And how do you know this? The age of the vehicle has nothing to do with how well it has been maintained.
And the OP is here asking for ideas because she is trying to fix the issue, not because she is trying to ignore it!
As you said in your opening post you “hauled mostly on back roads” and now are “on the interstate 95% of the time”
Just because your 13 year old suburban is up to pulling your rig at back road speeds does not mean it will function the same at 60-70 mph.
Sometimes it’s just time for a new (or newer) truck.
:rolleyes: Here is the eye roll emoji, click on the smile face in the top right corner of the post box, then click more smiles, you’ll find it.
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All vehicles have a life span, even well maintained vehicles.
And when the vehicle starts telling you “I can’t do this”, you take it to a qualified mechanic familiar with towing set-ups and issues, and make damn sure it’s safe to continue hauling with it.
Safe for you, safe for your horse, and safe for all the other innocent folks on the road.
You don’t slap a WDH on it and then ask the internet what to do next when that doesn’t work. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
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Without the sway bars, it’s an incomplete test.
You’ve changed the physical strain on your shocks, struts and springs.
Do it right, then update us please.
After you eat your superior attitude with rolling eyes ala mode.
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No, it’s not. It may have something starting to go, mechanically, but any bumper pull trailer of any size behind any vehicle can sway. It is inherent to the design. The shake she is feeling is likely to be tire imbalance, a mismatched setup between truck and trailer, or a known issue that is NOT dangerous. The engine isn’t struggling, the transmission isn’t overheating, it’s not failing to shift or brake. It’s shaking a bit which is COMMON with wdh setups that need tweaking.
It’s not appropriate to infer someone is doing something dangerous when they are asking the questions to understand what is going on with a new setup. Lets put down the pitchforks.
PS my truck is older than hers. With 71,000 original miles on it and not a spot of wear or rust anywhere. Want to tell me it’s at the end of it’s life and should be sent to the scrap heap?
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I have zero faith in your ability to diagnose the issue in this rig from your place behind your keyboard.
Glad your truck that you know the mileage on… and repair history of… and are driving yourself… works.
You have never seen or driven the OPs rig so you can not logically say “Mine works, so should hers”
I stand by my advise to stop looking for free advice on the web and take the rig to a qualified mechanic before hauling on the interstate again.
Or, use the F250 if they still have it and can set it up for this trailer. I think that will be cheaper than pouring money into making the old suburban interstate worthy pulling this trailer.
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I do believe OP already stated ( pg 1) that they were going to take it in if the sway bars did not help. Just looking for others experience or thoughts on what it might be. Nothing wrong with that.
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I don’t really feel the need to respond to Csaper, but to you, the truck is very well taken care of and hauls fantastic. New tires, new trans about 60k miles ago, new brakes, all the regular care as needed as my husband and I not mess around when it comes to me pulling my trailer. Any issue, it gets looked at since we also use it as our ski vehicle in the winter and drive quite a distance into the mountains Hence why we tried the sway bars when we had to delay getting a GN.
I think we both should get rid of them and drop $70k on a new F350 dually to make that poster happy.
The most hilarious part is the F250 we have? Its older than my suburban. But just like it, we have taken care of it and made repairs as necessary.
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I saw the mention of the mechanic on page one, but the OP’s response to my post did not leave me with the impression that option would be explored before more road trials were done.
I suggest those of you who think the OP’s rig road worthy put your money, and your horses, where your key board opinions are.
Go load up and drive in a close pack for a few hundred miles on the interstate at 65mph. Keep it safe yield to faster vehicles and first responders.
The OP said she is towing with an F-250. I have a 2H Featherlike BP that I tow with an F-250. When I showed up at the trailer dealer to pick it up with my truck I the asked the owner of the dealership if the truck was suitable for the job. My paraphrase, but essentially the trailer dealership, a large outfit that reps multiple brands, said it was overkill.
I have towed that trailer MULTIPLE TRIPS for 13-17 hrs at a stretch on interstate highways. NO PROBLEM. And some of this was around DC on I-95…those familiar with the area will know that is a road with heavy traffic, rude drivers and no one who does the speed limit.
I usually follow the “the pack speed”…but above 65mph, I stay in right hand lane as I don’t like to have a metal box packed with a live load at above that speed…but that is due to ME…the driver’s opinion about what is required for stopping speeds…and not any limitation based on the truck.
I don’t like to go in a pack, in close quarters, with people texting, and being distracted…I like to give myself room. I have had people gun the accelerator, pass me (on the shoulder), then pull in front on me and slow down causing me to brake hard…which is not a good ride for the animals.
I used to have a CDL…and the training they give you (basically by same company that trains FedEx and UPS drivers) is basically to give yourself “room”…it is the best way to avoid collisions.
The OP’s F-250 is plenty adequate for towing a 2H Featherlike BP. If the trailer is shaking then there is something else going on.
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Thats quite frankly, because you were being a dick. You didn’t suggest a mechanic, you told me my vehicle was inadequate without knowing ANYTHING about my truck other than its age and make.
If you read my post, I said I experienced this, and asked if anyone else had it happen. That’s it. This is a DISCUSSION forum which means we can post topics and DISCUSS them.
So please, leave this thread alone.
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There is a reason that the pairing of your suburban and the trailer doesn’t work at highway speed.
I won’t presume to diagnose it over the internet, I will just advise you to let a qualified mechanic familiar with towing set up examine the entire rig.
Responding to me is optional, responding to what your rig is telling you is vital.
This forum has rules, you should read them and folow them before you get banned.
You should re-read the thread. the OP owns an F-250 but so far tows her trailer with a 2004 suburban.
I agree that shaking indicates an issue that should be looked into. In. Real. Life. by a qualified human being.
Some how folks seem to forget that one 14 yr old suburban can’t be compared to another the same age and make. Trucks that have had excellent care and been maintained according to specs can and will have significant differences.
No two vehicles are identical twins
The same is true for trailers.
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I have read the OP’s post.
OP has an F-250.
OP has a 2H Featherlike BP.
The solution is simple. Forget the Suburban and tow the trailer with the truck.
As far as the shake with the WDH on the S’burban, that is an interesting problem. Yes, it should be looked at, but the solution for towing her trailer is to use the F250.
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I wonder which is correct, the two statements seem at odds to me.
As you recommended…read the OP’s post.
She has a BP. Plans to trade BP for GN did not happen. OP still has BP.
Got it?
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Yet it is perfectly fine for you to do this csaper58. You need to back away from the keyboard and take a long hard look in the mirror.
Since you are so knowledgeable about this issue, what do you tow and with what?
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As I said the OP needs to have the rig evaluated by a qualified mechanic who puts hands on the actual vehicle and trailer.
If you want to see what I drive send me real your name and current address and I’ll send you a photo.
The OP never said one word about NOT having a mechanic look at the vehicle.
Attachments work just just fine on this forum. Post your picture right here! Besides, I did not ask for a picture. What is your experience towing since you are so willing to judge someone else?
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