Noticed a clunking noise when pulling out with my new tag along 14000 lb utility trailer. Did a little test with it a couple of days ago. Basically when you pull out the trailer's hitch raises up on the hitch ball and then drops back down. The amount of rise is around 1/4" to 1/2". This is where the clunking sound is coming from. Is this acceptable. I don't like it.

The other problem is the trailer starts to vibrate the truck quite severely around 65 mph. I have had the tires balanced but the problem is still there. Is these problems related? I am hoping that if I fix the hitch the vibration will cease. By the way the vibration goes away going down hills and is worse going up.

Any advice?

 

Some thoughts. Sounds like way too much play to me. It sounds like the amount you would have using a 2 inch ball in a 2 5/16 socket. Is the latch adjustable? In Ca if you tow a non rv trailer exceeding 10000 gvw you need a class A license, just a thought. Are you going to be using a weight distributing hitch when pulling heavy loads.

 

It sounds as if your ball is 1 size to small. When I latch mine I have almost no movement at all, that is not good for the coupler on the trailer, nor the shank on the ball. Have them both checked, on a 14K tag it should have a 2 5/16 coupler.

 

I agree with the above posts and would also think a 14k trailer should have about 10% on the hitch. May want to check your loading, sounds a little light on the hitch causing it to rise and fall?........

 

I agree with the above posts. Check your hitch and ball size. The vibration could be related to this problem or it could be U-Joints .

 

i totally agree with all these posts, a friend of mine bought a travel trailer and had his kid come and pick it up. they hooked it up and launched it down the freeway at 70+. the kid had a 2" ball on his truck and had previously been towing a two car hauler with the same ball. neither one of them realized that both trailers had a 2 5/16 hitch or that there even was such a thing.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

In a response to a couple of comments...Yes I am running a 2 5/16" ball. I pulled a 10,000 lb trailer before this one. As far as commerical liecense...not needed where I live. Glad I don't live in California! But they do have California Girls! Oh well I guess I can't have everything!

The slop in the coupler is only in the vertical direction. Trailer loading is about right. The problem also occurs when the trailer is empty. And I need to pull it empty alot of the time! I have a different coupler ordered. And I am going to check about adjusting the one I have. The coupler I have currently is very unusual and I can't figure out who makes it. I think it is stamped 25,000 lbs! Built like a tank. Too bad it has slop in it!

 

If it has a breakover arm and a nut on top of the coupler you and take out slack by tighting the nut on top which will move the bottom engagement jaw up tighter to bottom of ball.
Clark

 

If you only have vertical movement on the coupler and the ball latch on the coupler is non-adjustable or already adjusted as tight as it will go, then it is smoked....on some couplers the latch is replacable, some are not.

 

you may want to check trailer hitch GVW rating.My trailer is a14000lb bumper\pull and came with 12000lb hitch.Had to switch to ball\pintle 2-5/16 and a reese class-5 for the truck.dot likes bumper pulls and thier pen as losts of ink!

 

Last time I pulled my trailer I was having the same issue. After a few miles I realized that I had the brakes set too light so I really had no trailer braking. I adjusted them to grab a little harder and my clunk went away.....