Dealing with road heave with a WDH

[FlyingAroundRV]

Normally, our rig travels just fine. However, if we get on a stretch of road with a bit of heave (usually concrete) the springiness (is that even a word?) in the WDH bars sets up a bounce that gives us “shaken baby syndrome”.
Any ideas how to tame this?
We have a 2015 F250 dual cab gasser, 2wd, a Husky centerline hitch on an Outback 272UFL.
TIA.

[sourdough]

LOL! Scott sounds like you experienced I20 across LA! I know there are other highways as bad I'm sure though.

I don't know if those are frost heaves on those concrete high ways, concrete warping?, expansion joints expanding or ?? but I hate those things. My first trip across those in LA DW and I both thought we would rhythmically bash our heads in on the roof of the truck even with out belts cinched down; puppy seemed to be in the air 1/2 the time. What to do about it....

Our first trip was with a 1/2 ton 4x4 swb truck...overloaded by 200lbs. and it was horrific. I ended up driving 45 mph with everyone else flying by at 75/80. Even then it tore off our bathroom door/facia, slide facia and broke the sliding closet door hardware. Next trip with air bags, HD shocks and HD anti sway bar was better but no picnic. Next trip was with a 3/4 ton HD truck and it was better still. Last trip before new trailer (5th wheel) was with the HD 1 ton I have now and was even better. On none of the trips was it eliminated, only incrementally improved. 5th wheel is still uncomfortable.

Back to your question; I don't really have an answer other than from my experience the stiffer I made the truck the better the ride across that highway anomaly. I think there is a point where the stiffness becomes more of a liability than benefit because I don't think you will ever make those heaves comfortable. Others will have their ideas I'm sure.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by sourdough

LOL! Scott sounds like you experienced I20 across LA! I know there are other highways as bad I'm sure though.

I don't know if those are frost heaves on those concrete high ways, concrete warping?, expansion joints expanding or ?? but I hate those things. My first trip across those in LA DW and I both thought we would rhythmically bash our heads in on the roof of the truck even with out belts cinched down; puppy seemed to be in the air 1/2 the time. What to do about it....

Our first trip was with a 1/2 ton 4x4 swb truck...overloaded by 200lbs. and it was horrific. I ended up driving 45 mph with everyone else flying by at 75/80. Even then it tore off our bathroom door/facia, slide facia and broke the sliding closet door hardware. Next trip with air bags, HD shocks and HD anti sway bar was better but no picnic. Next trip was with a 3/4 ton HD truck and it was better still. Last trip before new trailer (5th wheel) was with the HD 1 ton I have now and was even better. On none of the trips was it eliminated, only incrementally improved. 5th wheel is still uncomfortable.

Back to your question; I don't really have an answer other than from my experience the stiffer I made the truck the better the ride across that highway anomaly. I think there is a point where the stiffness becomes more of a liability than benefit because I don't think you will ever make those heaves comfortable. Others will have their ideas I'm sure.

Last time across the whole of IH20 across La. was when I bought a Goldwing trike from a guy in Tennessee. Wife and I went to get it (flew in/drive home). Those expansion joints actually tossed the trike airborne a couple times. Never gave it a thought but the guy we bought it from was a real big boy and he had the air suspension cranked to the max. First stop and I figured it out and lowered the air suspension to a normal range and while the ride was better, IH20 still was terrible. Too stiff really wasn't the answer.

[travelin texans]

Our 1st trip across I-20 back in '08 with our 38' '02 Cedar Creek 5er that had the old style big boxy TV strapped down to a counter top in a cubby. We stopped for the day, DW opened the rv door & said "OH S###!", I looked inside to see that big ole TV hanging by the cable & cord with the counter top still attached. I always dreaded the trip to Florida only because we had to travel across Louisiana somewhere & none of the roads are any better than others.
Also heading north from just east of Lake Charles, I think it's 65 towards Kinder, we always stayed at Coushatta Casinos rv park, then headed on north through a small town with a 11'?" overpass, so if traveling that way be very cautious, it is marked beforehand but not very well.

[FlyingAroundRV]

I've done the I20 across LA a few times and it's no picnic.
But this was a stretch of I81 in PA. It was worse than I remember I20 ever being.
But yeah, I know if I slow down it improves. But it stretches the travelling day and it's a) embarassing and b) dangerous having traffic rushing up at you from behind at anything up to 40 MPH closing speed.
But those concrete slabs with the offset joints are a real pain in the neck!

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Our 1st trip across I-20 back in '08 with our 38' '02 Cedar Creek 5er that had the old style big boxy TV strapped down to a counter top in a cubby. We stopped for the day, DW opened the rv door & said "OH S###!", I looked inside to see that big ole TV hanging by the cable & cord with the counter top still attached. I always dreaded the trip to Florida only because we had to travel across Louisiana somewhere & none of the roads are any better than others.
Also heading north from just east of Lake Charles, I think it's 65 towards Kinder, we always stayed at Coushatta Casinos rv park, then headed on north through a small town with a 11'?" overpass, so if traveling that way be very cautious, it is marked beforehand but not very well.

Every time I have pulled a trailer across IH10 in La. I have had blow outs. I suspect that is the road you left un-named. IH10 is not very much fun.