Bouncy Taos - Fixes?

[austinado16]

Guys.....it's just the expansion joints in the concrete.  Concrete freeways are built in panels and the change and gap from panel to panel, every 20' or whatever the magic expansion joint distance is, is what's causing all the bouncing.  There's nothing you can do to improve it other than slowing down, or speeding up, until you find the magic speed at which your particular wheelbase doesn't oscillate as much.

[JohnandLeann]

Good advice Todd especially when hitting the 101 down around the Oxnard area by where Costco is.  Even with out a trailer, that stretch of road is bouncy.

Guys.....it's just the expansion joints in the concrete.  Concrete freeways are built in panels and the change and gap from panel to panel, every 20' or whatever the magic expansion joint distance is, is what's causing all the bouncing.  There's nothing you can do to improve it other than slowing down, or speeding up, until you find the magic speed at which your particular wheelbase doesn't oscillate as much.

[austinado16]

Yeah, remember when that whole section of 101 through Santa Maria was still concrete?  My DW, then GF, had an '85 Toyota Tercel.  That thing felt like it had 3 flat tires when driven through there due to the suspension geometry and wheelbase (I couldn't sell that car fast enough once we traded rings!:p)

[flyfisherman]

We have some major east/west ~ north/south xways that have heavy truck traffic. Those 18 wheelers pounding those sections of concrete between the  expansion joints can really get some dips created and pulling a popup trailer along some of those sections is a real challenge. For me speed is the key to the extreme of the bounce. Also, these major expressways are under constant repair for this very condition, along with the concrete disintergration making for those huge pot holes!



Fly

[JohnandLeann]

Yes I remember that stretch alright. The tire slap in this section was very loud and Caltrans first tried grinding and puting grooves in the cement and then finally black topped over it.  At least the cement is a good base for blacktop.
Side note off topic of bouncing.  The stretch through Nipomo is a pleasant drive now that Caltrans has resurfaced this area.  Road noise is SIGNIFICANTLY reduced!

[bartletts]

I use one of these:
http://www.nextag.com/Robin-Industries-Shock-Absorbing-640509911/prices-html

which really seems to help. At least it means the trailer doesn't jerk on the tow vehicle as badly. That and well balanced tires have really improved the ride with my Yuma. It was bouncing pretty bad when I first got it. Altering the tongue weight just didn't help.