Balancing my tear? Help!...All fixed now!

[kirkman]

OK I just extended my frame and installed a new wider Axel on my tear lowering it 6" ( Thanks for all the help with that guys!!!!!) In doing so my trailer now sits level in stead of a slight downward tilt towards the front. Now it's not stable while towing it weaves back an forth more than I like. The Axel is in the same place it was before. I am assuming because it's level now there is not as much tongue weight as before. Am I on the right track? HELP! I don't want to relocate my 6 gal. water tank and my spare tier holder/swing out table, but I think I am going to have to after you all chime in!
Thanks!
Jason

[asianflava]

How bout filling your water when you get to the camping spot. I usually have a tote filled with camping gear that I put inside for ballast. Cast iron?

[kirkman]

Thanks asianflava.......But most of the camping I do is in remote spots with no water.

[Shadow Catcher]

What is your tongue weight? In the changes is there a difference in wheel camber?

[eamarquardt]

OK I just extended my frame how much an in what dimensions and installed a new wider Axel on my tear lowering it 6" ( Thanks for all the help with that guys!!!!!) In doing so my trailer now sits level in stead of a slight downward tilt towards the front. Now it's not stable while towing it weaves back an forth more than I like. The Axel is in the same place it was before. I am assuming because it's level now there is not as much tongue weight as before. Am I on the right track? HELP! I don't want to relocate my 6 gal. water tank and my spare tier holder/swing out table, but I think I am going to have to after you all chime in!
Thanks!
Jason

Consider mounting your suspension on angle iron and bolting the angle iron to your frame. That way you can adjust to any postition you want. Doing so also spreads the load a bit better.



Cheers,

Gus

[Alphacarina]

I've (briefly) towed a trailer or two which had negative tongue weight and they towed straight and true without any whipping. I wouldn't think just lowering the trailer and minimally changing the tongue weight is the cause of your problems . . . . I'd look at the axle and everything you changed back there for the reason(s) it's not towing correctly now

If you have 10% of the weight of the trailer on the hitch, you should be good

Don

[48Rob]

Jason,

Using a bathroom scale to determine the actual tongue weight would be a big help in asking for help, as we have no clue what you are starting with...
It is possible you have too little, or too much tongue weight.

Rob

[kirkman]

Rob.... OK my tongue weight is 104 lbs. I did not weigh each wheel because if I break my wife's scale she will have my head. I did weigh one wheel and it was 380 something before the scale made a funny noise and I jacked it back up to save my own life. It was 650 empty total when I weighed it for registration.

***I forgot to mention that the pivoting spare tire/table mount is also new and at least 40 lbs.***

Shadow Catcher...I don't think so.

eamarquardt..I went from a 4' axle to a 5' axle in the same place it was. So the wheels would be out side the body with steel fenders and I already welded them.

[Shadow Catcher]

10 to 15% of the total weight should be on the hitch and it looks like you are right there, depending on your loaded weight.
Camber is often put into the axle to compensate for deflection when loaded (it is quite pronounced in the Dexter axles).
How about alignment?
Is the hitch and trailer truly towing flat level. Might be worth seeing what a slight nose down does for towability and would eliminate that geometry and take you to the axle as being the cause of instability. Do you have a drop or rise on your trailer ball mount. our next MM is 3 or 4" more ground clearance and I know I will have to turn the drawbar over to get more height.

[bobhenry]

Chubby was a hybrid Harbor freight frame. I placed the axle at 60 / 40 when he was built. 60% of the body ahead of the axle and 40% behind this seem to be consistant with the balance sheet just a different math function. I have always towed very slightly nose down.

Chubby had a bad habit of towing fine until 62 MPH and above that speed he would dance.

I was always worried about the flex in the HF tongue and finally got aroung to reinforcing it. In the process I asked my welder buddy to add 18" to the length.......



The dancing is gone I took him to 80 mph just to prove it to myself. Dead die straight and rock solid. I truely think there is enough flex in the HF tongue that a harmonic resonance is started with a flex to the right that creates a counter flex to the left and on and on back and forth. Stiffening the tongue and reinforcing the center rail seems to have eliminated the "dance". I extended the center rail under the trailer clear to the axle. I had asked my welder buddy to take it clear to the rear but he was convinced it would only add weight so I gave in. Apparently he was right.

[48Rob]

Jason,

That tire/table mount hanging off the rear may change things more than suspected as it is not weight on the trailer, but weight hanging off the trailer.


An easy test would be to put 50-100 pounds of something in the front of the tear and take it for a drive.
If you've been towing with the water tank full, empty it as well for the test.
Once you get things balanced correctly, there should be no sway of any kind to speeds well beyond the legal limits.

Rob

[bobhenry]

It just hit me while reading robs post.......

Are you absolutely certain the axle is aligned square with the pull.

Mark a tiny spot on the underside of the ball cup at the nose and measure the diagionals carefully to a common feature I generally measure to the inside front "U" bolt. If you are not pulling exactly 90 degrees to the axle it will hop as well.

[kirkman]

OK guys I will try draining the water and take her for a ride then I will try adding weight up front. If that does not work I like the idea of lengthening and reinforcing the tongue. The way bobhenry did. This would give me a 2" to 3" nose down attitude again. Wish me luck! Keep the ideas coming!!!!! If I can keep from breaking out the welder AGAIN I would like that!
Thanks Loads!!!!
Jason

[asianflava]

If towing the trailer level is what you're after, how bout an adjustable hitch. By far not the cheapest option, but the easiest. Shop around, I've seen them cheaper.

http://www.etrailer.com/p-AM3410.html

[kirkman]

OK I'm back draining the water tank and adding 42 lbs. to the tongue helped a little but not that much. At 65 she is still squirly, 55 it's not bad at all. My neighbor is a retired truck driver and he thinks I should lengthen the tongue also. I hate to do it but unless some one has a better idea I guess I am of to the steal store tomorrow!
I did check to make sure that the axle is square and the same distance from the center of the ball and it is.
Thanks again every one!!!!!
Jason