What Can I Do to Make My Horse Trailer Ride Smoother on Rough Roads? Cushioned Hitch?

Published 10/20/2026

Question:

My wife and I have a 2 horse bumper pull trailer that we tow with our 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. We go to shows pretty regularly and some of the back roads are terrible. Im worried about all the bouncing the horses are dealing with. Is there anything we can do at the hitch to make the ride a little smoother. I've already added springs to the truck and trailer which helped!

asked by: Brian

Expert Reply:

Hey Brian!

I'd recommend taking a look at the Air Safe Shock Absorbing Ball Mount # AS23FR. Its a really nice option for reducing the shock that gets transferred between your truck and horse trailer.

Instead of a traditional solid ball mount, it uses a heavy-duty air bag to cushion those impacts, which can help reduce some of the harsh jolts reaching the trailer. It wont eliminate all bouncing since the trailers suspension and tires still play a role, but it can definitely help.

It fits a 2" receiver, includes a 2-5/16" ball, and is rated for 14,000 lbs of towing and 1,050 lbs of tongue weight. We also have other sizes, but I imagine this is the setup you'd need for your half ton truck and horse trailer. If not, let me know!

Do you know approximately what your trailer weighs with both horses loaded?

expert reply by: Andrew N