What Causes a Trailer to Bounce

Published 06/22/2017

Question:

hi what is the cause of trailer bouncing ??? wheel size ??? leaf spring lenght ??? thanks

asked by: Mark

Expert Reply:

A trailer can bounce if there is not enough weight on it. You see this particularly with utility trailers that are empty.

The tire and wheel size would not automatically cause a trailer to bounce though usually you see smaller tires on smaller trailers and smaller trailers tend to be light weight. So again it really comes back to weight.

It is also possible that there is too much tongue weight and/or the trailer is being towed nose down. This would limit the weight that is over the axle(s) so redistributing the weight further back and/or towing the trailer level will help.

Suspension that is rated higher than the gross trailer weight rating would lead to the springs not compressing much or at all and if high enough even when loaded they may not compress much. The length of the spring would not be a factor unless the spring was also rated too high.

expert reply by: Michael H