Rough Trailering?

[CaughtinmyGrill]

I have a 23' 1995 Sea Ray with a dual axle trailer. Boat and Trailer come in at about 6200 pounds. The trailer has a Atwood brake system on it. The boat and trailer are relatively new to me.<br /><br />I tow with a 2004 Dodge Ram CTD Extended Cab.<br /><br />When I am at highway speeds, it feels like the brake system is surging on and off a couple times per second. There is a regularly spaced tug transmitted to the truck. I can't tell if the trailer is just rocking front to back or if the brakes are activating. Is there any way to monitor whether the trailer brakes are activated?

 

[nboater]

Re: Rough Trailering?

I don't know about the brakes, but if the drawbar has some play in the receiver, you might get this front to back tugging.

 

[DJ]

Re: Rough Trailering?

I doubt your brakes are actuating. <br /><br />What is your tongue weight? It should be 7-10% of the 6200#. Otherwise, about 550-620#. If it's too light, you will get that sensation.<br /><br />Realize you are in Class IV hitch territory.

 

[nboater]

Re: Rough Trailering?

You might benefit from a weight distributing hitch/mount.

 

[chuckz]

Re: Rough Trailering?

Might want to check your trailer tire balance. A bend rim or out of balance tire can cause hopping. At the rate you're feeling the pulsing, I would look for a problem with one of the rotating components.

 

[CaughtinmyGrill]

Re: Rough Trailering?

It could be a balance issue, i.e. I may not be loading the boat far enough forward. Both times that I have retrieved, I have put the keel all the way up to the bow roller, and secured the bow strap. By the time I get up to the parking lot, the boat has backed away 3 to 6 inches. I think that when I get the boat on the trailer at the ramp, it noses into the trailer pretty hard. Then as I pull the boat from the water, the stern settles and the strap gets a little slack, allowing the boat to slide back a few inches. <br /><br />I will try to power it onto the trailer to get the bow ring right up to the roller.<br /><br />I am running on the stock receiver hitch and I realize that I am over capacity, assumning this is a class III hitch. I did look through the owners manual and while I have a 10,??? pound tow capacity, I think this is with a 5th wheel hitch. It didn't say anything about the receiver hitch capacity. As I said, I have only towed the boat twice. I need to find a class IV hitch or get a weight distributing set-up.

 

[JB]

Re: Rough Trailering?

If your tongue is too light you will get trailer wander and/or fishtailing. That will actuate surge brakes.<br /><br />Get your tongue weight to what DJ recommends and put a turnbuckle on the bow eye to keep the boat in place once she is loaded.<br /><br />Finally, get a trailer pro to check out boat position on the frame, wheel/axle alignment, tongue weight and brake master cylinder adjustment.<br /><br />Anytime the towed weight exceeds 70% of tow vehicle weight all of the above are critical to staying alive.<br /><br />Good luck.