38RL. Keep in mind we are not full times so I did not want to spend the money for the I/S. We also run very light since we are not F/T. We have pulled our approx 10000 miles since new.

Truck 2018 F350 SRW.
Airlift 5000 with onboard compressor and wireless remote
Hellwig swaybars front and back

Trailer 2015 RL38
17.5" Tires and Rims Goodyear H
Moryde SRE4000 with x cross bars
Heavy duty Shackles and bushings
Flex air pin box

Our ride is much better since the SRE was added and Airbags. I still want to add the disk brakes but just had all new drums and assembly's added after RV Tech over tightened our bearings and we almost lost a tire. So they had to replace all the Pc's on their dime.

[dave737]

How much do the airlift 5000 bags raise the rear of the truck while towing? 1 or 2 inches? I am pretty level towing now, just don't want to create another problem for myself. Thanks.

[travelin' texans]

Originally Posted by dave737

How much do the airlift 5000 bags raise the rear of the truck while towing? 1 or 2 inches? I am pretty level towing now, just don't want to create another problem for myself. Thanks.

All depends on how much air you put in them.
If you air up to their max of 100 psi you could probably stand your truck on it's nose, but would ride like a buckboard.
You would have to play around with what pressures work for your particular setup, which is why you need the onboard compressor, typically just enough to keep it off the overloads.

[markw]

The more pressure you run the higher it will raise. That's why I don't go above 30-35#. You just need enough to help absorb the jolts from the expansion joints.
Mark

[RWJSIM2003]

there was no rise in height when installed with only 5lbs in the bags. You don't have to work about any air in the bags as they have bumper inside unlike older versions. We run 25-30 lbs when towing ride is very comfortable. I added a quick connect at the back of the Truck so I can use the compressor to fill Flex Air bag on trailer pin box.

[dave737]

Ok, Thanks. How did you rig up your quick connect for the flex air? Carry a small hose and hook up and fill airbag?

[RWJSIM2003]

Yes, and I have a small tank mounted underneath above spare tire that compressor keeps 80psi . I put the quick connection right next to lic plate in bumper steps. I use coil hose to add air pin box from there.