When I tow my '01 240 from the drysail lot to the ramp, 15-25 mph tops, the wheels hop up and down and shake everything crazy. This has gone on since day one, and I suspected brake problems. The road is smooth enough. I just got new axle seals from Magic Tilt since weld boogers let all the grease onto the brake pads. Now everything is cleaned up and the brakes appear to be working, as I checked them while jacked up. I also block the trailer on the frame over winter, since there doesn't seem to be much travel in the leaf springs and it will probably sag more over time. Heavy 9.9 Honda in back, not much in the cabin - could it be weight distribution, or what? Seems to be plenty of tongue weight. I've only been on the highway a coupla times but there is no sway problem, and the hop must be a low speed problem or I would have would up in a ditch. I'm considering the second axle idea posted earlier because I don't think much of this trailer if it shakes like this. One thing I haven't tried is the same route with the mast lowered. Could the furled headsail and or mast be throwing their weight around? Anybody else have this problem?
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Brigg Franklin
Square wheels
You said you block the trailer. Do you get the wheels off the ground? Sitting all winter on the ground the wheels will get flat on one side and may not have enough time to warm up and round out on a short slow haul. It's someting you could visually check if you pull forward a short distance (2 foot). I block my trailer up over winter and take the wheels off. Towing with the mast up doesn't sound like a good idea, but I'm sure you have checked for low branches and wires. There is a lot of weight up there if you go around a corner, but I wouldn't think it would "hop". Brigg
You said you block the trailer. Do you get the wheels off the ground? Sitting all winter on the ground the wheels will get flat on one side and may not have enough time to warm up and round out on a short slow haul. It's someting you could visually check if you pull forward a short distance (2 foot). I block my trailer up over winter and take the wheels off. Towing with the mast up doesn't sound like a good idea, but I'm sure you have checked for low branches and wires. There is a lot of weight up there if you go around a corner, but I wouldn't think it would "hop". Brigg
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Mike
Good Point
I block up by the frame (cinder blocks) in winter, so the tires are off the ground, but otherwise they sit in a yard only a mile or so from the ramp (the big attraction is that I don't have to rig the mast to go sailing, and it's not nearly as expensive as a slip). But it sits on the trailer the majority of the time, so maybe the tires do get out of shape.
I block up by the frame (cinder blocks) in winter, so the tires are off the ground, but otherwise they sit in a yard only a mile or so from the ramp (the big attraction is that I don't have to rig the mast to go sailing, and it's not nearly as expensive as a slip). But it sits on the trailer the majority of the time, so maybe the tires do get out of shape.
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Rick Webb
Block the Axle not the Frame
I've seen trailers bent from them being blocked up from places on the frame that were not designed to carry the weight. If you want to get the weight off of the springs slpip a couple of peices of 2X4 between the frame and the axle but make them as long as possible to distribute the weight along the frame.
I've seen trailers bent from them being blocked up from places on the frame that were not designed to carry the weight. If you want to get the weight off of the springs slpip a couple of peices of 2X4 between the frame and the axle but make them as long as possible to distribute the weight along the frame.
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crazy dave
Mike
First let me discuss blocking the trailer. You have to be careful as I have seen where the blocks were only on the four corners. This is not good as the trailer would sag in the middle on the frame. If you do block, then put 6 blocks in place with one in the middle and take a level or a long straight line to check the frame so it is straight after blocking it. That is fine. Now to the hippity hop. There are some unknowns here so I will try to point out some items to check. The first of course are the tires. Look at them to see if there are any bulges on the sidewalls to include the inner sidewall facing the center. If none, check to see if the tires have flat spots which would have resulted in braking quickly leaving skid marks by the trailer tires thus leaving flat spots on them. I think you will find your problem in one of the above. If you are still experiencing hippity hop, then you need to check your bearings and the racers to see if they are ok and not ready to fall apart. Also, check your lug nuts to make suree they are tight and you might have one that may have broken loose which is a slight possibility. If that has not taken hippity hop out, then look at the leaf springs to see if all the clamps are in place but I seriously doubt that is not your problem but merely in one of the tires. Again, check for bulges and if not I suspect it is a flat spot on one or both of the tires due to emergency braking where skids marks were left thus taking off rubber on the tire surface thus being referred to as a flat spot. Please advise of your findings. Crayz Dave Condon
First let me discuss blocking the trailer. You have to be careful as I have seen where the blocks were only on the four corners. This is not good as the trailer would sag in the middle on the frame. If you do block, then put 6 blocks in place with one in the middle and take a level or a long straight line to check the frame so it is straight after blocking it. That is fine. Now to the hippity hop. There are some unknowns here so I will try to point out some items to check. The first of course are the tires. Look at them to see if there are any bulges on the sidewalls to include the inner sidewall facing the center. If none, check to see if the tires have flat spots which would have resulted in braking quickly leaving skid marks by the trailer tires thus leaving flat spots on them. I think you will find your problem in one of the above. If you are still experiencing hippity hop, then you need to check your bearings and the racers to see if they are ok and not ready to fall apart. Also, check your lug nuts to make suree they are tight and you might have one that may have broken loose which is a slight possibility. If that has not taken hippity hop out, then look at the leaf springs to see if all the clamps are in place but I seriously doubt that is not your problem but merely in one of the tires. Again, check for bulges and if not I suspect it is a flat spot on one or both of the tires due to emergency braking where skids marks were left thus taking off rubber on the tire surface thus being referred to as a flat spot. Please advise of your findings. Crayz Dave Condon
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Mike
Thanks for advice
on blocking over winter. I just had everything apart to replace the seals and I repacked the bearings - all is well. The tires are fine too - one had cracked-up but Magic Tilt replaced it. I'll check the spring mounts. I don't think there are permanent flat spots since I haven't been anywhere in two years due to the drought - my lake is one of the few with water at the ramps (also with all the grease on the brake pads they wouldn't have stopped anyway). Hopefully I get to the bottom of this - thanks for the suggestions.
on blocking over winter. I just had everything apart to replace the seals and I repacked the bearings - all is well. The tires are fine too - one had cracked-up but Magic Tilt replaced it. I'll check the spring mounts. I don't think there are permanent flat spots since I haven't been anywhere in two years due to the drought - my lake is one of the few with water at the ramps (also with all the grease on the brake pads they wouldn't have stopped anyway). Hopefully I get to the bottom of this - thanks for the suggestions.
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Bob Inkrot
Mike, I experienced the same problem when I took my 2002 260 from the house to the lake at the beginning of the season. Never had any problems trailering from storage to the house, only to the lake with it fully loaded with gear. It was stored inside & not blocked up. When loaded, it had more weight up front and towed better except for the bouncing / hopping of the left (port) tire(s?). Like Mike it was at low speeds under 30 mph. The strange part was it was intermittent- did not always occur. Since launching I have jacked up the left side of the trailer, checked the bolts, spinned the tire to make sure it has a consistant roll & does not wobble and inspected the tire for any irregularities. All appears in order. I also noticed a lot of greese splatter in a spin pattern on the inside of the same tire. I will be hauling it 400 miles next month. Any suggestions or has anyone else experienced this problem? Thanks for the help.
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Brad Amundson
This is Notable
I have noticed that the fender around my wheels sometimes shake a little in the mirror. Is this the same hippity hop everyone is talking about. It does seem to be intermittant and I have not noticed excessive heat, so down the road I continue to go.
I have noticed that the fender around my wheels sometimes shake a little in the mirror. Is this the same hippity hop everyone is talking about. It does seem to be intermittant and I have not noticed excessive heat, so down the road I continue to go.
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Tom
Balance the tires, check the hubs...
My trailer tires were not balances when delivered and I had a little vibration at certain speeds. Balancing took care of that. I had a huge amount of vibration last year. So much so that without the boat on the trailer I could see the vibration in the axle through the rear view mirror. When I took the tires off that side to check the balance, I notice that one had a flat spot, like it had been dragged. The tread was almost down to nothing. I put on the spare, and no more vibration. I notice that the hub where the bad tire was runs much hotter than the others, so I suspect that it froze up for a while and dragged the tire to cause the flat spot. Fair winds, Tom
My trailer tires were not balances when delivered and I had a little vibration at certain speeds. Balancing took care of that. I had a huge amount of vibration last year. So much so that without the boat on the trailer I could see the vibration in the axle through the rear view mirror. When I took the tires off that side to check the balance, I notice that one had a flat spot, like it had been dragged. The tread was almost down to nothing. I put on the spare, and no more vibration. I notice that the hub where the bad tire was runs much hotter than the others, so I suspect that it froze up for a while and dragged the tire to cause the flat spot. Fair winds, Tom
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