Rocking side to side when on interstate

[robglass]

Hey folks issue here, I'm getting pretty bad rocking left to right, mostly at higher speeds but can feel the results at lower speeds, kinda like someone is holding on to my rack tugging it back and forth. I've got a 2020 Rubican, pretty much stock. I had an old CVT tent that I put up there but just switched to a hard top iKamper, it's smaller and lighter. This past week was the first time out with it and we were pretty loaded but not the most load I've had on it. I drove it cross town not loaded when I put the tent on for the first time. We shuffled the load around, pulled the awning off just to see if it made a difference. I didn't take the best picture but here is one with the tent setup. I would think it would handle better with less weight up top so I'm not sure what is going on. The Tent is about 3 inches forward off center of the rack to put more weight in middle but is centered left and right. I don't feel it in the steering and when it starts to sway and I look in the mirrors I can see it rocking like a boat.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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[BigLizzard]

I drove to Colorado last year. It was pretty loaded with people and stuff. I felt it was really bouncy the whole trip. I went and got different shocks, falcon, and it has been worlds better. I drove to moab this year and didn't feel any where close to as bouncy. Granted I did have a slightly less weighted down truck. I got the 2.1 with a semi adjustable shock and I set it to the stiffer setting. Maybe theres a different solution, but throwing money at my problem solved it. Next time Ill go get the fully adjustable shocks after being happy with these.

 

[Main Line Willys]

Your shocks are probably beat. Look into something like the Bilstein 5100.

They made a huge difference in my ride.
2022 Rubicon

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

My bet is on the shocks but I don’t like betting with other people’s money. If it were me, I’d replace them with some stiffer shocks and go from there. Could definitely be something else though.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The shocks that came with the 2020-2021 Rubicon weren't exactly great. I put some on my first Overland and felt them to be "bouncy"
Of course all that weight up there means it's got a whole lot of leverage on that suspension. It has more strength than the shocks have to dampen movement.

Agree on the shocks thing.

 

[Outside Reality Check]

The stock shocks are a little soft for me. I like my Falcon SP2 3.3 adjustables, won't leave home without them. Adjustable shocks at a firm setting would probably be a $2000 + fix. A less expensive alternative might be air bags, might be worth a try. When payload is high my airbags stiffen up the rear / sag. About $200.

 

[yoda13]

It sounds like the shocks to me. I guess it could be a damaged suspension part. Make sure nothing has broken, or come apart, but I bet it’s shocks.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Hey folks issue here, I'm getting pretty bad rocking left to right, mostly at higher speeds but can feel the results at lower speeds, kinda like someone is holding on to my rack tugging it back and forth. I've got a 2020 Rubican, pretty much stock. I had an old CVT tent that I put up there but just switched to a hard top iKamper, it's smaller and lighter. This past week was the first time out with it and we were pretty loaded but not the most load I've had on it. I drove it cross town not loaded when I put the tent on for the first time. We shuffled the load around, pulled the awning off just to see if it made a difference. I didn't take the best picture but here is one with the tent setup. I would think it would handle better with less weight up top so I'm not sure what is going on. The Tent is about 3 inches forward off center of the rack to put more weight in middle but is centered left and right. I don't feel it in the steering and when it starts to sway and I look in the mirrors I can see it rocking like a boat.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Cheap- bilstien 5100’s in the rear fixed it for me. (If you are still running the factory fox’s)
As soon as I added a canopy and decked system is when the jousting on the highway was felt pretty significantly.
These are what I went with. Same collapses length as stock, 2” longer extended. Flexed out nothing pulls tighter than it should. ???
Bilstein B8 20-21 Jeep Gladiator... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M9WPXF1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[robglass]

The stock shocks are a little soft for me. I like my Falcon SP2 3.3 adjustables, won't leave home without them. Adjustable shocks at a firm setting would probably be a $2000 + fix. A less expensive alternative might be air bags, might be worth a try. When payload is high my airbags stiffen up the rear / sag. About $200.

Do the airbags also help with the swaying or just the rear sagging? I didn't notice a lot of sagging this trip.

 

[robglass]

Your shocks are probably beat. Look into something like the Bilstein 5100.

They made a huge difference in my ride.
2022 Rubicon

I've got only 35k miles on them with just a handful of trails, can't believe they'd be shot already, I thought the Fox stuff was a pretty good brand. Did you do all four or just the ones in the back?

 

[Main Line Willys]

I switched just the fronts at 3000 miles.
I described the ride as wallowing before the switch.
I also installed airbags in the rear, but I am not sure if they helped the rocking.

 

[kevman65]

If you're going to be changing the load on your JT often, then spend the extra money and get shocks with an adjustment.

If you don't then you're going to be set up for just one condition, and either too soft loaded or too firm empty.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

If you're going to be changing the load on your JT often, then spend the extra money and get shocks with an adjustment.

If you don't then you're going to be set up for just one condition, and either too soft loaded or too firm empty.

An alternative is to buy an affordable set of firm shocks like the Bilstein 5100s and put them on for camping trips and take them off otherwise.

A set of shocks can be replaced in 20 minutes.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

An alternative is to buy an affordable set of firm shocks like the Bilstein 5100s and put them on for camping trips and take them off otherwise.

A set of shocks can be replaced in 20 minutes.

I second this. The 5100’s “firmness” isn’t much different from the Fox in terms of being “harsh” tightens things up a bit and removes a lot of the body roll as well… wouldn’t say any of the softness from the fox shocks are missed at all…

 

[High Alextude]

I drove to Colorado last year. It was pretty loaded with people and stuff. I felt it was really bouncy the whole trip. I went and got different shocks, falcon, and it has been worlds better. I drove to moab this year and didn't feel any where close to as bouncy. Granted I did have a slightly less weighted down truck. I got the 2.1 with a semi adjustable shock and I set it to the stiffer setting. Maybe theres a different solution, but throwing money at my problem solved it. Next time Ill go get the fully adjustable shocks after being happy with these.

How difficult is it to adjust those 2.1's from performance to soft? I have been eyeing those. I would probably set them to soft since I daily in Maryland pothole roads. Just worried if they would be too soft for highway driving.

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