No Time
No Time UberDork
5/12/24 10:24 p.m.

My father has been fighting with his '21 Ram 1500 to try to get it to handle well while towing his travel trailer. The trailer is a 30 or 32 foot travel trailer with a over of approx 8k.  The ram is configured for a rating of almost 12k. 

This is a man that has drive professionally for a majority of his life hauling 28-53' box trailer, doubles, and car haulers (stinger and 5th wheel), so plenty of experience with trailers (commercial and recreational).

Initially with the Ram and current trailer he was getting pushed around by SUVs passing him, but trucks didn't cause any issues.

He's move from 1k to 1500 lb spring bars, lowered hitch ball height and things seemed good on their way to St. Augustine. He ended up replacing all 4 trailer tires after 2 blow outs in southern GA. 

Things were good overall, but on the return trip he found the truck was really moved around by the ruts on the highway requiring almost constant correction. Talking with him he was saying the truck even needs a lot of correction when empty on the highway (like going Bradenton to Tampa). 

Before he adds airbags or anything else, I suggested getting it aligned. It's a '21 Ram with under 10k on the odometer, so low mileage, but based on his description of the handling I'm thinking getting a good alignment would be the best thing to do. 

Anyone have a shops in the. Bradenton/Sarasota area they would recommend? Looking for someplace with knowledge to align it and reduce the busy handling. 
 


Ranger50
Ranger50 MegaDork
5/13/24 7:59 a.m.

I'm going to say it, but just because it says they can haul/tow "X" amount of weight that it should. Having said that, if it just started, something broke or wore out. Wandering is caster or toe related.

No Time
No Time UberDork
5/13/24 8:15 a.m.

In reply to Ranger50 :

I get that part of it, but this seems more like something not being set correctly, rather than exceeding capability. 

The trailer isn't pushing the truck around, and the busy handling isn't on all roads but is present when empty (just not as evident), indicating something other than exceeding the capacity is the place to start troubleshooting.

The trailer has about 2k miles on it, 4 new tires (2 blowouts on trip within a couple miles of each other), and visual inspection shows no broken parts.

 

Ranger50
Ranger50 MegaDork
5/13/24 9:31 a.m.

In reply to No Time :

I'm not trying to insinuate that its above the capability, but more in how the load is carried. If I put 2k# on the tongue of my 2500# loaded down trailer, I would expect something berkeleyy. Clearly the redistribution of the trailer load to the truck changed how it handled. Saying it still does it without the trailer attached, says to me at the very least, something is "broken" on the truck. Visual schimual. I almost expect an upper ball joint, loose rack, outer tierod, bad rack, bad steering shaft, broken sway bar links (both front and/or rear), front and/or rear control arm bushings, etc to have an issue and need to be checked.

No Time
No Time UberDork
5/13/24 6:55 p.m.

Agreed, something is off with the truck. Based on the low mileage and no funny noises or pulling, I figure alignment is the best place to start. 

No Time
No Time UberDork
5/15/24 6:50 a.m.

Bumping to see if anyone has any recommendations for trust shops to check alignment and adjust as necessary. 

Lof8 - Andy
Lof8 - Andy GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
5/15/24 7:46 a.m.

I've not used this shop for an alignment, but I've used them for other services and I trust that they are competent to do an alignment.

Ron's Auto 5900 53rd Ave E, Bradenton, FL 34203

No Time
No Time UberDork
5/15/24 11:11 a.m.

In reply to Lof8 - Andy :

Thank you. 

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
Ib5pyVaplK1IFoyY2apcwg03CFNUQ7bJHm5ekNIvFmBmrXFqNBLzdhhUjtDXIjod