Weird Towing Experience Question

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Nov 1, 2024 | 06:33 PM

Vipersgts1

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Weird Towing Experience Question

Towing my dads new bumper pull 20'x7" dual axle utility trailer with one small quad on board and noticed weird bouncing sensations like going down a bumpier than normal road with maybe a little asded vibration. This happens almost exclusively between 55-65mph. I figured it could be the trailer tires, wheels, axles or having the 4 wheeler too close to the tongue vs the axles. We hooked it up to my dad's ram 1500 and did not experience the symptoms on the same roads. We also repositioned the 4 wheeler just to be certain that wasnt the issue. My trucks a 23' f250 7.3 CC. My dad's is a 19' ram 5.7 1500 CC. We are both using dirt cheap 6" drop hitches and both trucks have some hitch slop. One of my thoughts is that the 6" drop for my hitch isn't enough for this trailer and the front trailer axle isn't making the same amount of contact as the rear axle and it's causing this sensation somehow. We ran out of time to measure tonight but my truck being a HD on 37s vs his 1/2 ton on 33's makes the tongue quite a bit higher when attached to my truck. Anyone have any other input on the issue?

Nov 1, 2024 | 10:18 PM

Ted722

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From: Northern California

I think you're on the right track. I was in a hurry and towed my Dad's tandem axle 18 ft ski boat with a 3 inch drop setting on my hitch. Wasn't level and there was definitely a weird bouncing sensation a time or two as you described. Lowered it to level (5 inch drop in my case) the next time out and it was night and day. Stock '03 F250 4x4 with 33's.

You also have a little bit more options with distributing the weight on your trailer(even after leveling), but definitely try getting it close to level first.

Nov 2, 2024 | 10:56 AM

ATC Crazy

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From: SW VA

I know you don’t want to hear this, but that sounds normal. Tandem axle equipment trailers are the worst. I’ve owned 3 different brands in 3 different sizes and they all do that every now and then, almost always when empty. Feels like the tires on the trailer are flat spotted and bouncing? Yup, it’ll do that for a mile or two randomly, then quit.

Nov 2, 2024 | 03:48 PM

Vipersgts1

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Thanks for the responses! ATC crazy your description does sound very similar to my symptoms. I'll get it more level and hopefully that's enough to satisfy me.

Nov 2, 2024 | 07:19 PM

jimzpsd

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From: Wisconsin

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATC Crazy

So why doesn't it do this behind the 1500 RAM? Thats the question

Nov 2, 2024 | 10:34 PM

ATC Crazy

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From: SW VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimzpsd

So why doesn't it do this behind the 1500 RAM? Thats the question

Was it just the one time it didn’t do it, or does it never do it behind the RAM?

There are times my trailers won’t do it at all either.

I chalk it up to 80psi tires and springs made to haul 14k+…not much give in that combo. Add that to a truck that is built to be as rigid as possible with boxed frames and such, and the harmonics can start with the slightest input.

Nov 3, 2024 | 07:10 AM

HDGuy23

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I have only hauled my skid steer once with the DRW but I had this issue as well with my bumper pull equipment trailer. You have to make sure your load is not too far to the rear. A person really needs a scale to make sure you are not overloading or underloading the tongue weight for the hitch. I scooted the skid steer up 2 inches and mine quit doing it.