Trailer Tug and Pull

[spun07RTX]

no, the tail should not be wagging the dog

[qwepp]

Thanks for all the great comments and feedback. I will get this thing weighed over the weekend and move weight around if needed, then try premium fuel. I did fill up the tires to maximum and I will forgo the sway bar and weight distribution hitch for now to remove those variables. I will let the forum know my results.

By the way, the pull and tug sensation happens even going 5-10mph, so I don't think wind has much to do with it. If the road is perfectly smooth you won't notice it as much, but the slightest bump or imperfection in the road will get your head rocking back and forth (and not because AC/DC is on the radio)

And yes, I am new to towing, but my girlfriend towed a heavy boat for years with an F-150 and said she never noticed the tug and pull until now.

Thanks for all the great advice!

[MikeT]

Originally Posted by qwepp

...And yes, I am new to towing, but my girlfriend towed a heavy boat for years with an F-150 and said she never noticed the tug and pull until now...

Let her try towing your trailor with your Ridge; maybe it's just a loose nut between the gas pedal and the drivers seat

[OhioJeffro]

Originally Posted by MikeT

Let her try towing your trailor with your Ridge; maybe it's just a loose nut between the gas pedal and the drivers seat

Ouch! lol...

There should be a huge difference between a boat and a trailer because boats are quite aerodynamic. No matter what the speed there will be some drag inherited by essentially pulling a giant wall. It will create some resistance that you will feel no matter what you are pulling it with. I used to tow everything from a 30' camper to a 20' flat trailer with 3-4 tons of dirt loaded on it with a 3/4 ton Suburban and every trailer I ever pulled, when you first pull it you can tell its there. Spend a week driving around without taking the trailer off and you'll get to a point that you don't even feel it there. IMO, before you go too crazy making adjustments to the truck/trailer, get comfortable driving it around and make small adjustments to try and improve the ride. Even if it pulls like crap, small adjustments is how to make things better in my opinion. Most things in life should be adjusted a little at a time.

[Ahab]

You don't have enough weight on the tongue. My rig is just over 4000# wet with 418# on the tongue, no WDH (Honda doesn't recommend) and no sway control. No problems. Prodigy brake controller. As for the hunting issue, try test driving a new Silverado, it does the same thing.

[ToyTruck]

qwepp--I would tow that same trailer with a different vehicle first, to make sure that nothing is wrong with the trailer. Tongue weight and tire pressures are so important. My 3300# Hi-Lo (loaded up) tows great, but I have the trailer tires at 48# each and the Ridgeline at 34# each. Also the tongue weight on my Hi-Lo is under 300#. I towed this TT with my 02 RAM and my 07 Ridgeline, and the difference is pronounced--the RL does a much smoother job. What kind of setup did the dealer sell you?