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Old 06-06-2018, 05:55 AM   #1
rrindler
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Bullet Towing Issues

We bought a used 2014 Bullet 272BHS travel trailer and from time to time the trailer seems to want to jerk from side to side. It will happen 2 or 3 times on a one hour trip for no apparent reason. I am pulling it with a 2013 F150 capable of towing 9200 lbs and I am using an Equal-I-zer hitch system. I have a bike rake on the back carrying 4 bikes but it also happens when I don't have bikes on it. Same with carrying fresh water. It happens when I have fresh water in the tank and when its empty. I usually have the firewood and other items in the bed of the truck. We have had other truck and campers in the past and never had this problem. We bought the current camper and truck at the same time so not sure if its the truck, camper or hitch system. I replaced the shocks on the truck and the mechanic recommended TL tires in the P tires that came with it. Anyone experience this before or have any thoughts or ideas. Thanks for your help.
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Old 06-06-2018, 06:57 AM   #2
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Do you check the torque bolts at the head; need to be at 65lbs. Trailer level or slightly nose down. Do you have enough tongue weight are just a few thoughts.
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Old 06-06-2018, 07:47 AM   #3
Retired Copper
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I looked up your trailer specs and I have the same model but a passport. At a little over 31 feet long. Was pulling it with a f150 and it did a pretty good job after some stiffing up. New Bilsteins 5100, and load range e tires aired to 65lbs when towing. The tires that come on the trailer although rated for the max load leave very little reserve if you load the trailer to max. I Replaced the tires with a d range. The F150 also had the trailer tow package but max tow was 7800lbs. I pull the trailer now with an E4 and a F250 and it tows really well. The truck you have can do it but at almost 30 feet that`s a lot of sail and you will get movement from time to time if the conditions are right. There will be other alone that will give you good advise and know way more than me. You have a good rv, an a great hitch and a capable truck.
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Old 06-06-2018, 09:33 AM   #4
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Occasional wobble/rattle while towing? Is there any indication of where it may be coming from? Do you have any "sequence that causes it"? Anything particular about the sound or feel?

Some guesses that may or may not be "even close" to the cause:

1. Is the trailer ball tight and secure?
2. What size coupler pin are you using? Is the receiver or hitch pin hole elongated?
3. Are the weight distribution bar brackets tight on the trailer A-frame?
4. Have you checked/regreased the wheel bearings on the trailer?
5. Are the spring shackles/bolts secure and not worn? OEM shackles have a tendency to wear the holes and elongate them.
6. Is the hitch head secure on the shank with the bolt holding the washers behind the head tight?
7. Are the trailer axle U bolts properly seated on the axle index pin and are they properly torqued?

As I said, the above are only WAG's. With no explanations other than what you posted, most anything would be a guess.
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Old 06-06-2018, 09:48 AM   #5
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Tire pressures in both truck & trailer. Trailer tires should be max as per the sidewall (or close to it) & rear of truck the same.
Also don't see any mention of a sway bar with the equalizer hitch. Some the new fangled WDH have the sway built in, but some don't, not familiar with yours.
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Old 06-06-2018, 10:43 AM   #6
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LT tires would make a difference as the P rated tires have more flex to soften the ride.
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Old 06-06-2018, 10:52 AM   #7
rrindler
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Thanks for all the input. There doesn't seem to be any sequence that causes the trailer to jerk and it will correct itself. It feels like there is a big gust of wind hitting the camper for a split second then stopping. It happens on calm and windy days. It has never happened when passing a semi or other vehicles. It seems completely random. I will check the list JRTJH recommended and double check the air pressure and load rating on the tires on the truck and camper. The sway bar is built into the equal-i-zer hitch system. Again Thanks for all the input. I appreciate it.
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Old 06-06-2018, 12:15 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rrindler View Post
...It has never happened when passing a semi or other vehicles. It seems completely random...
Does it happen as another vehicle passes you? My rig will get "pushed around" a bit when being passed by another, and I have WDH with sway bar.

Good luck with the diagnosis.
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Old 06-06-2018, 03:19 PM   #9
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Bent axle? I had a bent axle on my old Pasport and once I replaced the axle it towed better. I did not have the random swaying your are experiencing, but the trailer was generally more stable once the axle was replaced. I suggest this because your swaying is random; it could be the combination of the bent axle and particular road conditions at those random spots cause you to observe the swaying, then it disappears when the road conditions change back. Since you can't see the road conditions (subtle variations not visible) that could be triggering the swaying when the bent axle hits those conditions. Just a WAG.
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Old 06-06-2018, 04:24 PM   #10
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You've been given some good suggestions. Particularly checking the ball; I've had one installed that was about to fall off when I found it 60 miles after installation; it caused some erratic movement. Receiver on the truck. Is it solid? Check every bolt and nut of the hitch/receiver. ANY of them not being torqued correctly can let the part suddenly shift under stress. Another thought would be axle/alignment. I once had a single axle BBQ trailer, about 4000 lbs. as I recall, it was custom built. Driving down the highway the trailer always wanted to pull to one side and after a while would just "jump" back to center and start again. The axle wasn't centered as I recall. This wasn't random though, it repeated constantly.

Your situation sounds like a loose or broken component.
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Old 06-07-2018, 04:38 AM   #11
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Make sure to check the set screw at the base of the hitch head. This needs to be checked and tightened each time you tow. I dealt with a "bucking bronco" style ride for the first year using the Equalizer set up before re-reading the manual and coming across the set screw instructions. Now it is rock solid and works great.
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Old 06-07-2018, 10:31 AM   #12
rrindler
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Camper is the dealership now getting some other work done. I review all these items with them when I pick it up and see if we can find an answer. I was talking to a coworker and he mentioned it could be the camper tires. He said it sounds like I have bias tires on the camper. Not familiar with bias tires but he said they like to follow grooves in the road and it could cause the camper to kick to one side or the other to get in the groove. Thanks for all the help. Hope to have a resolution soon.
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Old 06-07-2018, 11:50 AM   #13
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Well what ever type of tire you have on the trailer check out the date codes. If they are the ones that came on it, it is time to change them. Likely they are in the 5 years old range which is time to change them out due to rot, mileage on them does not mean much, they rot due to age. Trust all of us on this, 5 years old tires you are on borrowed time before a blow out. The dealer should be able to show and explain the built date codes and why they need changed.
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Old 06-14-2018, 09:24 AM   #14
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I have a friend who had about the same configuration. 2015 Ford F-150 ecoboost 4x4. Rated st 12500 lbs. was pulling a 31 foot trailer rated at 7000 lbs. He said it was so bad towing he got rid of the trailer and bought a motorhome. He is able to tow the truck with the motorhome.
Dealer told him do not believe the Ford Tow rating on the f150. He said the aluminum truck was too light to pull the trailer he had. I have a Bullet Premier 19FBPR 26’ and towe it with a Toyota Platinum Tundra 4x4. But then again my Tundra is equinellent to a 3/4 ton truck. Mine is rated at 8800. Lbs.
If the pulling to one side is intermittent then check the electric breaks. You may have one side coming on.
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Old 07-07-2018, 03:53 AM   #15
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The built in sway bar, is it a separate bar from the leveling system? If not this might be your problem.

Also as others have stated, D or E tires on the trailer and E tires on your truck all with the right pressure, will tighten things up some
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Old 07-07-2018, 04:24 AM   #16
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I have the same truck and trailer the only difference is I run a different hitch, I have no issues towing your truck is more than capable of towing that trailer with your set up. My recommendation would be to check the the bushings on the springs / shackles and equalizer on the trailer you would probably find that the bushings are worn, I would upgrade them to a wet bolt system. Just my 2 cents keep us posted.
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