I bought a 4 place Aluma trailer. When driving it around 60-70 and I get on a stretch of freeway with consistantly spaced cracks/humps it bounces and it seems like the electric brakes are coming on for a split second. It really tugs on the truck to the point that it does not seem like it is the actual bounce tugging. Hits pretty hard. The thing is I do not have a brake controller yet. (The trailer does not have surge brakes) Seems like that is not possible but it feels like it is way more than just the trailer bouncing. Could it be just the bounce? Litterally my head goes back and forth some while driving but once of the bumps it drive smooth as silk...
Trailer bounce ?
- Thread starter XC Elko
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mine did the same thing...took all summer to figure it out...was a PIA....turned out both axles had cracks in them and all 4 wheels had worn a llw spot because of this....wheels were tilted but ran straight....only way I found out was crawling under and looking at axle all the way across....both had serious cracks....then I bought 4 new Carlisle tires......god don't do that....that was even worse....had them balanced too....the rims were way out of round to the hole pattern...even tried match marking tires and rims....I now know why triton doesnt use Carlisle anymore...i think its load star...axles were like 2 grand
sorry...ok were was we....tires were a bust....I would go the extra mile and get turned rims or aluminum rims....the old stamped out rims the molds are worn out...and Carlisle sold them and that company did not redo them....so they suk....literally....super waste of money....long story short...examine the tires RELIGIOUSLY.....they are whats hopping....the tugging....is when the crack opens a tad and pulls on you then it shuts due to force and it wants to go back in alignment....this back and forth opened huge holes and seams in my axles all the way from one side to the other....my trailer has aboot 200,000 miles on it...maybe yours was owned like a guy like me and drove the snazolies out of it....all said and done was like 3 grand....sveral trips to triton and countless hours to the wheel shop....it is a 1991 24 foot triton elite 101 drive on drive off....hind sight....shoulda just plunked down another 3 grand and had a BRANDY NEWY TRITON....but there ya have some stuff to check out now....good luck
PS...when it seems like the brakes come on....have someone drive behind you and look at trueness of wheels rolling.....this is how I first saw the cracks....a buddy behind me noticed the wheels tilting oddly...and then straight...all the while the trailer was hopping really bad...and kept getting worse
sorry...ok were was we....tires were a bust....I would go the extra mile and get turned rims or aluminum rims....the old stamped out rims the molds are worn out...and Carlisle sold them and that company did not redo them....so they suk....literally....super waste of money....long story short...examine the tires RELIGIOUSLY.....they are whats hopping....the tugging....is when the crack opens a tad and pulls on you then it shuts due to force and it wants to go back in alignment....this back and forth opened huge holes and seams in my axles all the way from one side to the other....my trailer has aboot 200,000 miles on it...maybe yours was owned like a guy like me and drove the snazolies out of it....all said and done was like 3 grand....sveral trips to triton and countless hours to the wheel shop....it is a 1991 24 foot triton elite 101 drive on drive off....hind sight....shoulda just plunked down another 3 grand and had a BRANDY NEWY TRITON....but there ya have some stuff to check out now....good luck
PS...when it seems like the brakes come on....have someone drive behind you and look at trueness of wheels rolling.....this is how I first saw the cracks....a buddy behind me noticed the wheels tilting oddly...and then straight...all the while the trailer was hopping really bad...and kept getting worse
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I had an aluma 3 place (14') trailer and when I pulled it empty it bounced and pulled like crap. When it was loaded I never had any trouble. But I also have an older 18' car hauler and that pulls like you describe. At times it would just jar the truck, loaded or empty. What I noticed one time as i was changing hitches is on the hitch portion that slides into the receiver the hole for the pin had oblonged. So it was really the hitch sliding back and forth, only maybe a 1/8" but once I changed hitches it went away.
As far as axles concerned I also had to replace an axle on the Aluma but it was less than $300 for an axle. I turned too tight into my driveway and hit a rock, slightly bending a spindle. Took several blown tires before I figured that one out.
As far as axles concerned I also had to replace an axle on the Aluma but it was less than $300 for an axle. I turned too tight into my driveway and hit a rock, slightly bending a spindle. Took several blown tires before I figured that one out.
good info guys I will check it out. doubt they are not rubbing, plenty of clearance and trailer is empty. tires look new, no discernable flat spots. Like I said runs smooth as silk if on a section of freeway that doesnt have the rythmic cracks/humps. Will take a good look at the axles. I havent had it fully loaded yet so curious to see if some weight on it takes this tug away. Ill post if I find anything.
It is possible for electric brakes to self apply, the magnet can rub on the drum or since it seems to only do it when you hit bumps it can act like a pendalim and swing enough to apply the brakes. Take off the drums and make sure that the brakes are free and not rusted up then adjust them for proper free play.
If you never plan to use them just remove the brakes shoes.
If you never plan to use them just remove the brakes shoes.
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Could be a resonance with the combo of the trailer and cracks. I have this with one of my boat trailers - there is a section of road that is always terrible with this combo and will get a resonance going, and need to take it slow during this section. The distance between the cracks and distance between the truck and trailer is perfectly wrong.