Max Tow Package bounces with light trailer

dsatwork · August 4, 2018

We just finished a 3,500 mile trip from San Diego to Bellingham to Spokane and back down through Oregon and Northern California, over freeways and two lane highways in and out of state parks on less than smooth road conditions. We were towing a less than 3000# trailer with just over 300# tongue weight with my new to me 2015 Silverado 1500 with the hard to find Max Tow Packages. I chose the Max Tow Package so I would have the 11,200# tow capacity for our Airstream trailer we live in and plan to travel with in a few years.

I was expecting the suspension to be very stiff, considering I have the Max Tow Package. However, from the very beginning the truck would bounce from front to back every time we encountered any bumps in the road. It never bounced to the point where it felt like it would go out of control but it was annoying at best. So much so, I ordered Timbren Rear Suspension System which I installed at the state park with the few tools I carry on the road. It eliminated most of the front to back bounce, but it does still bounce and when it hits, it settles down much quicker.

But it still is bouncier than I would like.

TGMRTT15S

Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System

I plan on pulling an Airstream trailer with more tongue weight and at least twice as heavy. Of course I'll have weight distribution which will help spread the load over the front and back axles. My question is, will the 700+# tongue weight and heavier trailer help the situation or make it worse? If so, what other rear suspension mods should I consider, better shocks, airbags instead of the Timbrens? Any suggestions or advice will be appreciated.

Roscopcoletrain · August 4, 2018

Hmm, I find my Max trailering to bounce very little, and when it does, it recovers very quickly compared to my 09 I had.

I would try it as is, then add stuff. It may tow fine with more tongue weight.

dsatwork · August 4, 2018

2 minutes ago, Roscopcoletrain said:

Hmm, I find my Max trailering to bounce very little, and when it does, it recovers very quickly compared to my 09 I had.

I would try it as is, then add stuff. It may tow fine with more tongue weight.

That's what I was thinking too, but I did see where one guy added timbrens, but I don't remember if he had the Max Tow Package. The bounciness does make me wonder if the previous owner tuned down the Max Tow Package.

Roscopcoletrain · August 4, 2018

Does it say nht in the glove box in the rpo codes? That would tell you if it has it.

dsatwork · August 4, 2018

1 hour ago, Roscopcoletrain said:

Does it say nht in the glove box in the rpo codes? That would tell you if it has it.

Yep I made them send me the a pic of the rpo codes from the glove box.

NHT code is the code for the Max Trailering Package. And the GT4 code is the code for 3:73 axle ratios.

Roscopcoletrain · August 4, 2018

41 minutes ago, dsatwork said:

Yep I made them send me the a pic of the rpo codes from the glove box.

NHT code is the code for the Max Trailering Package. And the GT4 code is the code for 3:73 axle ratios.

???

Dnt · August 4, 2018

Might not be a truck issue, might be a trailer issue?. Lets get this truck hooked up to another trailer and do some testing. We are constantly pulling trailers of every shape and size at work and believe me the guys know which ones they want to pull. Some will beat you and the truck to death out on the road for no apparent reason just something about the way they are built..

michigan2500hd · August 5, 2018

Mine had a bit of bounce too.. More than I thought a NHT would have. I installed Bilstein 5100's in the rear, ( actually all the way around) and that took away most of it. However the ride was a bit stiffer so I went back to stock in the rear. It's either bounce or stiffness.

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dsatwork · August 5, 2018

35 minutes ago, michigan2500hd said:

Mine had a bit of bounce too.. More than I thought a NHT would have. I installed Bilstein 5100's in the rear, ( actually all the way around) and that took away most of it. However the ride was a bit stiffer so I went back to stock in the rear. It's either bounce or stiffness.

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Well I plan to pull the Airstream in a couple of weeks, we'll see how it goes with more weight and a weight distribution hitch... thanks for the feedback.

Jon A · August 5, 2018

Light trailers, especially if empty or lightly loaded, can definitely ride "rough." They tend to bounce around a lot over rough pavement. Also you have so little tongue weight, while this bouncing around occurs you can have the tongue weight going from positive to negative (tongue pushing down, then pulling up on the hitch). When this happens, any slop you have in the system, from the coupler on the ball, to the ball mount in the hitch, etc, provides extra play and can exaggerate the movement sometimes along with some banging and clunking.

None of that means there's anything wrong with the truck, it's just sort of the way things are so I wouldn't be too worried. I'm sure your truck will do fine with the heavier trailer.

To make towing lighter/empty trailers more pleasant, keep in mind you really don't need to stick to the 10% tongue weight rule so strictly. Don't be afraid to throw a few sand bags or something on the front of the trailer as a little extra tongue weight isn't going to hurt anything and might help settle the trailer down a bit.

Sierra Dan · August 6, 2018

How many miles are on your truck?

Maybe it is time for a new set of rear shocks being that your Silverado is used?

Silverado-Hareek · August 6, 2018

21 minutes ago, Sierra Dan said:

How many miles are on your truck?

Maybe it is time for a new set of rear shocks being that your Silverado is used?

I was going to say the same thing. I'm not sure about the Max Tow package features, but if you have the white Rancho Shocks, I guarantee they were shot at around 30,000 miles. The black Tenneco shocks tend to last a little longer until around the 50,000 mark in my experience.

EDIT: I just looked it up and found out Tenneco owns Rancho! I had no idea. I guess the black shocks are Monroe's then, also owned by Tenneco. Either way I've never been impressed with Rancho shocks.

redwngr · August 6, 2018

Been awhile since I looked at the NHT spring package.

Does it include springs that don't get used when the load is low?

If so, might explain the apparent softness with a very light trailer.

aseibel · August 6, 2018

My truck handles #300 lbs like nothing without the NHT, so I can't believe that tongue weight caused you any issues.

I have tried the Rear Timbrens for a couple months and hated them. I never compressed the suspension enough to constantly load them, so instead, whenever I hit a medium bump in the road, it would "bottom out" and bounce off the new bumper. That was more annoying than a little sag would be when towing, since I drive most of the time with an empty bed.

Anyway, I agree with Jon A, you should check out the trailer and your hitch components for slop, try loading the trailer differently. I can't believe there is anything with your truck causing the problems.

Krusty · August 7, 2018

Most def you want the weight distributing hitch when you get a real trailer with tongue weight behind it. As for the little tongue weight trailer - I towed a car on a trailer loaded with little tongue weight and could not go over 50mph without the trailer swaying - thank goodness for the dash lever to actuate trailer brakes. Modified the trailer to get the load further forward. Return trip the sky was the limit - towed great at any speed with more tongue weight.