How to Reduce Chucking and Jarring While Towing a 5th Wheel Trailer

Updated 04/25/2020 | Published 08/24/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Reese 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs

(396)

$509.66

Lippert 1621HD 5th Wheel Pin Box - 18,000 lbs

(69)

$582.28

Curt Flex Air 5th Wheel Pin Box - Lippert 1621 - 18,000 lbs

(192)

$1667.90

Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Single Jaw - 20,000 lbs

(465)

$1033.24

Question:

Why is chucking unavoidable?

asked by: Steve E

Expert Reply:

Chucking and jarring while towing a 5th wheel trailer (or any trailer for that matter) is unavoidable because the trailer itself is not one piece with your vehicle. When your truck starts to move forward from a stop your trailer is still sitting static and so there will be a slight jolt; the same thing happens when you slow down. Since the front end of your trailer is connected to your truck, when your truck starts to slow down your trailer is still moving forward so it will give you a slight push at first.

Even though it cannot quite be eliminated there are definitely some tools that you can use to help minimize the effects.

The first thing to consider is the type of 5th wheel hitch that you have installed. Just about every brand out there has an entry level 5th wheel hitch and a higher end 5th wheel hitch that has more features for a better ride. Take, for example, the Reese line of 5th wheel hitches. Their standard 16K 5th Wheel Hitch # RP30047 is a great starter hitch, but it lacks the superior single jaw system for a more secure 360 degree connection and 9" wide funnel that the 20K Select Plus # RP30928 has. There are other things that can be take into consideration when choosing a 5th wheel hitch, like weight and cost, but for the best ride you want a jaw system that has tight, 360-degree contact with the king pin to help reduce chucking and jarring.

The second thing that you will want to look at is the pin box that you have installed on your 5th wheel trailer. If we take a look at some of the options for a Lippert 1621 pin box (which is a very common pin box model), we have the standard pin box model, part # LC1191151, which is a rigid piece of metal. When you compare that to the Trailair Flex Air 5th Wheel Pin Box # LC328492 you can see that the upgrade uses an air bag, a rubber compound built into the head, and a pivoting head feature. All of these additions help to reduce the road shock as well as the chucking and jarring that you will experience.

There is nothing wrong with using the standard pin boxes and 5th wheel hitches, but to help provide a much more smooth towing experience and to help keep your equipment in great shape for a long time I recommend using the upgrades and keeping to a strict maintenance schedule so your equipment doesn't wear out. I have attached a helpful article on this for you to review.

expert reply by: Jon G

Albert Y.

2/3/2020

When the Reese Titan 16 5th wheel hitch is not in use what position should the handle be in locked or unlocked?

Jacob H.

2/5/2020

It doesn't really matter whether you leave it in the locked or unlocked position. If it were me, I would leave it in the locked position so that the handle is not sticking up in the air.

James O.

4/25/2020

This might be quite lengthy but will try to keep it short. Everything has to do with 5th wheels and my problem has to do with tow dolly chucking. I tow a 2017 Jeep Cherokee with a 2019 Thor Citation on a 3500 Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Towing is fine, it is the stopping I have problems with. I notice after I arrived home and disconnected everything that my receiver now has about a 30-degree from level. When buying the setup I bought the heavest in everything-Dolley and receiver. I know I will have to buy a new receiver, is there anything else I can do to stop the chucking. On a side note, the dolly has surge brakes.