Should a trailer do this?

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Daphnelia

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I went with a friend to a cross country course today, to take some pics for her. She has an old rice, and through a lot of the journey the trailer seemed to 'bump' the land rover rather a lot. At some points it seemed to bump back and forth quite severely, and I was worried about her mare in the back. My friend says this is common with a lot of trailers, particularly when travelling at higher speeds and along bumpy country lanes. She says the ride for the horse is still very smooth. Anybody else experienced this? She is giving me a lift next week and I'm a little concered
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After all my time spent at the car dealers and the trailer centre....... I would say that the damper has gone.

It feels like the trailer has kicked the car up the jacksy????

Mine was fine, but I had a good description of what was NOT wrong with mine
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And no, it isnt normal
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I had an old Rice Beaufort trailer for a few years, towed it with 4 or 5 different 4x4s and it never did that. Not sure what is wrong, but it aint right!
 
The damper is a plunger like part that absorbs the 'push & snatch' that the trailer experiences as you brake & accelerate. Additionally it also applies the brakes on the trailer as you decellerate your towing vehicle. I don't know how much it is to have to replaced/repaired but you definately need it looking at. I wouldn't use it until it has been sorted out as the trailer at the present time is unstable.
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You don't need to go to a trailer dealer to have this looked at, a caravan mechanic will be able to check this for you.
 
I had an old rice and only towed it without horse in the back and it bounced my car about like a bugger,which it will as no weight to stabilise it....,however my car has towed an ifor with horse in the back and it has not moved???
Most cars will bounce a bit with no weight in the back of a trailer but weight should stabilise that....she is either driving tooo fast or something is not right with the trailer
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The damper is a plunger like part that absorbs the 'push & snatch' that the trailer experiences as you brake & accelerate. Additionally it also applies the brakes on the trailer as you decellerate your towing vehicle. I don't know how much it is to have to replaced/repaired but you definately need it looking at. I wouldn't use it until it has been sorted out as the trailer at the present time is unstable.
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Just spoke to hubby and yes....sounds like the dampers have gone as said above
 
[ QUOTE ]
The damper is a plunger like part that absorbs the 'push & snatch' that the trailer experiences as you brake & accelerate. Additionally it also applies the brakes on the trailer as you decellerate your towing vehicle. I don't know how much it is to have to replaced/repaired but you definately need it looking at. I wouldn't use it until it has been sorted out as the trailer at the present time is unstable.
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You don't need to go to a trailer dealer to have this looked at, a caravan mechanic will be able to check this for you.

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what he said...............get it sort
 
JMO7 it isn't mine, otherwise it would have been checked a while ago
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I'm too much of a worrier to leave things to chance
But of course I won't be using it until it has been looked at.
Thanks a lot for all the advice everyone I'm really greatful
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People it isn't mine, otherwise it would have been checked a while ago
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But of course I won't be using it until it has been looked at.
Thanks a lot for all the advice everyone

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Think they know it isnt by original post
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pleased you looked for advice as at least you can advise your friend her trailer is not safe
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The damper went on my old rice and it was just as cheap to get the coupling replaced. I had it done last year and it was just short of £200, but as for the ride being smooth for the horse I can say with certainty it is not! Its bloody awful my horse nearly fell over !
 
Eep
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thats expensive! I've looked them up though and they're £40 - £50 new.. did they really charge you £150 for just fitting the thing..?
 
The reason the trailer is bumping the car then snatching back, is caused by a worn out damper and incorrectly adjusted brakes, basically when the tow vehicle brakes the weight of the trailer is put on to the car without any brakes being applied by the trailer, until the hitch is fully compressed, then the brakes on the trailer work, and you get a thump in the car, then as the tow vehicle pulls away again, the brakes are still applied on the trailer, as the hitch has not released correctly, you then get a jolt as the tow vehicle forces the brakes to release.
I have known an old Rice trailer to do this so hard, it broke the backing plate which all the brakes are attached to behind the brake drum, and ripped all the brake rods out, it cost over £400 in parts alone to fix, without the cost of a new hitch.
If the brakes failed completely and with the additional weight of a horse or two on board at speed, there is the chance of the trailer jackknifing, or pushing the tow vehicle off the road or into other traffic.
The trailer needs an overhaul, before there is an accident.
 
sounds exactly what mine has been doing, basically brakes had seized up, and not working. Fairly easy job, if you can find someone that knows what they are doing.
 
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