hey guys,

I know it's been a while since I've been on... sorry about that ... Got caught up with chainsaws for a while...

Anyway I have a little 4ftx6ft trailer and it fishtails like crazy when I go over 50-55mph... Any advice on how to make it stop?

The trailer was unloaded and the tongue is about 2-3ft long... any suggestions would be helpful. I am trying to get this ready to sell for a friend and I know it's going to come right back for a refund if it doesn't pull strait.

I was thinking lengthen the tongue or try pulling it with some weight on...

 

sorry for the double post

 

Howdy, not an expert on this but I got an idea.I see you have some leaf springs there. Are the bushings for them in good shape? Tire pressure,bearings,is the tongue straight? My thot was that if there was some play in the springs that mite cause the fishy action there.I know that trailers with short tongues such as that one are a bear to back up.I have a trailer similar to that and I put two feet extra on it and it helped a lot. Good luck.

 

Typically a trailer will wander when there is not enough tongue weight

 

Agreed. The wheels look a little far forward for an empty pull.

And are both ends of the leaf springs on shackles? If so the axle could be steering itself all over the place.

 

move the axle back 1' and lengthen the tongue 1' and make sure the hitch on the truck is not 3' up in the air ! the flatter a trailer tows the better !

 

I agree with the responses so far.

Remember, trailers of this kind don't have shocks so between the springyness of the tires and actual springs, without a load, they tend to bounce and bounce and bounce, and often that includes a side to side movement.

 

Thanks for all the help guys... This trailer was kobbled together by a farmer with a steel pile and a stick welder... Not a high quality job at all.

I hate little trailer tires! It seems between the 2 boat trailers and the 3 utility trailers we have even brand new tires don't last at highway speeds with loads they are rated to handle. I am planning on selling this trailer for the coulpe but would feel terrible for the next owner if I take to much money for it and would feel bad if I take to little for it and disapoint the owners. I am planning on pulling the tongue off compltely. The ball lock doesn't stay clamped to the ball and the tongue is round stock... Like i said it was made from a farmers steel pile. I am going to go through and reweld and patch all the bad welds after grinding them out and then add 2 feet to the tongue. I'm going to look into new shackels for locating the axle because yes they are shot and improperly installed too boot! probably add some upright rails to attach fenders and box sides too...

anyhow thanks for the help... If i get back on it soon i'll post the pictures... I'm sure you will all have a good laugh at the hideous construction and terrible welding!

 

might be easier to start from scratch and build it right the first time !

 

if I were keeping it myself yeah i'd start from scratch and do it all right... I am trying to sell it for a retired couple that needs that cash...