Towing issue / problem / question
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 249
Likes: 1
From: Middletown, PA
Towing issue / problem / question
I was hauling my buddie's Jeep J20 pickup truck with a CUMMINS 4BT in it this weekend to go to a jeep show and my trucks rear end was wiggling and waggling all over the place. Did NOT matter the speed. It would get slightly better under acceleration but then get worse as I eased up on the throttle. I tow my Jeep J10 trail truck all the time with no issues. I am wondering if the added weight of hte heavier engine in the Jeep made my normal trailer location incorrect. I watched both side of the trailer and saw no tire wobble, no bounce no nothing. I am driving a stock 2002 F350 with no suspension or tire mods. Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions? Made me a bit nervous and with these trucks, towing should not be that nerve wracking. THANKS IN ADVANCE!
EARL!
EARL!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Happy Valley Or
Or too much tongue weight. I have had that issue before and it isnt a good feeling. How long of a trailer was his jeep p/u on?
When you loaded it on the trailer how much did your truck squat as you came forward on the trailer? Was the rear end touching the overload pads on the frame?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 303
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From: Central Washington State
How did you load the jeep? drive on, back on? weight should be a little heavier ahead of the trailer axels. Could your rear truck tires be low on air? How fast were you traveling? There are a lot of varibles when loading trailers, but these are the basics that come to mind.
Last edited by puller45; Jul 19, 2010 at 06:00 PM. Reason: slow typing
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
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From: Blairsville,Ga
I guess you could have too much tongue weight.that would be pretty evident looking at it.Depending on what i haul I normally load till the hitch drops 1 1/2" from empty
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Central Washington State
Too much or too little will both give you trouble. I worked 20 years for Wa state DOT on the highway, almost all trailer accidents that I helped with were 1. to heavy in the rear 2. too much speed, or a combination of both.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 249
Likes: 1
From: Middletown, PA
The overloads were touching. The truck was on the trailer with the engine in the front. I was doing about 50 - 60 mph on a relatively flat good condition highway. I have a 16 foot car trailer. This was the first time towing on my BFG All Terrains, but they are the same load rating as my previous tires, same size as well.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Happy Valley Or
I would venture to say you had too much tongue weight. A 16 foot car trailer with a full size jeep p/u like that you have to have a ton of tongue weight just to get it on the trailer. Not to mention the added weight of that cummins motor in there. I dont know what that cummins weigh but i know it is a bit more then the big block or small block that was in the truck factory.
Were your truck tires at max cold pressure as well?
Your trailer tires all the same pressure?
I pulled home a j20 on my 16ft car trailer and it did the same thing. Was very unnerving and not a fun ride. That is when I got rid of my 16 ft and got a 20 ft car trailer.
Is your car trailer axles set back from center at all?
Mine were set back 6 inches from center so that didnt help my situation any either.
Did you happen to weigh that j20 vs. the weight of your j10?
Are they both the same wheel base?
Were your truck tires at max cold pressure as well?
Your trailer tires all the same pressure?
I pulled home a j20 on my 16ft car trailer and it did the same thing. Was very unnerving and not a fun ride. That is when I got rid of my 16 ft and got a 20 ft car trailer.
Is your car trailer axles set back from center at all?
Mine were set back 6 inches from center so that didnt help my situation any either.
Did you happen to weigh that j20 vs. the weight of your j10?
Are they both the same wheel base?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 352
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From: Racine Wi
New BFG's tend to be squirmy to begin with until some of the tread gets worn (my experience from several sets). Add that to probably heavy tongue weight and probably an unlevel trailer (nose down) would give you a fit. In my experience, an unlevel trailer is the most un-nerving pull you can do. Not only does it tend to squirm and whip, but every time you hit a bump, you can feel it "push" the tow vehicle forward, slapping you in the back. Sounds like you may have had the perfect storm. If it was pushing your springs down that much, next time try loading it on backwards. Just make sure you get enough tongue weight. Too little is worse than too much.
Jim
Jim
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