Diagnosis, analysis, opinions needed to solve trailer sway

[weldingisfun]

Okay guys and gals, your help is needed.

Just bought an old, home built, livestock trailer (pic attached). It is 5 X 10 feet, single axle. Looks to have 5000 lb leaf springs on it (pics attached).

On the ride to our place there was a very pronounced sway beginning at 55 mph. My truck is a 3/4 ton Dodge Ram and the sway could be felt in my steering. The trailer has no floor, right now, and is very light weight. I set the hitch ball on the truck as low as possible to put more weight on the trailer tongue, but the sway was still very pronounced.

The trailer has car tires on it so I imagine the soft sidewalls probably contributed to the swaying.

My intent is to fix it up and sell it, but that sway must be eliminated.

Please give me your diagnosis, analysis, and/or opinions to solve the trailer sway problem. Thanks, in advance, to all who are willing to contribute.

 

[rasimmo]

The axle is set too far forward. It appears to be centered on the box. I am not sure on the correct percentages, but you need more in front of the axle than behind. I built a 6x12 recently. I measured a couple that I had access to and decided to put the axle 7' from the front of the trailer(not including the tongue). That worked out good on mine.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That is a 3,500# axle, 5 lug. 5,200# and 6,000# axles are 6 lug.

The axle is too far forward like Rasimmo said. 60/40 is the normal split. My take on it is sell it as is and let it be somebody's problem who is not you. Its a lot to bite off to fix and there will be no room for profit.

Live and learn.

Chris

 

[JPRambo]

fix it up like you said is your intent. Buy a truck bed tool box in a yard sale and put it on the tongue. That should add tongue weight to help eliminate the sway.

 

[bcp]

Make it a 5x9

I wish Photoshop made a welder to modify things as easily as images.

Bruce

 

[Artisan]

Well...if the axle needs to go aft, instead of movin' the axle hows about just
cuttin' a foot or so off the back O da trailer? Maybe put on some "like" properly
rated tires too. Also if you weigh it, you are prob not far off the 3500 deal.
Have a big guy grab the trailer and try to move it side to side while
you watch the springs, if they move cut everything off and add new,
BUT, you should cut your losses, sell it for what your in it and build one and
sell it, IMO. Yep, it is too tall too, I bet ya in the past good ole
boys have loaded her to the brim w/ ROCKs.

 

[Todd727]

Years ago, I bought a large equipment trailer. Trailered home empty just fine. Loaded it up and it was all over the road. As I was moving and didn't have time to unload, I hooked up a sway control. Headed out and everything was fine. About 500 miles down the road, it blew a tire. Decided to bite the bullet and put four new tires on it. Started thinking about it, disconnected the sway control and found out that the real problem was caused by crap tires.

If you want to do a little trouble shooting, put some weight in the front of that trailer and see if it does better.

Finally, it might be easier to extend the tongue than move the axle.

Your tires look worse than mine did.

 

[jejeosborne]

It looks like the axle placement is back beyond the halfway point which is good. The light weight compared to its height might be your problem. The wind load on the front is causing a light tongue weight. The front is acting as a sail and lifting the tongue. Since you enjoy welding, I would move the axle back as far as possible within the fenders, lay a heavy floor and you may be fine. 10-15% tongue weight is what you want. I would shoot for 15% with that profile. May also try to open the front of the trailer with some mesh or something to allow the wind through.
Jeff

 

[TO_Bud]

I would also check the "springs to frame" connections. There are probably cheap plastic bushing in there that are worn through, and the bolts may also be worn down.

 

[Bigfoot62]

That is a 3,500# axle, 5 lug. 5,200# and 6,000# axles are 6 lug.

The axle is too far forward like Rasimmo said. 60/40 is the normal split. My take on it is sell it as is and let it be somebody's problem who is not you. Its a lot to bite off to fix and there will be no room for profit.

Live and learn.

Chris

I think Chris nailed it.
But, if you insist on keeping it, add another axle behind the one you have. Tandem axles will probably fix it.