Riverrunner58
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2016
- Messages
- 9
Hi all,
My boat trailer is vibrating in pulses (about every second or two) at any speed of travel. It sounds/feels like hitting a rumble strip, but a bit milder.
Here are some details:
Trailer is a light-duty, single axle (1000 lb axle) and loaded with a 1436 Lowe jon with 15hp merc 2 stroke (about 250-300 lbs total weight). Heavier gear is usually in truck bed to keep towing as light as possible. I've made a few 100+ mile trips with this happening and want to make sure everything is safe before towing again.
I had the tires replaced and dont think I had the vibration problem after replacing them, or never noticed. Then I did the following upgrades and something changed:
1. Two new hubs
2. Replaced bunks with rollers, as I fish some hard to launch spots (I don't see how this could change things but maybe).
3. the trailer frame is super light and weak. We discovered that the metal tubing leading to the tongue is just a light duty channel (3 sides) with a wood 2x4 fit into the channel. To reinforce this, we welded two square tube braces, which made the trailer much sturdier (before you could literally twist the tongue while it was hitched). Here is a quick drawing of where we added the braces in case this could have something to do with it (new bracing is colored red)
Do the tires need to be balanced? Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
My boat trailer is vibrating in pulses (about every second or two) at any speed of travel. It sounds/feels like hitting a rumble strip, but a bit milder.
Here are some details:
Trailer is a light-duty, single axle (1000 lb axle) and loaded with a 1436 Lowe jon with 15hp merc 2 stroke (about 250-300 lbs total weight). Heavier gear is usually in truck bed to keep towing as light as possible. I've made a few 100+ mile trips with this happening and want to make sure everything is safe before towing again.
I had the tires replaced and dont think I had the vibration problem after replacing them, or never noticed. Then I did the following upgrades and something changed:
1. Two new hubs
2. Replaced bunks with rollers, as I fish some hard to launch spots (I don't see how this could change things but maybe).
3. the trailer frame is super light and weak. We discovered that the metal tubing leading to the tongue is just a light duty channel (3 sides) with a wood 2x4 fit into the channel. To reinforce this, we welded two square tube braces, which made the trailer much sturdier (before you could literally twist the tongue while it was hitched). Here is a quick drawing of where we added the braces in case this could have something to do with it (new bracing is colored red)
Do the tires need to be balanced? Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!