Trailer questions

[1930]

Some months ago I bought a trailer off Craigslist.

On the way home with the trailer empty and hooked up to my Ford ranger it started swaying from side to side really bad.

So bad I had to stop get out of my truck and scratch my head.

I got the trailer home, put new tires on it because the tires were worn on the inside terribly, that made no difference.

It's a very heavy duty trailer commercial grade.

I can't post pictures now because they're not saved on my phone, I'll post some tonight

Dual axle it was built to haul one of those high reach machines

I'm thinking that because the two ramps on the back are so heavy and stand straight up that the windflow going down the road is just picking up the back of the truck and causing the problems I'm having.

At this point the ramps the way the trailer was built can't be positioned any other way..

The trailer is on my property in Ocala, I used it to bring my new Kubota tractor to my property and couldn't go above 25 or 30 miles an hour.

I pulled the tractor onto the trailer with the loader facing toward the front of the vehicle.

I don't know how to properly load the tractor..

From what I've read online I guess I should have backed the tractor up onto the trailer and had more weight over the axle or beyond the axles toward the front of the trailer.

Can someone here tell me the proper way loading my l2501?

When the tractor is loaded should the back of the truck be squatted just a little bit or should it be level?

If the tractor is properly loaded onto the trailer and the trailer still sways side to side violently is that definite bent axles?

I may try to bring home my B series tractor to do some maintenance after the weekend, if I've got to replace axles in the trailer than I would do it all at the same time.

Thanks

 

[dougtrr2]

My understanding is that trailer swaying is the result of inadequate tongue weight. I doubt the wind flow around the ramps was the cause. Other experts will be along shortly.

Doug in SW IA

 

[RjCorazza]

A properly designed and maintained trailer should tow fine empty. I think you are on the right track to suspect axle problems, particularly when considering the poor tire wear.
There should be 10-15% of the trailer weight on the tongue. I personally use a hydraulic scale (Sherman?) to check the tongue weight, then marked the trailer bed for various loads. For one time loads I listen for the metal clunk when the trailer hitch comes down onto the ball, then move forward enough to see the truck squat a little bit.... Not very scientific, but at least I know there is some weight on the tongue.
Good luck getting your trailer squared away.

 

[1930]

My understanding is that trailer swaying is the result of inadequate tongue weight. I doubt the wind flow around the ramps was the cause. Other experts will be along shortly.
A picture is worth a thousand words and I will post some tonight, ramps are solid, they prob weight easily 60-75 pounds a piece. I've been told it's a poorly designed trailer online, I can't say myself, I do know that it is super heavy duty.
Doug in SW IA

A properly designed and maintained trailer should tow fine empty. I think you are on the right track to suspect axle problems, particularly when considering the poor tire wear.
There should be 10-15% of the trailer weight on the tongue. I personally use a hydraulic scale (Sherman?) to check the tongue weight, then marked the trailer bed for various loads. For one time loads I listen for the metal clunk when the trailer hitch comes down onto the ball, then move forward enough to see the truck squat a little bit.... Not very scientific, but at least I know there is some weight on the tongue.
Good luck getting your trailer squared away.

Yes, tires were worn down to nothing on the inside, all 4 tires, tires are very small, maybe 10 diam off the top of my head

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Worn on the inside could mean the trailer was ran overloaded. Possible bent axles.

 

[LouNY]

On the way home with the trailer empty and hooked up to my Ford ranger it started swaying from side to side really bad.
As the others have said usually needing more tongue weight.

the tires were worn on the inside
bent axles from overloading or running with loose wheel bearings

It's a very heavy duty trailer commercial grade.
I'm surprised that a HD trailer would have that small a tire on it,
they would put severe stresses on an axle hitting potholes and such on the road


When the tractor is loaded should the back of the truck be squatted just a little bit or should it be level?
An easy and unscientific way to get a rough idea of how your truck will sit with tongue
weight is to stack a few sacks of heavy material on your open tailgate and measure the bumper heights
at different weights, and yes it should have squatted a couple of inches when loaded

good luck

 

[George2615]

Post some pics of the trailer when you can.
10" wheels? Sounds kind of small to be hauling your tractor.
Is this a homemade trailer? Axles may be placed too far forward not allowing enough tongue weight.
All 4 tires worn down on the inside indicates axles may be bent possibly from overloading.

 

[PA452]

How heavy is the trailer and what's your truck's tow rating?

A heavy duty commercial equipment trailer with an L2501 with FEL seems like it might be pushing it for a Ranger.

 

[1930]

I hope this works IMG 218121 83744 — Postimage.org

 

[Rock Crawler]

Some months ago I bought a trailer off Craigslist.

On the way home with the trailer empty and hooked up to my Ford ranger it started swaying from side to side really bad.

So bad I had to stop get out of my truck and scratch my head.

I got the trailer home, put new tires on it because the tires were worn on the inside terribly, that made no difference.

It's a very heavy duty trailer commercial grade.

Dual axle it was built to haul one of those high reach machines

I'm thinking that because the two ramps on the back are so heavy and stand straight up that the windflow going down the road is just picking up the back of the truck and causing the problems I'm having.

I pulled the tractor onto the trailer with the loader facing toward the front of the vehicle.

I don't know how to properly load the tractor..

From what I've read online I guess I should have backed the tractor up onto the trailer and had more weight over the axle or beyond the axles toward the front of the trailer.

Can someone here tell me the proper way loading my l2501?

When the tractor is loaded should the back of the truck be squatted just a little bit or should it be level?

If the tractor is properly loaded onto the trailer and the trailer still sways side to side violently is that definite bent axles?

I may try to bring home my B series tractor to do some maintenance after the weekend, if I've got to replace axles in the trailer than I would do it all at the same time.

Thanks

You talk about the HD trailer, made to move bigger equipment.... and your pulling with a Ford Ranger. God bless that little Ranger.

The empty trailer is typically light on the front compared to when loaded, so very little down pressure. The trailer is HEAVY if it is like you have me picturing. The empty trailer could be anywhere from 1,800 to 3,000 lbs alone. Likely nearing the capability/capacity of a mini truck!

Backing your tractor on the trailer is preferred especially if the trailer is shorter and you do not have deck to allow you to drive the rear axle at least to being centered between the tandem trailer axles. You do always want to "front load" a trailer a bit, so if pulling the tractor on, getting your tractor rear axle centered over the pair of trailer axles would center your heavy rear end and the front axle weight (not nearly as much) would be transferred partially to the tongue/truck. If the rear axle was behind the trailer axle center line, my opinion is that it was loaded wrong.

If you back it on the trailer you are pretty much ensuring that you are front loaded... or heavy to the truck. The problem here is (not trying to be offending at all) you do not have a truck sufficient to handle much front loading weight. You'll squat the bajeezus out of and possibly bottom out that truck pretty fast. I had a 2001 Nissan Frontier that I once thought I could MOVE my 24.5' car hauler with in my driveway. I was wrong. I screwed the trailer jack up and the trailer frame smashed my truck until the trailer sat on the asphalt! It was not a "real truck", and I suspect that your Ranger is facing the same dilemma!

Also, what was the L2501 set up like? Bare tractor with air filled tires? Loader and filled tires? Backhoe or mower on back? You add about 1,000 lbs for a HD mower, same for a backhoe.... 800-ish loading tires..... 1,000-ish for loader assembly. So your 2,800 lb bare tractor could be 4,600 with loaded tires and a loader. And a trailer that is likely 2,500+ lbs.... so you are easily hitting 7,000 lbs..... WITH A RANGER! You may be more like 8,000+ lbs depending on what may be attached.