Trailer bounce
- Thread starter azop
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boggen
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
- Messages
- 3,789
- Location
- Trivoli, IL
- Tractor
- SSTT (Sideways Snake Tain Tractor) and STB (sideways train box) tractor, dirt harvester
see if the attached diagram. not the best explanation in the world. but hopefully helps you visualize things a tad better. and more so about weight distribution. and trying to eliminate the teter totoring effect of the trailer. by having more weight at the tongue (front) of the trailer.
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westbrooklawn
Platinum Member
What you have described is a classic result of too little tongue weight. Perhaps backing on would give you the ability to put more weight forward. When loading my tractor I have developed a "feel" based on how much the back of the truck settles down as I pull on. While I haven't measured actual tongue weight, I can get it to where it pulls best by using this method.
Boeing
Platinum Member
[I think the guys have hit the perverbial nail on the head. I used to tow a 7600# boat with a Jeep Grand Cherokee.......stop laughing. When the boat was all the way forward to the snubber, it towed fine. If It was back even 6 inches, too much weight was aft and the trailer would "fishtail" Since it outweighed the car, it would pull my fanny back and forth. Downright scary. The only was to control it was to slow below 40MPH. The NEXT time I learned to float and crank all the way to the snubbers. Then that V-8 Cherokee did a fine job./B]
VictorW
Veteran Member
Not enough tongue weight, normally 10% of trailer and load, would have the trailer fish-tailing like Boeing mentioned. That swing gets scary and you can lose it if it gets bad. Normally, slowing down will lesson the swing. Bouncing or feeling something surging, holding you back is somethig else. You might have had to much tongue eight. When you unplugged the power coupler for the trailer, I assume it has electric brakes and not hydraulic surge brakes.
Elviscaretaker
Gold Member
I think I have the same trailer! Electric brakes.. Etc. But the guys above are right. Sound like a loading issue and getting the weight distributed correctly. An easy way to confirm it is to pull it empty and see how she handles. If you have the same problem then I'd check your rear shocks. They may be worn. Assuming TP has been checked and the thing isn't bent up. Sometimes the roads will throw you around but for me that's always been side to side and I could tell by the road condition it was coming. Worst road I've towed on was East of Chicago two (3?) years ago on 90. They had just prepped it for repaving and did a horrible job.
boggen
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
- Messages
- 3,789
- Location
- Trivoli, IL
- Tractor
- SSTT (Sideways Snake Tain Tractor) and STB (sideways train box) tractor, dirt harvester
i hear it to often Illinois has the worst roads.
every winter, the roads just buckle and crack all over the place.
sadly i live in the middle of Illinois, and right now most roads have pot holes you have to avoid. or fill spots that they have redone leaving a bump you have to go over.
Elviscaretaker
Gold Member
Funny thing is that my normal route used to take me through the southern area and the roads there were just fine. Though the toll roads should be decent since they ... We'll, I was wrong. All along the stretch towards Pittsburgh was crap.
Did make me feel like I was home though