What are you guys towing?

[P. A. Schilke]

The only excessive bouncing I see is when the waves in the road (usually on concrete as opposed to asphalt) match the distance between the axles of the truck and trailer. So it creates a sort of natural frequency affect, which is not dangerous with the size of my trailer but can be quite annoying and hard to get out of.

Hi Matt,

We call the condition you describe as California Freeway Hop. It is the slight potatochiping of individual slabs of concrete being the excitation source. At certain speeds with certain wheelbases you get this vehicle head bobbing. Modern pavement milling techniques have minimized this in the USA, but not all roads. You are also correct that it is hard to stop once the excitation starts unless you can slow way down or speed way up which many times traffic will not permit.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

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[Big Blue]

The only excessive bouncing I see is when the waves in the road (usually on concrete as opposed to asphalt) match the distance between the axles of the truck and trailer. So it creates a sort of natural frequency affect, which is not dangerous with the size of my trailer but can be quite annoying and hard to get out of.

I agree, I pull an Forest River R Pod with my Ranger with a WDH and mostly see it on concrete paved highways. Sometimes a speed change helps sometimes not. Some roads can be really annoying if you can't avoid traveling them.

Need to get my RV out of storage then I'll post pictures. All I have is pictures with my 2012 ranger XLT, which was a bit marginal pulling it with the SOHC V6. Weighs about 3500#, new Ranger hardly knows it's there.

 

[t4thfavor]

So it happened... pulled it an hour home with no trouble at all. 2019 passport 2920bh 5385# dry. Pulled perfectly, a little bounce over bad road bumps.

 

[aslusers]

Gang, I installed some Timbren active bump stops this week and did my first tow today.... Worth every penny, truck doesn't sag near as much, wind induced sway is nearly eliminated and all in all, the truck pulls so much better! Highly recommend to any Ranger owners who tow!

Where did you get this Timbren active bump stops? Would you please send me a link? Did you install yourself or hire someone else?

 

[aslusers]

We just bought a No Boundaries travel trailer and our 2019 Lariat towed it like a pro. There was some grunting on the steepest part of our drive over the pass but we didn't loose speed. The Nobo is 25ft long and weighs 4100# dry. We used an E2 weight distribution hitch and a prodigy wireless brake controller. We kept the speed between 55-60mph and averaged 11.8mpg.

We used to own No Bo 10.6 trailer and love it. Love your trailer, especially two axles!

 

[aslusers]

We just bought her and our family of 3 is going full time RV life!
2020 Grand Design Transcend 247BH
29'11" in length
5,463 lbs Dry Weight
546 lbs tongue weight
Eaz-Lift Trekker weight distribution hitch
Drove back from Sanford, Fl. to Gilbert, Az. No issues except when a storm with high cross winds started. Very pleased.

Beautiful truck and trailer! Enjoy your traveling! Keep us posted on your journey!

 

[zachattack54]

Where did you get this Timbren active bump stops? Would you please send me a link? Did you install yourself or hire someone else?

Just search Timbren bump stops on e-trailer.com. they replace the factory bump stops and are super easy to install. E trailer has videos and install instructions. Worth every penny. Truck tows like a champ now!! Just did a 450km tow truck with them, and it's an unbelievable difference.

 

[Texasota]

Just search Timbren bump stops on e-trailer.com. they replace the factory bump stops and are super easy to install. E trailer has videos and install instructions. Worth every penny. Truck tows like a champ now!! Just did a 450km tow truck with them, and it's an unbelievable difference.

I'm not following how these make such a big difference while towing. Maybe I don't understand how bump stops work? I thought they provide a stop when the leaf springs reach their maximum point of compression.

 

[aslusers]

Just search Timbren bump stops on e-trailer.com. they replace the factory bump stops and are super easy to install. E trailer has videos and install instructions. Worth every penny. Truck tows like a champ now!! Just did a 450km tow truck with them, and it's an unbelievable difference.

Thank you! Will view the video and the website.

 

[t4thfavor]

I'm not following how these make such a big difference while towing. Maybe I don't understand how bump stops work? I thought they provide a stop when the leaf springs reach their maximum point of compression.

On the ranger, the bump stops are part of the suspension system, so these are just better ones is my guess.

 

[mtbikernate]

First tow of the Hiker Trailer this past week just shy of 400mi to SC.

0615201313 by Nate, on Flickr

Ranger handled it awesome. Spent most of my time in the 60-65mph range with a couple pretty steep grades thrown in. Averaged around 20mpg for the trip, which included some ugly stop and go traffic in a construction zone on I-26. Loaded weight for the trailer is around 1400lbs without the canoe.

Carrying the canoe on the trailer for now, since I don't have a bed rack on the Ranger yet.

I guess I could afford a little more drop on my ball mount, too, for that matter.

 

[Big Blue]

Not my first tow but just got it out of storage today. Finally getting it ready for summer.

My 2012 was a bit marginal pulling it. The reason I got the new Ranger! The new one hardly knows it's there. Using a Husky Centerline WDH and Redarc TBC, it pulls solid as a rock. A little bouncy on some concrete pavement, but what one isn't?

 

[aslusers]

Not my first tow but just got it out of storage today. Finally getting it ready for summer.

My 2012 was a bit marginal pulling it. The reason I got the new Ranger! The new one hardly knows it's there. Using a Husky Centerline WDH and Redarc TBC, it pulls solid as a rock. A little bouncy on some concrete pavement, but what one isn't?

Your blue truck is so beautiful! Your R-Pod trailer is even more cool!

 

[tsherman117]

Been having a blast cruising around the pnw with our little 17' casita - roughly 3000 lbs, using a curt echo wireless brake controller and quite happy with it so far.

 

[Big Blue]

Your blue truck is so beautiful! Your R-Pod trailer is even more cool!

Thanks, love them both! The R-Pod is perfect for the two of us and our three ferrets. We got the one with twin beds so we don't need to climb over each other for those midnight runs. ? Much nicer than our old pop up. Like I said at 3500# "Big Blue" hardly knows it there. Time to social distance in the great outdoors.

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