Trailer Question

I have a 5'X10" trailer that I beefed up and put two new 3500Lb axles with 13 inch wheels on it thinking this would be the perfect little trailer to tow my 71 CJ5. The problem is the first time I got it on the freeway the Jeep and trailer started to verticle sway (porpoising). Has anyone ever had this problem? Thanks Lee

 

Was the jeep tied tight to the trailer? Did you test pull the trailer without the Jeep? How much weight was on the tounge? IIRC, it should be about 10-15% of the weight of the trailer.

 

The weight was distributed over the trailer with the proper tongue weight. The frame of the jeep was straped to the trailer. I am wondering if the body of the jeep began to sway even though the frame was straped down. I wonder if I shoud cut the center of my axles and weld 8 or 10 inches to give a wider wheel base????

 

IMO wider will not help. I had the same issue with my M416 trailer. It used to track dead straight behind the Jeep. I even drove from Pa To Ca and back using the hook and pindle.
Then I added a rear spare tire and gas can carrier on the back of the trailer. The trailer was still tonge heavy but less so, and it fish tailed excessively. I changed the coupling mechanics to make it interchangeable between a 2" ball coupler and a pindle, I also had to add an anti-sway bar to the hitch. This has solved the highway sway problem. When I get to the trail I remove the coupler and sway bar and put the pindel on.

Jay
ps i looked and I don't have any pics..... I guess I need to take some .....

 

O_O Oh trailer wheel base/trailer axle? I thought Jeep axles I was gonna say...
Well, were your axles all torqued down right? Are they all centered and not one side favoring the other?

 

How long is the tongue? You have 13" wheels? what ply rating tire? do the they get hot to the touch after you've towed some with Jeep aboard. Weight capacity of trailer is only as good as the lightest componant. I have a 5 x 12 trailer and my M38A1 is a pretty good load for it. I have 3500# axles w/15 inch wheels and tires the tongue is a little over three feet. The spring equalizer is set at the 60% point of the trailer. And yes SOMETIMES it will porpise on rutted or rough surfaces. Check load rating on your tires.

 

The trailer has been reinforced, the axles have been distributed right, wheels and tires and springs are rated for the proper weight of trailer and jeep. Tongue is four feet long. When the jeep is on the trailer it covers every bit of the trailer. I was thinking of welding an extra 10 inches to the trailer axles to try to stable it from being top heavy and swaying from side to side. The trailer is not fish tailing. It swayed like it wanted to tip over. This trailer has only been used once for trailering my jeep and it was done by a friend and I was not there when it started to sway(@ 60MPH). He said it got pretty scary. He did say that the tongue of the trailer was sitting a little higher then the rest of the trailer which would send more weight to the back. Thanks for your input.

 

His receiver holding his ball hitch may be set wrong. I'd flip it over so it's all level, or get another drop bar.

 

<not relevant>

 

being that small of trailer, you're top heavy as well. widing the axles wont help, unless you make the trailer wider.

It is possible to correct your 'issues': short of adding 2 feet to the width of your trailer, move the springs out on the axles as far as you can. next, your tires are rated for the weight of jeep and fully aired up right?



trailer sway bars won't help, they fix the tail wagging the dog effect, not side to side.

 

Thanks for all the info. I think the bottom line is that the trailer is to small. It is better to air on the side of caution instead of hurting someone. Thanks again

 

One of my trailers was a single axle trailer of that length. It was so short the front bumper and some of the front leaf spring in front had to be over the front bar and the flip up tailgate had a hole in it to fit a jeep trailer hitch if it was on the rear drawbar. This trailer must have towed 50- jeeps in its life-time and towed great.