3 axle trailor

My trailor was all over the road, about55 is all you could do to keep in on the road. Friend thought I should move front axle behind the last one, wrong way to much weight on truck and it was welded wrong , seemed like all the weight was on the one axle that was moved and the truck bumper.So I decided to figure this out myself, I took the axle we moved to the rear and put it back up front, everything under trailor was worn out, spings were wrong, one side would have 3 leaf springs and the other 4 leaf springs,stablelizers had no bushing wore plum out, so now I'm replacing everything under there except axles maybe this will fix it somewhat,using all four leaf springs even new ubolts as well.

I tried bumper pulls for years, finally got a gooseneck, different world. I haul loads with a 3/4 ton that I used to haul with a dump. I think it is safer too, no more weaving etc.

(quoted from post at 10:35:18 04/28/14) My trailor was all over the road, about55 is all you could do to keep in on the road. Friend thought I should move front axle behind the last one, wrong way to much weight on truck and it was welded wrong , seemed like all the weight was on the one axle that was moved and the truck bumper.So I decided to figure this out myself, I took the axle we moved to the rear and put it back up front, everything under trailor was worn out, spings were wrong, one side would have 3 leaf springs and the other 4 leaf springs,stablelizers had no bushing wore plum out, so now I'm replacing everything under there except axles maybe this will fix it somewhat,using all four leaf springs even new ubolts as well.

Click to expand...

You need weight on the ball, and the trailer should be tilted a bit. High end is at the ball. Also check tie rod ends on the truck, along with the rest of the suspension.

I agree with you but I don't do this for a living,and I don't make real long trips a habbit,My trailor is about 26inches off the ground and I have a 1500 four door dodge with a 4.7 in it, But if I ever hit the jackpot I'd like to have a 3/4 ton with a nice gooseneck.But I do like my 8foot bed on it.

If high end was at ball you be heavy on the back of the trailor and your trailor would push you around , I try to get weight even than thighen with wench forward enough to have a little more weight on truck.That part is no problem I think having all that undercarage worn out had a lot to do with my waving back and forth.It has one break on axle and I'm gonna ad one more.

Noticed below that you are pulling with a half ton pickup with 4.7 L engine- If you're redoing everything under the trailer, just get rid of the 3rd axle altogether- no way you're going to need that much load carrying capacity with the pulling rig you're using. Triple axles have too much tire scrub on turns, and its much harder to get the weight distribution right with that extra axle. IMHO, they should be on goosenecks only, to take advantage of the extra load capacity of goosenecks.

As far as weight distribution on trailer, this has always worked for me. Have a stick standing up from the ground to the back bumper of the truck, with a mark where the top of bumper is when trailer is empty. Make another mark about 2 inches below it, and when you are driving your tractor on the trailer, keep driving forward until the back bumper comes down to the second mark (that is, back of truck comes down about 2 inches from the load).

Other posters are right that the front end of the trailer should be a little higher than the rear, after it is loaded. Also, "the tail may be wagging the dog" with a heavy load- and would be helped by a load transferring hitch (EZ Lift, Reece, several other brands).

If the trailer is throwing you around it's because you don't have enough tongue weight. The suspension problems could make it a bit worse, but would most likely cause tire wear problems. With a 1/2 ton truck on a tri-axle trailer you will need to squat the truck a quite a lot to get enough tongue weight if you are fully loading the trailer. The proper hitch height for your trailer is for the trailer to pull level when it's fully loaded, which will leave it with the front up a bit when empty. Too many folks hook with the trailer level empty, then when loaded it's front down which can cause your problems too.

I think it will pull a lot better with undercarage rebuilt. Make sure you have the alinement of axles right. That has a lot to do with how good a trailer pulls. Friend of mine bought a new aluminum tri axle and couldn't pull it over 45MPH. Took it back and they had it for a week and told him they had to cut the axle mounts off and realine them. When he got it back it pulled fine.

(quoted from post at 11:18:48 04/28/14) If high end was at ball you be heavy on the back of the trailor and your trailor would push you around , I try to get weight even than thighen with wench forward enough to have a little more weight on truck.That part is no problem I think having all that undercarage worn out had a lot to do with my waving back and forth.It has one break on axle and I'm gonna ad one more.

Click to expand...

Rick you can have tongue weight and have the front of the trailer higher than the back. Think hitch adjustment, ball mount. Flip the ball mount over and you raise the ball height.
Then put the load where you normally would.

(quoted from post at 11:38:54 04/28/14) If the trailer is throwing you around it's because you don't have enough tongue weight. The suspension problems could make it a bit worse, but would most likely cause tire wear problems. With a 1/2 ton truck on a tri-axle trailer you will need to squat the truck a quite a lot to get enough tongue weight if you are fully loading the trailer. The proper hitch height for your trailer is for the trailer to pull level when it's fully loaded, which will leave it with the front up a bit when empty. Too many folks hook with the trailer level empty, then when loaded it's front down which can cause your problems too.

Click to expand...

Jon said what I meant.

I can also guarantee that worn steering on the tow vehicle will cause the same problems.

Thanks for all the info, I will buy a new receiver for the ball on the hitch with more of a length to it so when enty trailor will be just a little higher in front and even when loaded. thanks to all.

will do,thank you.

I agree.

The tongue weight should be 9 to 15% of GTW.

I have learned a lot today and thanks again.

My trailer always pulled about as good as could be but lately it started wagging me around also. I rebuilt the suspension-new pins and bushings- and now it pulls like new again.

Long bumper pulls are nice too. Our 27 ft deckover is a bumper pull and is rock solid towing, no sway even with worn out suspension and improper loading.

Our little short bumper pull sways like a madman if loaded wrong even though suspension like new.