U-Haul CT 13 bounce - Fiberglass RV
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Old 05-14-2013, 05:17 PM   #1
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U-Haul CT 13 bounce

Our first trip out & when we where on bouncy road we heard loud thunking. We checked everthing, all was good, but when we got home, we found that the trailer bounces sorta spingy like & the hitch on our vehicle is the clunk. We're planning on stiffening it up a bit. Just wondered if anyone else had that issue. (We are using a 2011 Honda Pilot to pull it.) It's not jumping off the ball & the trailer is secure to the frame. It's the curved tow bar that gives the little bounce.
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Old 05-14-2013, 05:29 PM   #2
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Ours also bounces, we tow with a 2003 Honda CRV. Everything in the trailer has to be secured or packed tight or things will move around in there. You can get hitch tightners that will stop that clunking, I made my own. Funny you mention it as it was a very recent discussion on another trailer forum, with several different solutions. My opinion is a commercially made tightner is your best solution unless you have fabrication equipment and experience.
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Old 05-14-2013, 06:03 PM   #3
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All kinds of info on correct tongue weights but 10-15% of total trailer weight seems to be desired for better stability in towing and help keep it from bouncing around back there. (mismatched components in the receiver hitch can cause clunking, squeaking, etc., for sure)
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Old 05-14-2013, 06:50 PM   #4
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Just checking, U Haul uses a 2" ball, a 1 7/8 will tighten down but will rattle.
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Old 05-14-2013, 07:09 PM   #5
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2" for sure! Our CT does have some bounce to it. Watching the trailer in the inside rear view mirror it almost looks like it has an almost constant jiggle to it as if maybe the tongue has some flex to it. I checked the bolt that goes through the tongue and frame at the front of the body, no wear, and it's tight. I did have it out to inspect it. Hitting a dip in the road, like at a bridge, and the trailer has quite a bounce to it. May be time for a new axle, but otherwise it pulls fine. Mary followed me for over 100 miles one time when I had two bikes on the rear of the trailer and she said they didn't seem to bounce any. In a way I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with this issue, just the nature of the trailer maybe?
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Old 05-21-2013, 07:43 AM   #6
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U Haul Coupler is designed to use from an 1 7/8 ball to a 2 inch ball. The best is the 2 inch ball.
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Old 05-21-2013, 08:11 AM   #7
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If the rubber in your axle is cooked, the only suspension is the sidewalls of the tires. Have someone jump up and down in the trailer over the axle, and watch for suspension movement.
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Old 05-21-2013, 09:37 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Cam A View Post
If the rubber in your axle is cooked, the only suspension is the sidewalls of the tires. Have someone jump up and down in the trailer over the axle, and watch for suspension movement.

Good advice. Also look at pictures of other's CTs here and compare the ride height to yours.
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Old 05-22-2013, 06:56 AM   #9
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I tow with a Grand Cherokee, with a 2" ball and also have the bounce, squeak, clunk thing happen most of the time. Everything tightens as it should, new tires, and have checked to see that the coupler goes on to the ball correctly. Sometimes sound like it is going to bounce off and makes for a worrisome tow, but from what I can tell, nothing is wrong. Glad to hear others have the same issue.
Now I wish we all could resolve the issue.
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Old 05-22-2013, 07:17 AM   #10
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Depending upon mileage, new shocks/struts on the tow vehicle can improve bounce.
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Old 05-22-2013, 07:20 AM   #11
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I too have strange hitch noises and bounce but I think in my case it is not balanced weight. When I put water in the tank which is behind the axle and tow it is worse which makes me think the load is too far back and not enough weight on the tongue. Even semi's have to have a balanced load to pull correctly. Too much weight in the back and you bounce when starting up or anytime you hit a bump.
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Old 05-22-2013, 07:34 AM   #12
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sorry for the duplicate post, but it said wait and submit again??
You can go back a delete a post using the advanced edit function.
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Old 05-22-2013, 11:50 AM   #13
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Kathy & Patti, some or all of your noises are likely caused by looseness between your ball mount and hitch receiver tube. This is normal fit, and can be taken care of by a tightener device. There are various types available from sources such as etrailer or Amazon. I made my own because I had material to do so, and besides that I'm cheap. This was a recent discussion on another trailer site, with some simple solutions such as tape or a thin metal shim. I prefer the tightener, or anti rattle device, because I don't leave the [shin buster] ball mount in the hitch when not towing. And whether you do so or not can become another heated debate if you care to start it.
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Old 05-22-2013, 02:16 PM   #14
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Thanks Bob, I'll try to find some more information on a hitch tightener.
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Old 05-22-2013, 03:01 PM   #15
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Thanks Bob, will do some more research also.
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Old 05-22-2013, 03:49 PM   #16
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Try one of these. I use a hitch tightener on both my trucks receiver and on the Stow-Away box receiver. No rattles, no clunking. Work great.
StowAway Hitch Tightener
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Old 05-23-2013, 10:50 AM   #17
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Thanks for the link Greg. For twenty bucks-what the heck. I'll give it a try.
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Old 05-23-2013, 11:54 AM   #18
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That one looks similar to what I made. Hope it's at least a 3/8 U bolt. I have a 9/16 ratchet combination wrench that I use to tighten the nuts, works good, get them good and tight and the clunking noise will be gone. That one that Greg recommends is one of the best ones I've seen.
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Old 05-23-2013, 12:41 PM   #19
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Thanks for this thread. I too have ordered the Stowaway Hitch Tightener.
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Old 05-30-2013, 12:48 PM   #20
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You are correct sir

Quote:
Originally Posted by mary and bob View Post
Kathy & Patti, some or all of your noises are likely caused by looseness between your ball mount and hitch receiver tube. This is normal fit, and can be taken care of by a tightener device. There are various types available from sources such as etrailer or Amazon. I made my own because I had material to do so, and besides that I'm cheap. This was a recent discussion on another trailer site, with some simple solutions such as tape or a thin metal shim. I prefer the tightener, or anti rattle device, because I don't leave the [shin buster] ball mount in the hitch when not towing. And whether you do so or not can become another heated debate if you care to start it.
That's exactly what we came up with....we too are "economically savvy" we are going to add the metal shim as well.
Kaye
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