Will Balancing Beads Help Reduce Bounce on an Unloaded Boat Trailer

Updated 01/03/2022 | Published 01/01/2022

Question:

I am going to tow a small, unloaded boat trailer 700 miles, mostly interstate. It has 4.80-8 tires and rims and bounces like crazy at 50-60 mph when I tried it out on the interstate. No one balances tires this small, so Im wondering if balancing beads will help, and if so, in what quantity? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

asked by: Robert

Expert Reply:

The reason your trailer is bouncing is because it is unloaded. When your trailer is empty, more than likely the suspension is too stiff for the load. This will cause a bumpy ride and potentially cause the trailer and tires to start bouncing. This isn't related to your tires being balanced (which is not required for trailer tires), and realistically balancing beads like the # CA86VR will not help the situation.

The best thing you can do is add weight to the trailer. Since it sounds like that isn't going to be an option without your boat, I recommend taking it slow to stay safe. It is also important to make sure that your trailer stays as level as possible to prevent any extra bouncing.

expert reply by: Robin H