Trailer bounce

[Ordite]

My tractor weighs around 3600 lbs and I haul it on a similar type trailer as yours with dual axles and a GVW of 7000 lbs. Tow truck is a 1500 GMC, 4 WD, pickup. I experience a re-occuring rythmic bounce at 55 to 60 mph when traveling on most concrete pavement roads. The problem goes away as soon as I am back on an asphalt or bituminous road surface. Generally, I try to avoid the concrete pavement when possible. I think it is related to the spacing of the joints in the pavement and perhaps the spacing of pickup and trailer axles.

 

[azop]

I noticed where the ball hitch connects to the truck that the ball hitch is a little loose. Is this normal, or did I get the wrong size ball hitch? The ball is a 2 inch ball, which matches what the trailer accepts.

(I'm talking about the the hitch similar to this: http://images.campingworld.com/is/image/cwi/3000/34578n2.jpg?wid=500)

 

[Sabretooth]

I noticed where the ball hitch connects to the truck that the ball hitch is a little loose. Is this normal, or did I get the wrong size ball hitch? The ball is a 2 inch ball, which matches what the trailer accepts.

(I'm talking about the the hitch similar to this: http://images.campingworld.com/is/image/cwi/3000/34578n2.jpg?wid=500)

You mean you have space(room) on the tounge around the circumference of the ball that you just need to tighen the latch on coupler or you put the hitch mount into the reciever place the hitch pin through and it just feels loose you can jiggle it a little bit= Normal they only make the 1-1/4" and
2" makes it kinda hard to get wrong one might have been a slop job
Do you have the pics of it loaded with and without tractor yet? that will give us a better idea
I am surprised you have a 2" ball though I am not sure but I think max is 5k on those anybody
I think you are suppose to have a 2-5/16" ball thats what my trailer is a 7K+ brakes on both axles I do not know much about these little trailers

On your tounge where the coupler is what exactly does it say????? I also think a 2" coupler is only rated at 5kmax anybody?
I will look around online and see what I find
Scratch
Edit: Trailer hitch, hitches and bike rack (800)298-8924 On ball found up to 8K most everything else 6K or less and coupler if it is a Bulldog they have a 7k and a 8k otherwise 6k or less
I did go look look at mine ball is a 2 5/516 rated 10K hitch V rated 1200 Pound tongue Weight 12000 Pound towing and ball mount Class IV 10000 lbs coupler is a Fulton Class4 max12,500 Trailer is a 20' car hauler has working breakaway and brakes on both axles. Not sure what your state requires check the trailer section here they have some good sites for you to take a look at most are 3500 or more require brakes on one I even think Ny was now 1500lbs better now.

Im not making waves just trying to get the info

 

[94BULLITT]

What kind of coupler is on the trailer? My trailer only has a 2" coupler. The ball and mount I have is rated for 7500 pounds. Some 2 5/16 are only 5000 pounds. You just have to check and see what the ball says and mount. Not always does a bigger shank means more gross weight.

 

[azop]

I do not have pictures of it attached to the truck yet. Todays "dusting" of snow turned into 8 inches, so it's a sloppy mess. I did drive it to my parents house and experienced the same problem with the tractor backed on the trailer. A friend suggested I park the tractor over the double axles and put the bucket down on the dovetail end. Later this week I should have pictures on level ground, when it's not dark and crappy.

 

[radioman]

There is 99 % chance you got the wrong ball. I count 5 lugs on your trailer tire, making it a 3500k for each tire telling me you have a 7k or so rated trailer. I don't want to argue with anyone, but many 2 inch balls are only rated at 4-5k. a few are rated at 7000. GO to your trailer and look at the coupler. chances are you are going to find a 2 5/16 stamped on it.

If you did indeed have wrong ball- count your lucky stars that NOTHING happened to your trailer and tractor and you got home ok. chances are your insurance WILL NOT cover your tractor in accident if it fell off unless you got a rider.

 

[azop]

There is 99 % chance you got the wrong ball. I count 5 lugs on your trailer tire, making it a 3500k for each tire telling me you have a 7k or so rated trailer. I don't want to argue with anyone, but many 2 inch balls are only rated at 4-5k. a few are rated at 7000. GO to your trailer and look at the coupler. chances are you are going to find a 2 5/16 stamped on it.

If you did indeed have wrong ball- count your lucky stars that NOTHING happened to your trailer and tractor and you got home ok. chances are your insurance WILL NOT cover your tractor in accident if it fell off unless you got a rider.

Eek. That's what I get for listening to the dealer. I asked what ball hitch I needed and he told me 2 inch, and he claimed that he measured it because he thought it was a 2 5/16 (The dealer had it moved from another Bobcat store, so he didn't have direct knowledge of it). I'll check first thing in the morning, but when I looked over it briefly when I purchased it I didn't see *any* stamping around the coupler.

Thanks!

 

[radioman]

you might not see the stamped weight rating since the spray paint makes it hard to see. look during daylight and maybe bring sheet of paper and crayon and make a imprint . you will see the stamped lettering better.

 

[azop]

you might not see the stamped weight rating since the spray paint makes it hard to see. look during daylight and maybe bring sheet of paper and crayon and make a imprint . you will see the stamped lettering better.

Thanks. I just went out with a flashlight hoping to see some indentation. I did notice that according to the tag on the side, it has a gross weight of 7000 pounds, and it's actually 18ft x 82 inches, not 16ft.

Do you know which side the stamping might be for the ball size?

I guess I'll call the manufacturer tomorrow and see if they can look up the VIN to see what was *suppose* to be on there, assuming nobody hacked it off and welded another ball size on.

 

[TracTrac]

First off for safety sakes make sure your trailer and ball are rated for reach other. A 2 5/16 hitch will seperate from a 2 inch ball. I found this out years ago while moving my empty 2 5/16" 16 foot 3 axel trailer around in my yard with a 2" ball. I just didn't take time to swap balls.
The bouncing I have with this 3 axel trailer is much worse when towing unloaded. It feels like 3 200lb men are jumping on my rear bumper twice per second.
This is what I think is happening. This trailer is a heavy bumper pull type. There are springs without shocks on the trailer. When the trailer hits a bump it causes a resonating effect. If the trailer had shocks then this reasonating effect would be arrested by shock absorbers. Please correct me If my thoughts are wrong, but I think the trailer is see-sawing a few inches up then down on its axels. When the trailer sits up too high in the front it bounces even more.
Things that I find help correct these actions. Good truck shocks, load leveling hitch, weight on the trailer, properly adjusting the latch nut on the hitch, smooth roads and a 2 inch drop down hitch.
My other 16' 2 axel trailer has a non-adjustable bull dog type hitch and it never bounces.
For the record my tow vehicle is a 96 Cummins 3500 ext cab Dodge ram which is very light in the rear.