Driving & Towing 5th wheel - F-Series & SuperDuty Diesel Forums

Not Very Happy · 12-30-2011, 04:44 PM

I have a 2011 F350 SWLB 4x4 and tow a 40ft 5th wheel that weighs 14500lbs. The truck has more then enough power and gets great fuel mileage empty and towing. My problem is the truck seems to bounce while empty going down the road. The dealer has had my truck for 5 weeks total to fix the problem. A field service engineer from Ford told them to do a road force balance. They did and it still accures.
When I hook up to my 5er 1st & 2nd gear rattle your teeth out. I was told that there is so much torque that it is causing the driveshaft to wrap.
With 1000's sold someone else must have this problem.
Hitch weight is 2100lbs

DaveBen · 12-30-2011, 05:58 PM

I will address a complaint of yours. My truck bounces going down the road empty. I have stiff springs from the factory in my truck. This is the fourth truck that I have owned that bounces going down the road. It is the stiff springs that Ford puts in so you can tow a heavy load. The rest is up to you or anyone who wishes to respond.

Dave...

Dogman · 12-30-2011, 06:54 PM

My 04 F350 would kill you with the bounce while empty. But backing the air in the rear tires to 55 psi when not towing would help some. I also put a better tire on it too. If you have the tow package then theres not much more you can do. Also It's a new truck everything is going to be stiff for a bit. How many miles do you have now on it?

Stroked68 · 12-30-2011, 07:09 PM

Agreed with checking your tires. I put about 65psi in my tires when towing my heavy loads. Then when not towing, 50psi. Makes a big diff in ride quality. Our heavy trucks arnt made to ride like a Lincoln haha.

Not Very Happy · 12-30-2011, 07:17 PM

I've had a '99&'04 SD not my first rodeo. I expect the truck to ride like a truck not a caddy( I have a 05 sts also). The 04 had factory springs rode great put leveling springs on still rode fine. Ford is saying that all the new SD bounce going down the road. I find that hard to believe.

Stroked68 · 12-30-2011, 07:37 PM

Well with not very many newer superduty's out there, I personally havent read anything about having a bounce prob. Well since yer not a newb when it comes to the good ole superdutys, i'd say this is a new one on me and you.

powerboatr · 12-30-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBen

I will address a complaint of yours. My truck bounces going down the road empty. I have stiff springs from the factory in my truck. This is the fourth truck that I have owned that bounces going down the road. It is the stiff springs that Ford puts in so you can tow a heavy load. The rest is up to you or anyone who wishes to respond.

Dave...

yup
my 350 towboss killed you empty so i ran 30 lbs of air in each rear tire when i was emtpy. helped some
Ford also had a TSB for bouncing trucks at 45mph they add a big dampener on the rear frame that took some of resonance vibes down a notch

only other cure is to rip out the springs and go full air ride.

Seismic Truck · 12-30-2011, 09:31 PM

I think I have this as well (havent had my truck long, and only pulled my fifth-wheel twice). I dont have the bounce while empty though. The vibration seems to be in phase with the engine and only happens in first 2 gears. My truck is a SRW-LWB and I constantly run 70 PSI in the back and 65 in the front (20 inch wheels). I have a friend that has a 350 DRW-LWB that I'm going to email (has a friend at FORD).

About the drivehshaft wrapping, I can't imagane that is the culprit.

iracemine · 12-31-2011, 07:55 AM

I too get a bad bounce when I leave my tow pressures up when empty (65ft/70r). So I back em down to 55 when race season is over.

I would imagine you would have more axle wrap or trans shudder when pulling your 5er. My money is on a bad tire.

Not Very Happy · 12-31-2011, 08:03 AM

Ford engineer already road force balanced the tires once they are going to do it again, and adjust the body mounts.

12-30-2011, 04:44 PM	#1
Not Very Happy SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dennis Twp NJ Posts: 9 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts View Photos By: Not Very Happy	Driving & Towing 5th wheel I have a 2011 F350 SWLB 4x4 and tow a 40ft 5th wheel that weighs 14500lbs. The truck has more then enough power and gets great fuel mileage empty and towing. My problem is the truck seems to bounce while empty going down the road. The dealer has had my truck for 5 weeks total to fix the problem. A field service engineer from Ford told them to do a road force balance. They did and it still accures. When I hook up to my 5er 1st & 2nd gear rattle your teeth out. I was told that there is so much torque that it is causing the driveshaft to wrap. With 1000's sold someone else must have this problem. Hitch weight is 2100lbs

12-30-2011, 05:58 PM	#2
DaveBen SDD Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ukiah, California Posts: 7,869 Thanks: 127 Thanked 506 Times in 489 Posts	I will address a complaint of yours. My truck bounces going down the road empty. I have stiff springs from the factory in my truck. This is the fourth truck that I have owned that bounces going down the road. It is the stiff springs that Ford puts in so you can tow a heavy load. The rest is up to you or anyone who wishes to respond. Dave... __________________ 2004 F-350 Regular cab with 6.0, Torqshift, 4X4, and just about all of the rest of the options. I added Guages, Satellite Radio, Air Horns, and a coolant filter. Bilstein shocks. Battery Desulphater that really works. Installed Jimmi Jammers. Pictures here: http://community.webshots.com/user/dbennett48 Completely Stock. I had a Detroit Diesel 8V92TA in a KW dump truck in 1980. That sucker would put out 425 hp but would never out pull a CAT.

12-30-2011, 06:54 PM	#3
Dogman Dogman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: tampa,FL Posts: 1,335 Thanks: 2 Thanked 104 Times in 90 Posts	My 04 F350 would kill you with the bounce while empty. But backing the air in the rear tires to 55 psi when not towing would help some. I also put a better tire on it too. If you have the tow package then theres not much more you can do. Also It's a new truck everything is going to be stiff for a bit. How many miles do you have now on it? __________________ 2008 F-250 All stock so far...LOL 1999 Jeep TJ play toy on 32" tires custom bumpers by me

12-30-2011, 07:09 PM	#4
Stroked68 This is FORD Country Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Eudora, KS Posts: 945 Thanks: 11 Thanked 64 Times in 63 Posts View Photos By: Stroked68	Agreed with checking your tires. I put about 65psi in my tires when towing my heavy loads. Then when not towing, 50psi. Makes a big diff in ride quality. Our heavy trucks arnt made to ride like a Lincoln haha. __________________ 1999 Ford F250 Superduty 4x4 sb ext cab 7.3L DIY Intake-MBRP 4" turbo back smokers kit with dual 6" Miter stacks-Autometer UltraLite Triple pillar gauge KMC HPX SS Crossover Line-Shimmed FPR 74-75psi AIH delete-ZooDad Mod-08 rear diff cover-Harpoon mod-Hutch mod-Recon LED smoked cab lights Bed liner on bottom 1/4 of truck-Fumoto drain valve 275k and counting!

12-30-2011, 07:37 PM	#6
Stroked68 This is FORD Country Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Eudora, KS Posts: 945 Thanks: 11 Thanked 64 Times in 63 Posts View Photos By: Stroked68	Well with not very many newer superduty's out there, I personally havent read anything about having a bounce prob. Well since yer not a newb when it comes to the good ole superdutys, i'd say this is a new one on me and you. __________________ 1999 Ford F250 Superduty 4x4 sb ext cab 7.3L DIY Intake-MBRP 4" turbo back smokers kit with dual 6" Miter stacks-Autometer UltraLite Triple pillar gauge KMC HPX SS Crossover Line-Shimmed FPR 74-75psi AIH delete-ZooDad Mod-08 rear diff cover-Harpoon mod-Hutch mod-Recon LED smoked cab lights Bed liner on bottom 1/4 of truck-Fumoto drain valve 275k and counting!

12-30-2011, 07:17 PM	#5
Not Very Happy SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dennis Twp NJ Posts: 9 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts View Photos By: Not Very Happy	I've had a '99&'04 SD not my first rodeo. I expect the truck to ride like a truck not a caddy( I have a 05 sts also). The 04 had factory springs rode great put leveling springs on still rode fine. Ford is saying that all the new SD bounce going down the road. I find that hard to believe.

12-30-2011, 09:31 PM	#8
Seismic Truck SDD Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I think I have this as well (havent had my truck long, and only pulled my fifth-wheel twice). I dont have the bounce while empty though. The vibration seems to be in phase with the engine and only happens in first 2 gears. My truck is a SRW-LWB and I constantly run 70 PSI in the back and 65 in the front (20 inch wheels). I have a friend that has a 350 DRW-LWB that I'm going to email (has a friend at FORD). About the drivehshaft wrapping, I can't imagane that is the culprit.

12-31-2011, 07:55 AM	#9
iracemine black and tan Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cheese Curtain Posts: 914 Thanks: 46 Thanked 44 Times in 40 Posts	I too get a bad bounce when I leave my tow pressures up when empty (65ft/70r). So I back em down to 55 when race season is over. I would imagine you would have more axle wrap or trans shudder when pulling your 5er. My money is on a bad tire. __________________ coolant filter (dieselsite), CCV Mod (home made), 4" MBRP turbo back (dieselsite), turbo temp monitor (ISSPROdieselsite), DIY triple gauge kit (ITPdeisel), "fuel filler mod" (home made), stock 7.3 99.5' 2WD W/ more power than I need. Be green... drink kegged beer! www.micromatic.com you'll thank me

12-31-2011, 08:03 AM	#10
Not Very Happy SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dennis Twp NJ Posts: 9 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts View Photos By: Not Very Happy	Ford engineer already road force balanced the tires once they are going to do it again, and adjust the body mounts.

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