Trailer too bouncy?

[ba_fisher]

Took my 14' RIB to the water for the first time today. I noticed that whenever I went over bumps on the road, I heard bouncing noise from the back. So I took this video of the trailer going over a speed bump.

Is this normal?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQKb...ature=youtu.be

Slow motion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7g...ature=youtu.be

[ba_fisher]

Here's a longer slow-mo video. The fun part starts at about 50 second.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV61tY1NTFU

[ian parr]

I think most of the noise is coming from the backrest thumping around,you ain't got too much wind in tyres have you,don't look like engine is bouncing around,I've never towed anything that don't bounce or make strange noises,I think it's the norm.


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[Low Flyer]

I think if you slowed down it may help.


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[Colin D]

Looking at your slow motion video . Is the winch the only means of strapping between the boat and the trailer
A strap between the transom and the trailer would sort out the issue .

[Festinghouse]

looks perfectly normal to me. i dont know about your particular trailer, but normally trailer suspension is really crude (but works) and doesnt have luxuries such as coil springs and dampers. just make sure your tyres are at right pressure so that the suspension does all the moving and not the tyre sidewall as that will generate heat and can cause the tyre to fail

[Poly]

Low flyer +1

The other thing to check is the nose weight on the hitch. If it's not heavy enough you can get noise there as it tries to lift off the ball.

[biffer]

I don't think you can do much about that, it probably sounds worse than it is, strap the front, back and backrest down a bit better and live with it


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[ba_fisher]

I bought a 1.5 inch wide ratchet strap to tie down the back of the boat a little.



One thing I could figure out is the short end of the strap (where the ratchet is) is too long and the ratchet will be touching the tube. I ended up looping the strap twice around the trailer frame (loping once isn't enough). But this looks like it will introduce unnecessary tension on the strap. Is there a better way?



I also removed the backrest of the seat for now and tie down the lid



The transom already had two tie downs




Will do a test drive tomorrow to see if it makes any improvements.

[camelgas]

Strap over the tubes is never a good idea.

[ShinyShoe]

The ONE thing the entire rib.net community always agrees on is straps never go over tubes. Cheese wire comes to mind.

Not even once. Even for a test..

Can't see what the back straps are attached to on trailer... They point out slightly if the attachment to trailer moves towards vertical the length is shorter so the strap becomes loosened in effect.

You should with enough strength be able to lift the boat and with no separation be lifting the trailer too...

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Poly

Low flyer +1

The other thing to check is the nose weight on the hitch. If it's not heavy enough you can get noise there as it tries to lift off the ball.

+2

It's the stone age design of boat trailer suspension. If I went over a speed bump with my Ifor Williams which has proper(ish) suspension, it would sound like a train crash in a china shop, so simple rubber suspension stands no chance. Drive it like you don't want to spill a pint!

[jyasaki]

The bouncing is pretty normal. No shocks on the axle, so the springs cycle til they lose energy. The sound it makes gets worse when you get some rust in the springs (just so you know.)

As someone above said, slowing down helps (assuming it's possible without some jackass in an Audi doesn't hit you.) Also, make sure the tires are properly inflated.

jky

One other thing to check is if the nose of the boat is bouncing relative to the trailer. If so, that calls for a strap to lock it down.

[tworotorturbo]

Yeah thats normal. I look in my sideview mirror at times to see the trailer tires airborne with some bumps on the freeway.

[ba_fisher]

Test drove this morning, without the strap on the tube as others have suggested. I still hear a lot of metal clanking when going over bumps. I slowed down to about 15 mph on bumpy neighborhood roads and that helped a little.

One thing I noticed is the transom saver making metal clanking noise when I bounce the stern. How can this be improved?

[ba_fisher]

Also, when I swing the motor side ways it causes a clicking sound in the steering helm (Seastar NFB rack steering). Is this bad? Is there a way to prevent the motor from swaying sideways on the freeway?

[bmb779]

Tie steering wheel so motor doesn't move side to side,make sure tyre pressures aren't sky high.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by ba_fisher

One thing I noticed is the transom saver making metal clanking noise when I bounce the stern. How can this be improved?

Power T/T? Put a little (or a lot of) down pressure against the transom saver with the trim button.

As to the motor flopping side to side, you'd have to tie either the motor or the steering wheel off to something. A bungie from the wheel to a grab rail, something like that.

jky

[ba_fisher]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Power T/T? Put a little (or a lot of) down pressure against the transom saver with the trim button.


jky

When I do that, the frame of the trailer (where the transom saver is attached to) bends a little. Is that OK?

[jyasaki]

BA, I said a *little* pressure. I wouldn't want to repeatedly flex the metal on the trailer.

Really, the trailer frame bends? I'd say you need to beef that up a bit. Can you post some pics of the trailer (especially the rear crossmember that flexes)?

On my trailer (for an 18' RIB), everything is 4" x 3" (I think) steel box section tubing. No flex there. It is heavy, though.

jky