Shocks on a boat trailer?

(newty) · (newty) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-26-2006, 9:35 PM

Anybody have them or know of anyone doing it?
When I'm towing my boat, my trailer bounces quite a bit and tends bounce my tow rig around. I was wondering if shocks would limit the rebounding from the leaf springs.

(yosquire) · (yosquire) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 05-26-2006, 10:57 PM

Is your trailer Single or Tandom Axel?

(carcrz) · (carcrz) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 05-27-2006, 5:32 AM

I'm guessing single. We had one w/ our old bass boat & it did that. All of my other trailers are tandem Axle now & they are SO much easier to tow & back-up.

(newty) · (newty) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-27-2006, 7:51 AM

tandem axle

(tyler97217) · (tyler97217) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 05-27-2006, 11:35 AM

what up newty..... are you sure your tongue weight is right? Is that the trailer that came with your MB? What are you towing with?

(newty) · (newty) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-27-2006, 12:05 PM

Its the right trailer it just seems to bounce quite a bit. 03 tahoe and my 99 silverado.
I notice it less with the truck.
I'm sure wheel base has do with it. Ya think low air pressure in the tires would cause that?
When I hit a noticeable bump in the road at higher speeds (55 or higher) the trailer seems to bounce longer than it should. I just wonder if shocks would make it behave more like a car.

(mcsammamish) · (mcsammamish) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-27-2006, 1:14 PM

What brand of trailer? Are there leaf springs or torsion axles.

Torsion axles are stiffer and bounce more, especially with no boat on the trailer. Are talking more about when there is no boat on the trailer?

(tcaton) · (tcaton) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 05-27-2006, 2:56 PM

Has it been this way since the trailer was new ?? If not you might have a weak spring or a cracked one. Adding shocks could be done and would help the ride but would be a big job, you would have to build mounts and have access to a welder and then figure out what shock to use.

(newty) · (newty) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-27-2006, 4:14 PM

01' DHM, tandem axle w/ leaf springs.
I don't believe it has got any worse than it was when I bought it. I don't believe there is any defect in the trailer ie. leaf springs or damaged equipment. I don't think it is any different than any other trailer of its type. I guess its just a pet-peve when I'm on long trips. My post was initially more a question if anyone else has had my specific pet-peve and fixed it, or if there were any companies that had a remedy for such issues.

(tcaton) · (tcaton) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 05-27-2006, 5:18 PM

Are the tires balanced my DHM trailer came without the wheels balanced and I could feel it at speeds of 55 or more you might check that.

(99_slaunch) · (99_slaunch) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 05-27-2006, 9:33 PM

Tires out of balance will cause a vibration not bouncing. Have you checked the air pressure?

(newty) · (newty) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-27-2006, 9:50 PM

I was going to do it but haven't had a chance to look at it since I got back.

(breadbutta) · (breadbutta) **Join Date: Dec 2003** 05-30-2006, 11:53 AM

I also had a terrible problem with the boat bouncing on the trailer with the original springs. The stock springs were a single leaf setup on a tandem axle trailer. I spent $175 on new 4 leaf springs and hardware and swapped them. The difference is amazing. No bouncing, a much smoother ride.
I'm betting you have a single leaf setup.
BTW, the reason I swapped them out was not for the ride. One of my leafs snapped in two and luckily held together on the axle, the ride improving was an added extra!

(newty) · (newty) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-30-2006, 12:50 PM

I'll look into that, Sounds more like the problem. Thx

(v220ls) · (v220ls) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 05-30-2006, 4:33 PM

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/77474.html?1061096836
Check out this link. I remember there was some recall, but I was not sure what brand?
Good luck
G.

(newty) · (newty) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-31-2006, 6:29 AM

Wow, thanks greg. I'll give DHM a call.