Ride Quality while towing - help?

[Snuff]

Excuse me if this is discussed elsewhere but I searched and had no luck.

 

I am 67 and have been driving trucks my whole life.

 

I know the bouncy ride, bad shocks, etc. has been discussed a lot and a lot of people are waiting for Bilstein Shocks.

 

I have a 2019 RST z71 crew cab with standard bed. I have standard 20”

KO2’s inflated at 38 cold. I know 20” tires are not as smooth as 18’s but overall I am not unhappy with the ride.

 

I towed my 12’ utility trailer today with my Zero Turn and it rode terrible. It was rough as hell and I could feel every little bump. I check my tire pressure and they reached 41 when warmed up but that should not make the ride feel that bad?

 

I am going to check the tire pressure on my trailer but I do not think they are over inflated. I have never experienced such a crappy ride.

 

I routinely tow my Polaris 250 miles with my old 2011 z71 and this trailer and it is much smoother.The tires in my trailer are in great shape and well balanced.

 

Wondering how your towing ride is and looking for suggestions.

 

 Thanks!

 

[davester]

Did you load the ZT so it's at least slightly forward of the trailer axle, so there was good tongue weight on the hitch?

[Silverado4x4]

As Daverster  said it sounds like you almost had negative tongue weight with the mower to far back on the trailer and ever bump you hit the trailer was trying to pick up on the back of the truck giving you very little suspension travel in the rear of the truck as he said mover the mower on the trailer about a foot or more in front of the axles on the trailer. I bet the receiver and the trailer coupler was bouncing on the ball and banging on every bump.

[Snuff]

Yes - I had the ZT all the way to the front.

[davester]

maybe back the ZT on the trailer, so more weight is forward of the trailer axle?

[Snuff]

I might try that next time. My mower weighs 850 lbs. I am just asking my Polaris Crew Ranger in fir service this week so that will be a good test also.

[Z45]

They don't recommend backing a SxS onto trailer if you have windshield, it will blow out. That warning was on install instructions for WS on my RZR S 900.

 

From my experience a choppy ride is indicative of too much on the tongue. Center it over the wheels.

[Bikeman]

I'm no expert but if the load is heavy enough it may be pushing the rear springs to overload spring, which would make ride rough. Towing my camper its not to bad but is rougher

 

[bshort]

Tires are overinflated for your load.  850 mower properly on a trailer has a tongue weight of around 130.  

[aseibel]

I agree with the others about adjusting the position of the mower to get the proper tongue weight.

When I load my sled or mower on my landscape trailer, I drive up until I can tell the balance shifts forward and then just go a few more inches. I don't do any formal check of tongue weight, but I try to see if I can lift it up by hand.

 

You could also just be feeling the trailer bounce, which does not indicate a problem with your truck. Did you use the exact same trailer/hitch ball setup on previous trucks?

[Moend]

I two near the max all the time, I actually prefer the truck loaded over unloaded - I think the Z71 might have stronger suspension because I always end up having to put more tongue weight to counter act the jerkiness. but with how light is your load you would think you don't have to worry about it.

 

the first picture was my first tow with this truck - I use to put it a little further back with my 13 F-150.

[Snuff]

I thought I would report back even though I feel like a dumb ass. Bought my trailer, Polaris and ZT in 2013. I take my Polaris and ZT in for service every 50 hours. I have only changed the tires and balanced them on the trailer and never had the wheel bearings packed. I had that done yesterday and problem solved. Drove around some with empty trailer yesterday and the truck and trailer felt fine.

 

I am hauling my Polaris about 30 miles Thursday so that will be a good test.

 

Thanks to all for input but I think my truck is fine. It was a good reminder to pay more attention to my trailers.

[davester]

good stuff.  thanks for following up and posting what the issue & fix turned out to be.

[oldmann]

Try 33 pounds in your tires.