2016 2500 HD Vibration with Trailer

Skeld · May 30, 2016

I know this has been brought up before, but just looking for any new ideas on this issue. My 2016 2500 HD 6.0L rides extremely smooth at all times unloaded. When I hook onto my 3,000 to 4,000 pound snowmobile trailer, though, it goes to hell in a hurry right around 70 MPH. Very bad vibration. Being on the power seems to make it worse but it isn't necessarily caused by being on the power...it will vibrate on or off the gas. Kind of disheartening as I upgraded from a 2009 1500 partially for better towing ability. That truck was smooth with this trailer.

GMCustomerService · May 31, 2016

Good morning Skeld,

I am sorry to hear that your Silverado is vibrating when you are hooked up to your snowmobile trailer, I know you purchased this tuck with towing in mind. I recognize you are reaching out to forum members for any new information, but I would like to offer an additional layer of assistance if you wish to bring this concern to the attention of your dealership. If you need anything please private message me.

Best,

Julianne M.

GM Customer Care

I know this has been brought up before, but just looking for any new ideas on this issue. My 2016 2500 HD 6.0L rides extremely smooth at all times unloaded. When I hook onto my 3,000 to 4,000 pound snowmobile trailer, though, it goes to hell in a hurry right around 70 MPH. Very bad vibration. Being on the power seems to make it worse but it isn't necessarily caused by being on the power...it will vibrate on or off the gas. Kind of disheartening as I upgraded from a 2009 1500 partially for better towing ability. That truck was smooth with this trailer.

Skeld · May 31, 2016

Good morning Skeld,

I am sorry to hear that your Silverado is vibrating when you are hooked up to your snowmobile trailer, I know you purchased this tuck with towing in mind. I recognize you are reaching out to forum members for any new information, but I would like to offer an additional layer of assistance if you wish to bring this concern to the attention of your dealership. If you need anything please private message me.

Best,

Julianne M.

GM Customer Care

Thanks for that. I will pursue it with them first and see how it goes. Kind of a difficult issue where it involves a trailer for them to troubleshoot but we will see how it goes.

crankman · May 31, 2016

Last time I had this happen it was 2 of my tandem tires had gone a bit out of round and it would start vibrating at a certain speed. When I replaced all 4 it quit. Is it possible you could have thrown a wheel weight since you pulled last with your 1500? Had that happened to it will slightly shake at certain speeds then level out. Might go look at the wheels you can maybe see where a weight used to be just by the imprint on the wheel. Pull the tires have them rebalanced if your not sure, I swear I went through this a few years ago drove me nuts until I replaced the tires. I even had them rebalanced and it didn't help just had to chunk them start over. Tires aren't what they used to be.

Skeld · May 31, 2016

I suppose it's possible, stinks that this involves the variable of the trailer. I parked the trailer with the 1500 around the end of March and didn't move it until late April with the 2500. It was immediately apparent with the 2500. That's what makes me think it's not the trailer. I might try pulling it with someone else's 1500 to see how that works.

kevin_nj · May 31, 2016

It is also possible your snowmobile trailer simply does not weigh enough for the HD suspension in your 2500. I have a 7x16 enclosed trailer that pulls horribly empty, but smooth as silk loaded.

Having someone that can tow your trailer as a test is one good option. Another is to get more weight on the trailer or put some in the bed.

Too much or not enough tongue weight makes for bad pulling as well. Ideally you want 10-12% total trailer weight on the ball.

crankman · June 1, 2016

Okay have you tried pulling another trailer to rule out your truck? It doesnt sound like a truck problem, could you have flat spots on the tires since it was parked a whole month? Have you pulled it more than one time? Are your trailer tires radial or bias? Can you jack up your tires just off the ground one at a time and spin them? One of mine was so out of round I could see it just spinning by hand real fast. You could check your bearing to while its off the ground. Just trying to help you out. Its frustrating but ive been through something similier and it took a while to figure it out.

Skeld · June 1, 2016

I haven't tried another trailer, but I probably should. It's a 7x14 inline, but these things are actually pretty heavy for what they are. They blow a 1/2 ton all over the road. I pulled with 2 sleds in it...probably weighed about 3,000 to 3,500 pounds.

GMCustomerService · June 1, 2016

Thanks for that. I will pursue it with them first and see how it goes. Kind of a difficult issue where it involves a trailer for them to troubleshoot but we will see how it goes.

Hey Skeld,

You're very welcome. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns in the meantime!

Best,

Anthony Z.

GM Customer Care

Skeld · June 3, 2016

Pulled the trailer with a 2014 Chevy 1500, and there was some vibration with that truck also. So I have switched focus to the trailer first. I'm also going to try pulling a heavier, different trailer with the truck.

Hoping they find something funny going on with the trailer tires.

Today I pulled a 5,000 pound camper as a test and it was quite smooth. So it seems the problem is definitely related to that trailer.