forward and backwards movement while towing

[C130]

Does it do it all of the time or any chance it does it when braking? I've had my 5th wheel jerk back and forth once or twice and it was the brake controller; it was set too high. Worst time it was raining very hard and I had to reduce the gain on the brakes but his was only when braking. I'll get it some on concrete roads with the joints in the road.

[archer75]

It's all the time.

[C130]

Well, that throws my one possible scenario out. The only other time I've gotten that feeling was on concrete roads with the joints in the road but that was with a 5th wheel. There's obviously some type of tugging motion between the truck and the trailer but I've never had this with any bumper trailer pull before. I assume it's all level and no brakes dragging?

[BOWWOW]

This sounds so familiar like the infamous Dodge Death Wobble, I had one.
Are you tires sufficient? Do they have proper air pressure? Do you have a stiff enough sidewall? Do you have a ball joint sticking? Maybe you need a sway bar or to upgrade the existing one on the truck!

[archer75]

I do have an aftermarket sway bar on the truck. No ball joint issue. Tires are fairly new LT tires. I did just up the psi but haven't had the trailer out again to test.
All level. Nothing dragging.

[BOWWOW]

What year is the truck?

[archer75]

It's a 2006

[BOWWOW]

Maybe get an alignment done, there's a lot that could go wrong in the front end too.

[sourdough]

I'm thinking the OP needs to get someone familiar with towing to pull the trailer and get their take.

The only time I've ever felt "pushing/pulling" was when I bought my last trailer and the dealer forgot to tighten the fall - it definitely pushed and pulled until I found the problem 60 miles down the road. The other time was with my 5500 lb. boat and the surge brakes on the trailer; they can give the sensation of pushing/pulling at times.

As stated this is happening ALL the time. That leads me to think it would be weight distribution and the trailer pulling up and down on the hitch as he drives along. He has looked at the trailer suspension (and will look further) and it appears OK. To me that leaves the truck. It is an 06 with x? miles and Bilstein shocks. The Titan has leaf springs if I recall. Is there something wrong with the truck suspension that would exacerbate the normal push/pull of the trailer thus letting the driver actually feel them vs being stopped by a firm suspension? Most of the time we talk about sway and ways to compensate for that. A constant push/pull from the trailer is rather unusual.

As has been said, without weights and an experienced person's opinion, we are all just shooting in the dark.

[archer75]

Truck has 38k miles. I'm not having any issues with it. I'm going to put some more weight in the trailer and test it out again next weekend. I also increased tire psi.

Trailer suspension looks fine as far as I can tell. There isn't much to it at all.

[sourdough]

What make/model trailer do you have? Make sure your truck and trailer tires are aired to the max listed on the sidewall. For weight you can also throw some sand bags or bags of concrete across the very rear of the bed of the truck to see if it helps. A scale is probably going to be your best friend if you can find one. Another thought; are you absolutely sure the WD is set correctly? The first time I used one with chain links I over adjusted it to the point that when I went over a dip crossing a street my rear tires would lose contact with the pavement. THAT did cause me to feel pushed. I sounds like yours is right but something to think about.

[archer75]

Trailer is a 2015 Keystone hideout. Model is 24bhe or something like that. The hitch is set perfectly according to the instructions. After I add more weight to test I'll set it up again.

[sourdough]

Some additional things to think about;

Does your truck have the optional towing package? Do you have 4x4 vs 4x2? Trim pkg - SE, LE,XE? Although probably not a part of the push/pull issue they might be an issue.

If you don't have the towing package you will be exceeding the max tongue weight (650-740lbs). Dry it is 720 and that will go up to well over 800lbs. You will probably exceed the max tow weight of 6500 - 7200lbs (5778 dry plus 1942 cargo). You will be very close to exceeding your GCVW which is 12,800 - 13,000 lbs. (5778 dry trlr/1942 cargo/5000-5200truck = 12920).

Towing package is better: Max. trailer weight is 9200-9500lbs vs 7720 max. for trailer. Max tongue weight is 920-940lbs. for the Titan. Ideal tongue weight is 10-15% of the trailer weight. With a 7720 trailer weight 15% would be 1158lbs - exceeding your max tongue weight allowable considerably.

http://www.nissanusa.com/pdf/techpub...owingGuide.pdf

One last thing to consider is payload which is 1549lbs for your truck. If your tongue weight is 1158 you only have 391lbs left for fuel in the truck (I think I read that their ratings were with everything empty), people, accessories, tools, toys, etc, etc. Even if you don't count fuel you will be overweight.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p.../payload33.htm

(This is as close as I could find. Couldn't find anything from a Nissan source)

Doesn't have a lot to do with your push pull I don't think but certainly may make the problem worse. Just stuff to think about. You said you had thousands of pounds of leeway initially - just wanted to point out that probably isn't the case.

[archer75]

It's a 4X4 LE. It does have the factory tow package. Trailer dry is 4520lbs and 420lbs tongue weight. Truck is rated to tow 9200lbs.

[sourdough]

Sorry. You have the 24BHWE vs the BHSWE. You will be in good shape weight wise. Filled in the gap with one too many letters

[Ken / Claudia]

I need to ask Archer, you have given out weights. Is the numbers you list from the factory or real weight you checked. The stuff in print is just a guide, think of it as the same as a printed speed of any ammo. Until you check that speed in your gun with a chronograph all you have is a guess or guide. Exactly the same with printed factory vehicle weights. We have ODOT scales free to use if you know where and how. CAT scales at truck stops will cost a few bucks. Either will work.

[wesaysoracing]

I fought this problem with a trailer once, turned out the tires were out of balance , causing the fore and aft shake

[rwmurphy15]

I sort of had the same problem. It was like riding over waves in a ocean the rocking up and down motion. Did not do it all the time but never could figure it out.