Hobby horsing

Jack

Do you know your tow ball weight?

Andy

We have a 19' BT and tow it with a F250, we have the extra leaf spring fitted to the front and airbags on the rear. I have long complained that the rig rides better on dirt corrugated roads than many outback bitumen roads, a horror section is the Dawson & Burnett highways in Qld, we feel like we are on a rodeo bronco due to the long wheel base and leaf sprung suspension. I have experimented with air bag pressures and tension on the WDB's but nothing seems to help on those horrible black soil bitumen roads except slow down.

I haven't driven another F250 with different springs ie Tough Dog or ARB to know whether they ride any better.

Jack

I would have a look at changing the shocks. Something like Bilstein. Happened with my Effie and it fixed it. Happens with a lot of vehicles, even the Chev. I had the shocks changed before I picked it up.
Re the difference between drawbar and leveling bars... Turn the brass cambers around so that you get a slight lean downwards, not too much that your bars ends are too close to the ground. That should do the job. I had the same problem myself.

Barrie

Jack

Sorry, I assumed you had the 3.5tonne WDH ( never assume anything).
That rig has the ability to angle the head. Is yours fixed?? Someone who has a similar hitch may respond with a clue.
When I replaced my shocks, I did the front and only 2 of the back. The difference in ride was chalk and cheese and mine was a shorter wheel base cab/chassis..

Barrie

Jack

Assuming say 350 - 400kg on the ball the WDH's should transfer circa 100kg to the front wheels. If you are light or if the WDH's are not tensioned enough or both the F250 will tend to "hobby horse". If the problem is spoiling your travel you could look at finding a weighbridge and with the van attached:

1. Weigh the F250 with the front wheels only on the bridge.
2. Remove WDH & note the weight difference.
3. Weigh with the F250 only on the bridge
4. Weigh F250 + Van
5. Disconnect the van & just weigh the F250

This is all a bit of effort but really should be step one before you start playing around with shockers etc.

Both Gadget & I have HD spring packs on the front of our F250's & reckon the vehicles have much improved steering & road holding characteristics with the new spring packs. I have airbags front & rear & Gadget, from memory, front only.

Andy