Tower novice - Car badly affected - help please...

[rabbit]

Maybe replace the passenger car tires and then balance? But really, from an ill-fitting stinger to a convocation of synergistic phenomena in five pages? What a ride!

jack

[cpaharley2008]

I agree with Jack, with all these suggestions made in 5 pages, there are too many variables involved. So you start with the basic and go from there.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Get the wheels balanced.

Certainly couldn't hurt, and if there is an imbalance fixing it might make the real problem more clearly apparent.

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Much too simple, Jack!

I agree
Tire imbalance would explain nothing about how the trailer goes over bumps.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Tire imbalance would explain nothing about how the trailer goes over bumps.

It also would not explain the 1/2" deflection between loaded and completely unloaded.

[MC1]

You can replace the P tires with new ST tires but I would bet dollars to doughnuts you would find it has nothing to do with your problem.

There is a growing trend to get away from using ST tires on trailers because of the negative/quality issues.

It would really be nice to isolate the problem. Someone suggested hitching up the trailer to another vehicle to see if the problem stays with the trailer. I like that idea.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by MC1

It would really be nice to isolate the problem. Someone suggested hitching up the trailer to another vehicle to see if the problem stays with the trailer. I like that idea.

I like that idea, too.

How about the converse as well: borrow or rent a comparably sized trailer, and see if the car has the same problem with it.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by MC1

It would really be nice to isolate the problem. Someone suggested hitching up the trailer to another vehicle to see if the problem stays with the trailer. I like that idea.

LOL So Happy to hear you & Brian finally agree with something I said! Who would of thought that could ever happen!

[franck2cv]

Oh my..... 5 pages already!! .... and I was hoping for a couple of tips!!

I too like the idea of towing with a different car. I could try with my girlfriend's Subaru Legacy I suppose. It's not wired, but it driving to the end of the street and back would be enough to feel the difference if any.
I can't think of anyone close by who owns a Hitch fitted vehicle!

Towing an other trailer (similar size & weight) could be an option too.
Anybody on this forum close to where we live: J4M1P6 ?

Propane cover: Got one! I didn't bother just to go round the block

Hydropneumatic: In Europe, often associated with Citroen, this set-up is considered to be the best thing to have when towing. I clearly don't see why this would be a problem on our side of the pond.
That made me think.... The engine was not running when I shot the pictures. The rear end had probably sag by an inch then.

Tomorrow, I'm going to take both car and Trillium to an RV specialist a few miles from us to hear what he has to say. Before so, I will take a picture of the axle with the wheel off (as suggested earlier). and proceed with the Subaru test!

Should I need to replace the axle, I'll grab the opportunity to fit electric brakes as well. ..... a few weeks ago, before buying our Trillium, I opened a debate on the 'Timbren' alternative. I still like the idea very much!

Have a great week end

[David Tilston]

Man that is a nice looking set up!

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by franck2cv

Hydropneumatic: In Europe, often associated with Citroen, this set-up is considered to be the best thing to have when towing. I clearly don't see why this would be a problem on our side of the pond.

Perhaps due to relatively high hitch load, rapidly changing due to the relatively short trailer. I agree that the car's auto-levelling suspension is not the most likely source of the reported problem.

Originally Posted by franck2cv

Should I need to replace the axle, I'll grab the opportunity to fit electric brakes as well.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

Man that is a nice looking set up!

I agree
It's a good-looking car, and the car and trailer are complementary.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Carol H

LOL So Happy to hear you & Brian finally agree with something I said! Who would of thought that could ever happen!

It happens - at least in my case - quite a bit... apparently more than you realise. I usually don't post just to say "me too"; rather I post to add something (in this case, the different trailer suggestion), for clarification, or to present a counterpoint. That probably looks like always disagreeing.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

It happens - at least in my case - quite a bit... apparently more than you realise. I usually don't post just to say "me too"; rather I post to add something (in this case, the different trailer suggestion), for clarification, or to present a counterpoint. That probably looks like always disagreeing.

Brian, I read your posts with great interest. You always provide a well thought out and well researched response. Your experience and knowledge benefit all of us. Some may find you disagreeable, I find you honest.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by franck2cv

I too like the idea of towing with a different car.

Towing an other trailer (similar size & weight) could be an option too.
Anybody on this forum close to where we live: J4M1P6 ?

If you were closer we could hook it up to our G35. It is roughly the same size and weight as your Benz and both have IRS.

Originally Posted by franck2cv

Tomorrow, I'm going to take both car and Trillium to an RV specialist a few miles from us to hear what he has to say.

That may work well for you especially if they know what they are doing. Hands on they may pick up the problem right away. Good luck and keep us up to speed how it turns out.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Carol H

LOL So Happy to hear you & Brian finally agree with something I said! Who would of thought that could ever happen!

Very cool! Great minds think alike, lol....

[franck2cv]

Originally Posted by MC1

Very cool! Great minds think alike, lol....

... and fools seldom differ! (learned that second half recently, love it! )

[franck2cv]

Here the latest news.

I first removed the Battery, the Propane tank, and the jockey wheel to try with a lighter tongue weight. Then hitched the trillium to the subaru. Only went 300 yards and back..... Awful! I switched vehicles, to drive as planned the Mercedes Wagon and Trillium to the RV specialist. The light tongue weight made it worse by far. I thought I as going to brake something. 20 mph max all the way (5 miles).

Verdict: Tires (as expected). The shop owner was really convincing in telling me all sort of horror stories involving P tires on trailers. We then decided to add a small stabilizer as this is a reasonably priced accessory. He ordered the brace to stop the knock between ball mount and hitch. Finally, he offered to drill a second hole in the ball mount to reduce its overhang (2 inches).
I left the trailer there and will hear from him next week. He's also going to check the suspension but with proper ST tires. A quick look let him believe that, even though not in its prime youth, the axle is likely to have a few thousand miles left to do.... we'll see. One thing at the time.

Enjoy the long week end (Canadian!)

Franck

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by franck2cv

...... One thing at the time.

Absolutely, absolutey. One thing at a time. Start with the cheapest and move to the more expensive.

We're all hoping you find the solution at the cheap end of the spectrum.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Absolutely, absolutey. One thing at a time. Start with the cheapest and move to the more expensive.

We're all hoping you find the solution at the cheap end of the spectrum.

Donna has without question suggested the right path.

I was in the service, diagnostic, repair business for a large corporation for decades. You always do one thing at a time and test for a difference. That way you understand the effect the change has made and go on from there.

What if all the work is done and after that the problem is still there??? Yikes.

I do like the idea that he has redrilled the ball shank and shortened it. That is a good thing no matter what. The sway bar is also good.

Also, it is great that you did the test with the Subaru. It should have easily handled that small trailer without issue. At such a short distance and low speed the tires have no effect, unless of course they have a severe defect of some kind.

[Roy in TO]

So now we know that it is not either the tow vehicle or the tongue weight. Although 4 things are being done at one time, the effect of 3 of them can be tested independantly and in combination after the tires. Good thinking on by your shop. They are all relatively low cost.