Bunny hopping?

Gearhead

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Messages
5,165
2024 Keystone Arcadia
Has maybe 1000 miles on it plus delivery miles from Indiana to Houston area. Only way I can think to describe it is bunny hopping.
5200# axles and self adjusting brakes.
When I apply brakes at low speed and release them, then re-apply, the truck and trailer sorta jumps up.
2018 Ram. I have the brake controller down to 3.5. I started at 7 I think.
If I’m running at highway speed it’s not so noticeable.
Any clues from the SME’s (subject matter experts in corporate speak)?
 
2024 Keystone Arcadia
Has maybe 1000 miles on it plus delivery miles from Indiana to Houston area. Only way I can think to describe it is bunny hopping.
5200# axles and self adjusting brakes.
When I apply brakes at low speed and release them, then re-apply, the truck and trailer sorta jumps up.
2018 Ram. I have the brake controller down to 3.5. I started at 7 I think.
If I’m running at highway speed it’s not so noticeable.
Any clues from the SME’s (subject matter experts in corporate speak)?

I am by no means a SME but with the year and low mileage my guess is that your hopping is from rust inside the drums.

Roger
 
Brake controller may not be setup properly, drums may be rusted. Before I head out I will get the T&T rolling slowly then manually apply the brake controller slide all the way. The trailer should bring everything to a stop quickly but not slide the wheels. Adjust accordingly. It shouldn't take much driving to clear the rust. If this doesn't work you may be going into the wheels to see what's happening.
 
2024 Keystone Arcadia
Has maybe 1000 miles on it plus delivery miles from Indiana to Houston area. Only way I can think to describe it is bunny hopping.
5200# axles and self adjusting brakes.
When I apply brakes at low speed and release them, then re-apply, the truck and trailer sorta jumps up.
2018 Ram. I have the brake controller down to 3.5. I started at 7 I think.
If I’m running at highway speed it’s not so noticeable.
Any clues from the SME’s (subject matter experts in corporate speak)?

Does your 2024 Arcadia have ABS? The brake controller may be an issue if you do not have the ABS on the trailer.

Factory brake controllers typically use pedal force measurement combined with speed to determine how much effort is applied to the trailer brakes. Sometimes if you are right at that threshold and apply the brakes a second time too soon after the first, it hasn't "reset" the sensitivity from the first press on the brakes and applies too much force for the now slower speed, making it feel like it is jerking.
 
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Integrated brake control? IIRC there was a time when Ram brake controls didn’t play nice with trailer brakes. Previous employer we had a customer that bought a new Grand Designs reflection fifth wheel. We took the hubs off twice, and he took it to the Ram dealer a couple of times. Sorry I don’t remember the final fix, but I think we put a Prodigy bc in.
 
Does your 2024 Arcadia have ABS? The brake controller may be an issue if you do not have the ABS on the trailer.

Factory brake controllers typically use pedal force measurement combined with speed to determine how much effort is applied to the trailer brakes. Sometimes if you are right at that threshold and apply the brakes a second time too soon after the first, it hasn't "reset" the sensitivity from the first press on the brakes and applies too much force for the now slower speed, making it feel like it is jerking.

No ABS that I know of. Arcadias are pretty low on the Keystone line up.
I’ll back down on the Ram controller on the next trip.
 
It looks they only started ABS on the 2025 models of the Arcadia line.

Anyway, I would see if you can document what speeds this is happening at.

It may be you just need to play with the brake controller settings. On my Ford, they say to drive at a certain mph and then squeeze the tabs on the controller and adjust setting and gain until the trailer wheels just barely start to lock up when squeezing the controller. Mine has different braking effort settings with additional finetuning ability by adjusting gain up or down. Mine is set on Medium effort and +6.5 gain and that works decent for me.

This is from the Ram manual, there is a light setting and a heavy setting and then a range of gain adjustments.

Note:
This should only be performed in a traffic free environment at speeds of approximately 20–25 mph (30–40 km/h).

Make sure the trailer brakes are in good working condition, functioning normally and properly adjusted. See your trailer dealer if necessary.

Hook up the trailer and make the electrical connections according to the trailer manufacturer's instructions.

When a trailer with electric/EOH brakes is plugged in, the trailer connected message should appear in the instrument cluster display (if the connection is not recognized by the ITBM, braking functions will not be available), the GAIN setting will illuminate and the correct type of trailer must be selected from the instrument cluster display options.

Push the UP or DOWN button on the steering wheel until “TRAILER TOW” appears on the screen.

Push the RIGHT arrow on the steering wheel to enter “TRAILER TOW”.

Push the UP or DOWN buttons until the Trailer Brake Type appears on the screen.

Push the RIGHT arrow and then push the UP or DOWN buttons until the proper Trailer Brake Type appears on the screen.

In a traffic-free environment, tow the trailer on a dry, level surface at a speed of 20–25 mph (30–40 km/h) and squeeze the manual brake control lever completely.

If the trailer wheels lockup (indicated by squealing tires), reduce the GAIN setting; if the trailer wheels turn freely, increase the GAIN setting.

Repeat steps 8 and 9 until the GAIN setting is at a point just below trailer wheel lockup. If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheel lockup may not be attainable even with the maximum GAIN setting of 10.
 
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I’m thinking I need to sit in the truck and dive into the controller.
 
I was towing a 40ft Landmark with electric over hydraulic discs.
The setting may still be on that.
Thanks!
 
It’s still on EOH, electric over hydraulic.
I can’t get to the System Setup using the up and down button. Goes through the trailer odometer, and the gain(which responds), the radio station I’m tuned to, etc.
I’ve tried it with the trailer 7 pin cord connected, not connected, no difference.
If I can’t get it I’ll take it to the Ram dealer.
 
It’s still on EOH, electric over hydraulic.
I can’t get to the System Setup using the up and down button. Goes through the trailer odometer, and the gain(which responds), the radio station I’m tuned to, etc.
I’ve tried it with the trailer 7 pin cord connected, not connected, no difference.
If I can’t get it I’ll take it to the Ram dealer.

when you get to the electric over hyd selection don’t you then switch to the right arrow and then of up and down? Then choose electric brakes instead of electric over hyd

Edit…didn’t realize it was posted above
 

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It’s still on EOH, electric over hydraulic.
I can’t get to the System Setup using the up and down button. Goes through the trailer odometer, and the gain(which responds), the radio station I’m tuned to, etc.
I’ve tried it with the trailer 7 pin cord connected, not connected, no difference.
If I can’t get it I’ll take it to the Ram dealer.

The trailer will need to be connected to the 7-way plug in order to adjust the settings. Mine has the ability to set up and select different trailers and also name them whatever you like. Mine has 4 set-up currently; Passport, Fuzion, Utility, and Cougar
 
The trailer will need to be connected to the 7-way plug in order to adjust the settings. Mine has the ability to set up and select different trailers and also name them whatever you like. Mine has 4 set-up currently; Passport, Fuzion, Utility, and Cougar
Yes, I’ve been there a couple years ago when we had discs installed on the Landmark. When I scroll up and down I don’t see the system set up page.
I’m going to try again.
You know what doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome is, I’m there.
 
Yes, I’ve been there a couple years ago when we had discs installed on the Landmark. When I scroll up and down I don’t see the system set up page.
I’m going to try again.
You know what doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome is, I’m there.

If you watch this video he shows i believe four different Ram infotainment systems and yours may be one of them
 
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Yes, I’ve been there a couple years ago when we had discs installed on the Landmark. When I scroll up and down I don’t see the system set up page.
I’m going to try again.
You know what doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome is, I’m there.

There is always the “nuclear” option: The number 1 rule in tech support; Reboot :)
 
Geez I’m stupid. It took 10 seconds using the UConnect screen.
I’m goin back and rereading where I took the wrong road to the steering wheel.
Mucho gracias.
 
Geez I’m stupid. It took 10 seconds using the UConnect screen.
I’m goin back and rereading where I took the wrong road to the steering wheel.
Mucho gracias.

I actually thought it was on the steering wheel originally myself…i just read from the 2018 manual that if you have a non touchscreen base radio then it’s all on the steering wheel…if you have a touch screen it’s on the radio…all vehicle settings…
 
3 fingers of Jim Beam.
Now onto the Bigfoot. We had a small hurricane near Houston a while back.
I have a RV car port 26x40x14 being built to cover the new Arcadia, the Louisiana mud boat, the Bigfoot, and the utility trailer. So I load up the Bigfoot to move it out of the way, opened the back door and OMG, I have a water leak, headliner all stained. Took it to a shop and they called today. Possible rafter rotted. I can’t imagine what the cost could be.
Another Jim Beam please.
 

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