I was towing the 5th wheel around 65-70 mph when all of a sudden there was a loud bang and a slight "bump" in the truck... sounded and felt like I blew a tire. I held on tight expecting a fight to get it to the side of the road but was surprised when there was no other vibration or noise. Once on the side of the road, I checked everything that I could (on the side of the road)... no blown tires, nothing leaking, engine sounded fine... hmmmm. I jacked up the wheels to see if anything was loose - nothing. After quite some time trying to figure out what happened, I decided to see how far I could make it - 75 miles to the next town of any size. Started driving slow (with flashers on) and slowly increased the speed up to 55 with no issues.

I have since been driving the truck with no apparent problems... although I really do not trust it on a long trip. Any ideas what might have happened - maybe a front wheel bearing or something? Thanks for your insight!

Truck is 99 2500, 4x4, manual 5 speed, 176,000 miles.

g

 

KDP maybe? Or perhaps you ran over something that you didn't notice in the road . . .

Sounds pretty strange.

Chass
ct

 

My guess is, you just ran over sumthin. Sometimes chunks of tire will lay flat on a road and when you run over one, it kicks it up and hits the bottom of the vehicle. Could've been a piece of plywood, or sumthin you just didn't see and ran over it. Not uncommon for this to happen. I've been runnin over-the-road in big trucks and trucks of many different sizes for about 16 years now and I've had the same thing happen to me several times. Scares the poop out of ya. Check everything out under the truck real good and go from there. Just my $.02.

 

What is KDP? I checked the road... nothing there... does not mean that I did not hit an alien that beamed themselves out or something - it was in the middle of Utah.

 

KDP is Killer Dowl Pin. Its a dowl pin in your timing cover that can fall out and get stuck in the gears. It often breaks the cover or the gears when it falls out. I was thinking that it could have gotten lodged and popped out making a big noise. I was only a thought.

Chass
ct

 

his truck he said is a 99 making that a 24 valve, could be wrong but isnt that only for the 12valves that you have to worry about the KDP?

i would also have to say that you just ran something over that you didnt see, give everything a good once over to be safe. good luck!

 

Ahh, you are right about KDP . . . although I did read that some people think the KDP is still an issue but since the 24 valves a little "smoother" they are less likely to rattle out. Seems that it could still happen though . . .

Chass
ct

 

KDP was early 24V too. Usually rears its ugly head by leaking engine oil from the timing cover that is now broken.

 

Yea i think the kdp is only on a 12 valve sounds like you just ran over something or check your hitch just be sure it wasnt something with it loose.

 

Just a thought, did you have it in 4wd recently? Maybe the front axle finally disconnected.

 

Maybe the intercooler split? Maybe a boot blew off or split? Sounds like he was on a hard pull.

Did you have alot of chilli with beans the evening before?

 

Could have been a spider in the rearend.

 

Do you still have a spare tire under our truck? They have come off before..

 

PChouinard, I was just going to say the same thing. A buddy ran over his spare and didn't know it.

 

Definately sounds like a intercooler boot came out from under the clamp. Start by checking the boot closest to the turbo. & work your way around. It probably won't be all the way out from under the clamp, but just a little section came out. Reinstall the boot & double nut the clamp....you'll be fine. If it didn't pop all the way out, you will still have some boost. I've limped my truck home from sled pulls with busted boots before.