Trailer bounce

[azop]

I picked up a trailer today along with my CT230 (

The dealer drove it forward onto the trailer (with the FEL and pallet forks) instead of backing it on the trailer. On my way home there was *all kinds* of bouncing, especially under 40mph. I pulled over several times thinking it was going to fall apart.

This is really my first time pulling any trailer, but I really don't think this is normal. I asked the dealer and he suggested I remove the trailer power coupler to see if the brakes were engaging incorrectly, but that didn't resolve the issue.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

It's this trailer: Bobcat of St. Louis > Inventory > Pre-Owned Inventory

 

[94BULLITT]

You dealer should have backed the tractor on th trailer look in your manual. Are the tires flat spotted on the trailer? Did you have not enough or to much tongue weight?

 

[rdln]

The first thing that comes to mind is....Is the frost coming out in the roads there like it is in michigan? our back roads are getting a lot of pavement rising right now.

Also maybe the frequency of the trailer frame flexing is in step with the trailer suspension. Sorta explained here http://www.ucfamerica.com/Flexiride...ep In Mind When You Design Your Flexiride.pdf

 

[94BULLITT]

Check your wheels on the trailer and make sure they are tight. Trailer wheels that size should be retourqued every 80-100 miles. Were the tires on the trailer and tow vehicle proplerly inflated? Make sure you do not have a tire going bad on the trailer. Check for knots in the sidewall and jack the trailer up and spin the tires and see if the tread is crooked. If all of that looks good see if the trailer does it empty.

 

[boggen]

it is spooky huh? more so when the trailer bounces around and you can feel it, as you make small adjustments to steering wheel to keep things on the road.

when the trailer is empty, and i go through a rough patch of road. i can hear it and feel it through the steering wheel. as the trailer bounces around.

when i get a heavier load, the little s-10 blazer of mine will wobble some with the trailer, as the trailer bounces some as it hits a pot hole or large crack in the road.

some times there is more play in the ball that gives you some extra bouncy-ness and jerky-ness of the trailer.

my problem is more of me blazer is small. while the trailer is full size car hauler. (widths) so i am constantly checking/looking out a mirror to make sure i am on the correct side of the yellow line. the bouncy jerkyness of the trailer is otherwise forgotten.

i wouldn't put to much wait on my own comments. i would be a beginner novice myself as far as pulling a trailer. compared to some of the folks here.

 

[azop]

It was very spooky. I have a Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 so it should have plenty of weight to pull the car hauler and tractor.....

 

[azop]

You dealer should have backed the tractor on th trailer look in your manual. Are the tires flat spotted on the trailer? Did you have not enough or to much tongue weight?

I asked him about it, and he said he always drives tractors on instead of backing them on. As far as I could tell yesterday during my inspection before I got it the tires looked fine, but I'll take another look today

 

[azop]

it is spooky huh? more so when the trailer bounces around and you can feel it, as you make small adjustments to steering wheel to keep things on the road.

I guess I would describe it more as "surging". It felt like the trailer was pulling me back slightly as I was driving (not a constant feeling, more like a boat rocking)

 

[94BULLITT]

I guess I would describe it more as "surging". It felt like the trailer was pulling me back slightly as I was driving (not a constant feeling, more like a boat rocking)

Was the truck bouncing up and down in the back? Was the truck sagging, setting up high or normal in the back?

 

[azop]

It was squatting pretty good in the back. I don't recall the back jumping

 

[94BULLITT]

Can we see a picture of the trailer hooked behind the truck empty and the way the tractor was on there when you brought it home. You don't have to tie the tractor down.

 

[azop]

Yup...i'll get it hooked up tomorrow and post pics

 

[94BULLITT]

Yup...i'll get it hooked up tomorrow and post pics

Okay. How do you like the tractor?

 

[boggen]

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.

 

[westbrooklawn]

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]

[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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

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.

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