Grayeeagle

My 06 dodge, long bed, 2 piece drive line, 82,000 miles, I have only had this truck for 2 months, never pulled anything, drives grate, I loaded up my 11,400 lb 5th wheel for the first time & noticed right away the shudder when taking off maybe for the first 20 ft. then it seems to have a vibration (more like a drone) when pulling around 50 to 60 mph, especially when pulling hard, the 5th wheel also puts the rear of the truck really low, rubber bumpers 1/2 " off the axel housing, could that change the drive line angle enough to cause viberation problems??

knalb

Sounds like a drivetrain issue, and most likely it is the carrier bearing. A lot of people have been swapping over to a one piece rear driveshaft to get rid of the problem.

To answer your second question, yes. You should look into load leveling airbags. If you're bump stops are only half an inch away, you are just asking for trouble(this last sentence is opinion only).

sqrl$$

X2 on the carrier bearing or possibly u-joints.

ShutupAndHoldOn

I have exactly the same problem. It was the rear U joint. At first the only time I had issues was when it was under load. Later it started doing it when I wasn't towing.

ShutupAndHoldOn

I have exactly the same problem. It was the rear U joint. At first the only time I had issues was when it was under load. Later it started doing it when I wasn't towing.

CoastalDav

My fifth wheel sets the truck down, but not on the stops. Still have plenty of room with 2400lb pin weight. GVW on your truck should be 11,500lbs. Hopefully the shutter is in the rear or U-Joints and not in the tranny.

When you turn left or right like going around a drive thru at Mickey Dee's at slow speed, do you feel it there? If so, pinion bearing. Had a U-joint that would vibrate at 62 mph. Felt it in the seat. It was the middle one.

Don't know what type tranny you have. If 48RE see the 1st post 3rd Gen
above your post.

Here is a pic of the truck hooked up to the fiver, if it works

Dave

Grayeeagle

Yes my truck is a 2500 & automatic, no noise on turns, I don't have a positrack differential, but there is no poping & clicking to indicate a U joint, My next step is to pull the drive line & check each U joint. thank for the info.

knalb

If it's the carrier or a ujoint, you can most likely determine which one by just crawling under the truck and trying to move the drive shaft. That's always worked for me anyway. Also, if it's a ujoint, you will usually get a "thud" when you take off after a complete stop. That really depends on how it's failing, however it's always rang true for me.

As for the shaft, there are some part numbers and pictures here on cumminsforum about it:

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/3r...questions.html

I recommend the one piece, mainly because it removes yet another wear item from your driveline. Less required maintenance is always a good thing.