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Old 09-20-2011, 02:53 PM   #1
pbahlin
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Fifth Wheel Fish Tailing

I saw something for the first time today and am curious about what may cause this. We were towing on I81 (dry pavement and no wind) at about 60 m.p.h. when we were passed by a Carriage/Cameo being pulled by an F250 going about 65. The Cameo and Ford were whipping around, fish tailing like crazy.

I've never seen a fifth wheel do this. It was so bad that tractor trailers (and myself) were backing off so as not to be near this combo.

Any ideas about what would cause this????
 
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Old 09-20-2011, 03:00 PM   #2
Champ_49
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Sounds like to me someone driving very unsafe and to fast for the circumstances to start out with. Pin weight has a lot to do with this along with many other things. As in the truck not big enough for the trailer, or the trailer not run ning level, pin box not located in the right place, someone not paying attention, or it could be many things. Another thing that it could be would be to much weight on the rear of the trailer also.

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Old 09-20-2011, 03:07 PM   #3
mhs4771
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Where abouts on I81?? Hershey RV Show was this past week, may have been one the Dealer's rigs being towed back and hooked to what ever was avalable going in the right direction. There we a LOT of rigs at the show and all need to go home somewhere. Just a thought.
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Old 09-20-2011, 03:39 PM   #4
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Sounds more like axle problem with the trailer or as mentioned the fifth wheel hitch. I don't know what else would cause swaying back and forth.
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Old 09-20-2011, 03:42 PM   #5
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It was most likely that the hitch was mounted behind the truck's rear axle instead of in front of it.
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Old 09-20-2011, 06:23 PM   #6
Carl n Susan
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Any F250 and a Cameo makes me think grossly overweight!
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Old 09-21-2011, 03:40 AM   #7
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Sounds like somebody forgot to put thier slider hitch back into the tow position.

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Old 09-21-2011, 06:21 AM   #8
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Rearward center of gravity comes to my mind. My previous travel trailer would have "the tail wag the dog" when I had a heavier motorcyle mounted on the rear bumper. when I went to a lighter motorcycle, the tail wagging went away. This is one reason I bought a Monty, I wanted the extra stabilty (and room)that the 5er offer.
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Old 09-21-2011, 12:50 PM   #9
pbahlin
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I like the slider theory the best. It just doesn't seem possible that any body would mount a hitch so far off as to cause that kind of motion. What seemed really weird to me is that the driver just kept going like he was in a normal towing situation. He was most definitely a hazard to other drivers and himself.

My rig (on a dually) is like a rock even if an 18 wheeler blows by me at 85 so I was really shocked to see that rig moving around like a TT with no weight on the pin.
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Old 09-21-2011, 01:16 PM   #10
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There is one section of I-20 between florence and Columbia SC where the tractor trailers have ruted the road and its hard to keep the rig from swaying in that area only about 3-4 miles IIRC. but most likly something else in this case.
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Old 09-22-2011, 05:51 AM   #11
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From my experience, possible contributors would be the camper is too heavy for the truck. Carriages are too heavy for an F250, perhaps a 350 or dually would be more appropriate. If the truck was a short bed it would be less stable towing a Carriage than a long bed would due to the pin weight and wheelbase. One other possibility is that the shocks in the rear were tired and they were to spongy to control the load and bounces which would create a wobble effect when bumps were hit. Having just come back from the Hershey RV show I know for a fact that the Carriages are just too heavy for an F250 so in the end, I believe it was the wrong truck for the application therefore creating what you saw.
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Old 09-22-2011, 07:12 AM   #12
SlickWillie
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Ren

Sounds like somebody forgot to put thier slider hitch back into the tow position.

I would think that is the most likely reason for the fish tailing. I've seen 3/4 ton trucks overloaded many times, and have never seen an issue handling the fifth wheel safely.
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Old 09-22-2011, 03:26 PM   #13
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I will add another maybe, tires under inflated on the truck or could be the trailer? We will never know what the answer is.
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Old 09-23-2011, 09:59 AM   #14
thor
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i agree with mlh.tires are not rated for the load he is carrying.i put a cheap set of firestones on .they were rated g but i went from rgv texas to corpis christi texas and the truck was fish tailing like crazy ,like i was pulling a tagalong trailer. went back to firestone and replaced them with transformers tires and what a difference the tires made.towed true and straight with new tires. so i say tires.
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Old 09-28-2011, 12:52 PM   #15
kingrving
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It happened to me on HWY 281 headed to San Antonio. Left Potter Creek Campground and forgot to move the slider hitch back to towing. I could feel when I got out on the hwy pulled over and fixed it.

Safe Travels Ya'll
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