A hop-skip-bounce

[Keith B]

Well, I had to pull the TD around today to find a tongue box that would fit... she "hops" alot... Madjack told me he had is axle d-rated to 1500#, but I left mine at 2000#s, because the way I was building I thougt it was gonna be MORE than heavy enough...however, it's not done, no doors, windows, galley equipment, bed, batteries, water, etc...so I hope all that stuff will "let 'er gain some weight"...I'm going to try and deflate the tires down to about 30psi to see if it helps....unless others have some suggestions.

[Dale M.]

Take at least one leaf out of springs or maybe 2 on each side.... You are way overated even for a completed trailer.... And 30 psi is probably to much tire pressure.

I know its not finished yet but....

Dale

[madjack]

Keith...all that "stuff" should add a goodly amount of weight...lowering air pressure can help as well...on "car" type tires, you should be able to go fairly low(mid 20's anyway)......
madjack

[Ira]

Have you towed a bunch of other stuff before, and are you absolutely sure it's actually "hopping?"

Like, do you feel the rear of the vehicle being pulled UP or something in the rear?

I didn't know what the heck to expect on my first tow, and I felt nothing happening back there at all (a truck). But when I looked in my rear view from time to time, I got SCARED because i didn't know how it should behave in the first place, how it should look, but it survived.

Maybe you're just being paranoid?

[Keith B]

It doesn't effect the Jeep or the Suburban at all, but you can just see it "hop and skip" as it goes over "bumps"... not to worried, except for the fact it's A LOT of unnecessary jaring of the TD "joints" and contents, doors, etc... I cannot take any springs out, as this is a torsion axles... HOWEVER, I thought about taking a pieice of 2x2 tubing about 16" long and filling it with lead and welding under the trailer just under the axles...that would about about 175#s ... IF I need to after I get the baby done and loaded down.

[bobhenry]

Before I went into panic mode. I think I'd try loading 250 - 300 pounds in the galley area and 100 to 150 in the cabin to mock the fully load condition of all the items you say are currently misssing and see if this bad habit persists. If it persists you add until you see an improvement in the ride then you will at least know how much you are over sprung. Best of luck !

[halfdome, Danny]

Get a few Dutch Ovens and you won't have any hopping. Danny

[Gage]

Keith, get er finished then worry about it.

[elmo]

My first trip I bounced pretty good also. It was pretty much empty. Now that she is loaded and tire pressure is dropped to 25lbs she goes down the road perfect.

Like Gage said...."Keith, get er finished then worry about it."

You will be fine!

[critter]

Hey Keith,
Just remember you aint got shocks on that thing..is posed to bounce but loading her down ought to help a lot...did mine!

[Keith B]

Yeah, I'm not gonna sweat it to much right now.. still plenty of stuff to throw in there... hopefully I'll have a better idea in about 2 weeks when I can get 'er buttoned down and loaded up.

[Keith B]

Hello all... well, just towed the TD.. the empty weight (with batteries) is 1280#'s on a 2000# dexter axle... I put 7 gallons of water in the tongue box and 120# in the galley (bagged rock) to simulate a cooler/cabinets, etc.; now at 1460#s; and well, it still bounces more that what I really care for. Is my axle to "heavy" of rubber at 2000#s; I'll reorder if that's what I really need to do? I've dropped the psi on the tires down to 15-20 and they squish on bumps.... once it starts bouncing it keeps bouncing.. it doesn't leave the ground or anything, but just a "rapid water bed bounce" if that makes sense... any ideas. I'm soooooooo close I can feel it... only 2 weeks too Minden and I'd really like it to ride better than it currently is.

[Gage]

Are your springs working? Bring the tires back up to 28# and put shocks on it. I also think you just may be worrying about something you don't really need to worry about.

[Keith B]

Hi Gage.. no springs.. it's a tosion axle.. maybe that's just the way torsion axles ride.. all my other trailers are springs and I really never noticed this bounce thing... trust me, I've tried to think how could one add shocks to a torsion axles. I brought the pressure back up to norm and I'll run it again tomorrow. I sure hope I worrying for nothing - it's just not something I'm use to seeing, but again, 1st experience w/ torsion.

[halfdome, Danny]

Keith I have a Dexter torsion axle that I was told is a 2000 pound one. I thought it bounced too from looking in the mirror but Ed & Barb Ester followed us for 50 miles from Spring Fling and said it never bounced just went up and down like his does and he said it was just fine. Ed has made 42 teardrops and I respect his opinion. Stop worrying and enjoy Danny