Distance Trailer Towing without the Boat

jlgray

We will be dropping our boat in the Mississippi for an extended boat trip and then bringing the truck and trailer about 1,000 miles to meet it. When I have done a shorter trip, the empty trailer bounced so much it made for a very uncomfortable ride.

What can we do to make the ride smoother? I have heard of reducing the air pressure in the trailer tires or carrying a sizable weight on the trailer.

Will-C

Hello,
I would make sure to have all the wheels on the trailer balanced. Lower the air pressure to lowest recomended setting. I'm guessing about thirty pounds. The weight thing would calm things down but outside of some sort of water tank that you could drain I'm at a loss. Good Luck!
D.D.

journey on · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

If you have electric/hydraulic brakes, remember to turn the gain down on the brake controller. Or you'll smoke the tyres.

We've towed our empty trailer over several bouncy roads and it tracked well. Don't have any specific answers, but it's a 7500# E-Z Loader, and a 3/4 ton truck.

Good luck, Boris

Sneaks

thataway · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject:

wonder if it is the type of suspension which is causing the "bouncing" issue. I have had that with some trailers in the past--but last year, towing an empty trailer 1200 miles it was no problem. This trailer had torsion axles, which seemed to cause less "bounce".

I believe that most of the mileage reduction is when pulling a trailer on level ground--is wind resistance. With some weight on the trailer and without wind resistance increase, the decrease in mileage will be much less than with the boat on the trailer.

On the other hand--it is often not practical to put weight on the trailer. Sand? Water? what do you put the "ballast" on or in?

I agree, drop the air pressure, and maybe drive slower...Incidently some of the freeways have segments which cause bounce, even with the boat on the trailer.

journey on · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

Island Ranger · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

I sure hope you can figure it out. When I towed my empty trailer back from Kent to Whidbey, it was an awful ride....

Mac

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject:

A tandem or triple axle trailer will tow much more evenly than a single axle trailer, which has much more of a tendency to bounce around on it's single point of contact on each side of the trailer.

Joe. Teeth

C-WEED · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:30 pm Post subject:

I would drop the air pressure and remove the tires from the front axle. I would think a heavier tandem trailer would run smoother, when empty on two tires than it would on four. Make sure you have clearance at the hubs. You even get a free set of spare tires for the trip. Thumbs Up

Just strap em over the back axle for more weight.

Twice the tires = twice the bounce for every bump. My aluminum I beam tandem bounces like a basketball just going across the parking lot after a launch.

If you have side bunks. You might run a strap or rope across the front and rear of those to keep tension. This will help cut down on those vibrating back and forth when the trailer bounces.

thataway · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject:

I vote with Joe--the tandem axle trailers are smoother when towed light. The more road contact--just be sure that both wheels are equally on the ground--and that may mean a different tongue height. Many trailers will run on one set of wheels when unloaded--and this may be the case in your trailer when you ran light before.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:32 am Post subject:

I have one single, two tandem, and one triple axle trailer, and the tandems and triple run much smoother than the single unloaded. The triple is even significantly smoother than the two tandems!

That experience, plus the logical analysis of why the increased number of axles resist bouncing around on a single tire on each side, led me to my post above.

The more axles you have, the more the trailer will "crawl" over the humps, bumps, and potholes. This is opposed to the single axle trailer where a single wheel / point of contact on each side "launches" on each significant road irregularity.

Joe. Teeth

drjohn71a · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:59 am Post subject:

Joe,

Not to mention that each additional axle increases the weight substantially!

John

Chester · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:25 am Post subject:

I agree with C-WEED, just run tires on one axle. Less chance of brake lock up, the tires are less likely to start cupping and the tires and suspension will be a little closer to their designed load. Many semi-trailers have air lift axles for just that reason.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:35 am Post subject:

There are apparently at least two or more different theories as to how to best get a good ride out of an empty trailer.

I suspect that the best method may depend on your exact combination of trailer and tow vehicle, so the recommendation would be to try the various suggestions and see which one works best for your set up and driving style.

Joe. Teeth

thataway · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject:

Interesting, that the folks who propose running on one axle, have 22's--lighter boats and trailers, than those of us who have larger trailers, more like what the Ranger Tug will have.

I can see lots of problems with pulling the wheels and holding up the axles--not sure that brake lock up is more likely with the wheels off. I don't know about the cupping. I did have some of that on my trandem last year--no load for 1200 miles--about 4000 miles with a load--and the wear didn't show up until we were near the end of the trip. I have also had cupping on the front wheels of my Honda Pilot which I have towed behind my RV more than I have driven.

I thought that the lift axles were for over load--not taking wheels off the road when traveling light....At least that is how they are used in Florida.