Last Updated on November 9, 2022 by Douglas
When people think of a travel trailer, they often think of a small, lightweight vehicle that is easy to tow and use. But what many people don’t know is that these trailers don’t have shocks. And the reason for this is because the weight distribution on these trailers is very different from regular cars with shocks.
When you drive a car, you carry your weight in the front and back of the car so it creates an even load on the springs and shocks. But when you are driving a travel trailer, you are carrying your weight at one end so it will be more difficult to handle uneven surfaces because there are no shocks to help absorb any bumps in the road.
Can I put shocks on my travel trailer?
You will need to put a set of shocks on both axles of your travel trailer, according to Lippert. We offer the Lippert Bolt-On Shocks # LC281281 and # LC281255. These kits require you to have at least 2-1/2 inches of space between the inside of the tire and the frame.[1]
What are the most common problems with travel trailers?
Leaky Roof. Water leaks are pretty much inevitable when RVing. Electrical Issues. Just like your actual home, your RV is likely to run into electrical problems from time to time. Slide Out Problems.[2]
How do I stop my RV from bouncing?
In addition to leveling blocks, you can use wheel chocks to stiffen up the tires and prevent front-to-back movement. The X chock is a popular device the goes between the tires to help prevent movement. Leveling blocks, stabilizer jacks, and RV step stabilizers can help stop your RV from rocking.[3]
Do campers need shocks?
Trailers don’t typically have shocks as there usually just isn’t enough room and the suspension travel is minimal, so a shock isn’t going to make that much difference. I would buy something like a tandem axle equaflex system before I thought about shocks.[4]
How do I make my RV ride smoother?
Use a system of air and bags or springs to help cushion any impact while on the road. Systems often use four or eight bags in combination with other suspension types to provide the best ride possible. You usually only see air springs or bags in larger vehicles like buses of RVs.[5]
What is the life expectancy of a travel trailer?
What is the average lifespan of a travel trailer? At a minimum, your travel trailer needs to be able to last for 10 years. You might be able to prolong its longevity and add about two to five years by taking good care of it. However, some travel trailers can last up to 30 years with proper usage.[6]
What is the most reliable brand of travel trailer?
Airstream. Grand Design RV. Oliver Travel Trailers. Lance Campers. Outdoors RV. Winnebago. Jayco.[7]
What RV brand has the most problems?
Forest River. Not a name you’d expect to find in our list? Jayco. In general, peoples’ overall experience with Jayco is alright, it is a household name across the states after all. Keystone. Coleman. Vanleigh. Heartland. Fleetwood.[8]
Why does my travel trailer shake so much?
You may be asking yourself, why is my travel trailer shaking? The answer could be many reasons, including that you aren’t parked on a level surface, your trailer is unevenly weighted, you may need wheel chocks and stabilizers, or there are simply people walking around inside the travel trailer![9]
Why is my travel trailer so bouncy?
Improper tire pressure, oversized trailer tires, stiff suspension, improper load balance or tongue length combined with the position of the axle can all be culprits. All parts of the towing system must be working together to keep the tires on the pavement and ensure a smooth ride.[10]
Why does my travel trailer bounce when parked?
A travel trailer is made to be mobile, and so mobile it will remain until it is made more stationary. Without RV stabilizers, chocks, and leveling jacks, your travel trailer is held up by its tires only, and these are simply bouncy rubber balloons filled with air.[11]
Is it normal for a trailer to bounce?
A trailer can bounce if there is not enough weight on it. You see this particularly with utility trailers that are empty. The tire and wheel size would not automatically cause a trailer to bounce though usually you see smaller tires on smaller trailers and smaller trailers tend to be light weight.[12]