Towing woes

Doubeleive · Jun 17, 2024

over time there have been a lot of complaints about the shocks on the k2's they fail earlier than the gmt900's
lot's of them reportedly "locking up" and making the ride rough.

Bigkevschopshop · Jun 17, 2024

Doubeleive said:
if you have a scanner that can read the shocks you could see what it shows on the road, say 20% activation versus 100%

One thing I havent bought yet...

Doubeleive · Jun 17, 2024

Bigkevschopshop said:
One thing I havent bought yet...

if it's not rough all the time then it may not be the case.....

Bigkevschopshop · Jun 17, 2024

Doubeleive said:
if it's not rough all the time then it may not be the case.....

Was my thoughts, just seems weird for sure. I'm walking around today like I did 5 rounds with Mike Tyson. Here I was thinking my old 1920s cars rode a bit rough...

Thrust · Jun 17, 2024

Doubeleive said:
the oem shocks should not be bleeding air, if they are then they are defective and need to be replaced (or) the pump is bleeding air (it can be either one), a soap and water mixter sprayed all over will show you which is the case.

another possibility is if the relief valve on the air pump is not working properly it will just fill those shocks up until they are rock hard and make the ride hell.
you could try using a scanner and look at the level control and see what it shows for psi, you can also load it up and then have it running ready to drive then reach under there and feel the bladders, then shut it off and be right there by the pump and listen carefully you should hear it release some air within a minute after the key is off. then you can auto start it and be right there beside the air pump, you should hear it expell some air briefly just before the pump kicks on, then it should pump it up and again expell some air but just a tiny bit. (what you are listening for is a "click" then a air exhale sound)
or load it up and drive it, pull over and feel those bladders again while it is running, they should have at least some give and not be super rock hard.

I have read numerous posts of people on here saying their air pump comes on after the vehicle has sat overnight. My air pump never did that with the Arnotts. Just making a point that the BWI shocks bleed air, yeah they maybe bad once they start doing that. Or is it a system test for the pump?

Doubeleive · Jun 18, 2024

Thrust said:
I have read numerous posts of people on here saying their air pump comes on after the vehicle has sat overnight. My air pump never did that with the Arnotts. Just making a point that the BWI shocks bleed air, yeah they maybe bad once they start doing that. Or is it a system test for the pump?

The pump "should" come on with each key cycle, but "may" not every time and that is per a tsb, makes no sense lol. "Mine" does most of the time but not always. I have the arnott's on mine, the originals started to leak and then I went thru a couple pumps afterwards. One was just goofy it would maybe put 15psi one time and 45 the next or it would pump to 100 and then it would show 20psi or just do weird sh*t and the other leaked thru the relief valve, so after a few minutes of driving the shocks would leak down and it would get squirrelly on me. So I have done my share of troubleshooting associated with that.

WalleyeMikeIII · Jun 20, 2024

So, FWIW, I tow a 4300 lb boat and trailer all the time w/ My Air Ride+Mag Ride Denali, and it is smooth. As a matter of fact, I almsot think the ride is better w/ the trailer than without. Just towed this thing 1000 miles round trip, and one of my passengers commented, on about mile 700 "This Vehicle has to be the smoothest riding I have ever been in."

First, you should always have the trailer tongue level w/ the road, so you probably should adjust your drop.
Second, there is a TSB out for a kinked/pinced air compressor intake hose...I would check this hose to make sure you don't have a restriction, but would think this would flag a DTC in the system.
Third, you need to load it so you have about 10% of total weight on the tongue...best way to measure this is on a scale (See if there is a CAT scale near you, and measure it). If I had to harken a guess, you are getting shook because the tongue is pulling on the rear end...likely not enough tongue weight, although I would expect you to feel this in any tow vehicle...
Are you sure the load in the trailer is centered left to right? Perhaps the anti sway is kicking in due to this?

Definitely ponderous...but, my towing experience w/ my boat is fantastic w/ this rig.

Bigkevschopshop · Jul 4, 2024

WalleyeMikeIII said:
So, FWIW, I tow a 4300 lb boat and trailer all the time w/ My Air Ride+Mag Ride Denali, and it is smooth. As a matter of fact, I almsot think the ride is better w/ the trailer than without. Just towed this thing 1000 miles round trip, and one of my passengers commented, on about mile 700 "This Vehicle has to be the smoothest riding I have ever been in."

First, you should always have the trailer tongue level w/ the road, so you probably should adjust your drop.
Second, there is a TSB out for a kinked/pinced air compressor intake hose...I would check this hose to make sure you don't have a restriction, but would think this would flag a DTC in the system.
Third, you need to load it so you have about 10% of total weight on the tongue...best way to measure this is on a scale (See if there is a CAT scale near you, and measure it). If I had to harken a guess, you are getting shook because the tongue is pulling on the rear end...likely not enough tongue weight, although I would expect you to feel this in any tow vehicle...
Are you sure the load in the trailer is centered left to right? Perhaps the anti sway is kicking in due to this?

Definitely ponderous...but, my towing experience w/ my boat is fantastic w/ this rig.

That car particularly has a 800 lb motor in it, so it's Very nose heavy, before starting the esky to head home the truck was just about leveled and the air pumped it up to stock height.

the 34 Tudor is alot less up front, so I have to load it further forward.

But I think the Air is pressuring up so much to put me back at stock and the trailer is too high up front, so it's a compound issue. I realized I am using the drop that I had on the Suburban and it's a 6", that truck was lowered on a 2/3" drop. Thinking maybe the trailer has a tire issue that could be adding to it.

I really miss the Suburban platform; the longer wheelbase makes it ride so much better all in all. But for backing up maneuvering, the short is where it's at.

I got used to the nnbs with no air suspension, load it down and the trailer was about level loaded and the non mag ride didn't care. Towed a crap ton with that one. I think the K2 inherently has some rough ride with magride. I've heard the towing with the latest IRS models that it can be a little too spongy for control of trailering but with what you're saying, sounds like a formidable platform to look at for the future. I test drove a Tahoe the other day and was impressed with the ride.

Towing woes

Doubeleive

Wes

Bigkevschopshop

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Doubeleive

Wes

Bigkevschopshop

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Thrust

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Doubeleive

Wes

WalleyeMikeIII

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Bigkevschopshop

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