Shake/Vibration when Towing

[HotWheelsBurban]

If the truck drives fine, on the same roads, without the trailer on, then it almost HAS to be that the trailer is throwing the steering geometry off just enough to get a vibration or shaking in the wheel. I don't know how the roads are in your area, but we have plenty of bad pavement in Texas. Only good roads down here, are freshly paved asphalt or new concrete. Anything with much age, the ground has moved under it and disrupted the surface....We don't have much in the way of freezes, but it usually is raining a lot, or none for a good while.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

What's the wheelbase of the 2018? Is the hitch at the same height (tongue angle) on both?
Small tires are more prone to twitchiness, that's why I mentioned them. Think riding a scooter vs a motorcycle.

So many factors determine a truck and trailer setup, change one thing and your results will be different.

Yup, see my post about the loads and trailer, one ton pickup vs. half ton Burbs.....

 

[Caman96]

What's the wheelbase of the 2018?

2018 was 143.5 for Crew Cab. This Fleetside is 131.

 

[Supercharged111]

You actually have a decent amount of caster in there. Well, decent for our trucks anyway. I'm sure that green camber is positive, but it won't make anything go weird. When the front end lifts up, I believe you lose caster. But my 1500 won't take any and doesn't shake empty or loaded. I'd just get down there and sanity check that it's all still tight down there. Did the inspectors look for end play or just for rotted stuff?

 

[Caman96]

If the truck drives fine, on the same roads, without the trailer on, then it almost HAS to be that the trailer is throwing the steering geometry off just enough to get a vibration or shaking in the wheel. I don't know how the roads are in your area, but we have plenty of bad pavement in Texas. Only good roads down here, are freshly paved asphalt or new concrete. Anything with much age, the ground has moved under it and disrupted the surface....We don't have much in the way of freezes, but it usually is raining a lot, or none for a good while.

Around town you don’t feel anything, I only noticed as I was getting up to speed on highway. I wasn’t on for long.

 

[Caman96]

I'd just get down there and sanity check that it's all still tight down there. Did the inspectors look for end play or just for rotted stuff?

I do check it often, everything is tight. There is no rot on truck. What corrections would you make to alignment?

 

[618 Syndicate]

2018 was 143.5 for Crew Cab. This Fleetside is 131.

That may explain part of it. A foot less wheelbase changes feel.

 

[Supercharged111]

Was the wheel actually shaking? Or did the truck get to swaying, the wheel stayed pointed forward as the truck moved around it?

 

[Supercharged111]

I do check it often, everything is tight. There is no rot on truck. What corrections would you make to alignment?

Static the alignment won't cause a shake under load, the question is what's happening to it under load? The front end will sit higher and the whole thing will cant over backwards when that happens.

 

[Caman96]

Was the wheel actually shaking? Or did the truck get to swaying, the wheel stayed pointed forward as the truck moved around it?

The steering wheel was physically shaking. No swaying.