Trailer bouncing and jolting

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georgiegirl2

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Hi all,

I tow twig my 16.1 tb in a wessex clubman trailer and tow with a diesel freelander (just her by herself) and unless the road is perfectly smooth it doesnt half jolt about on the towbar. I dont tow fast at all (in fact I got overtaken by two other trailers yesterday) so I've no idea what the problem is? Do tow bars come in different sizes ie is the ball to small for the hitch? Or is it simply because the freelanders are not particularly big? I've never felt anything like it before (even years ago when my mum used to tow us with a pergeot (sorry cant remember how to spell it!)
 
Are you sure its not twig in the back having abit of a tiff?
i know my friends horse does this all the time, He just throws a wobbly.

i cant speak from exp. though! im only 14 and my mare wont travel in a trailer, only a lorry!
 
Firstly have you checked weights to make sure your not overladen? Also, when towiing with a trailer its always advisable to use a stabliser, suchas a bull dog.
 
well freelanders are recommended to tow ifor williams 505's on their website and seeing as the wessex is lighter than this I presume its ok?

And, sorry for sounding thick but whats a bulldog? I've never used one!
 
Not entirely sure on wether it is the correct height or not? Ceratainly doesnt look odd and I know I had it professionally fitted when I bought the car.
 
I used to use my mums freelander on occasions when i didnt have my discovery and that used to do the same thing with my ifor 505. It never felt very safe and sturdy like towing with the disco so eventually i stopped using it.
 
Always check weights independantly tho, people have been caught out before so better safe than sorry.

A bulldog is a long metal bar that goes between the car adn along the hitch of the trailer, it helps stop snaking and steady bouncing. Google bulldog stabeliser and you'll see one - I'll try and find a piccie for you.

x
 
Do you use a stabliser?

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/stabilisers/stabilisers.htm

B42_Stabiliser.jpg



EDIT - Sorry, I didn't see the comments about using a Bulldog stabliser. *HANGS HEAD IN SHAME* Fools rush in!
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Towing with a Freeloader sounds dodgy to me, they can barley pull themselves up a hill never mind a trailer on the back, seems to me your paying for a name with Rover stuff, why dont you try and borrow a different vehicle to tow with and see if it's the same, if so it's the trailer, if not it's the Freeloader.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Towing with a Freeloader sounds dodgy to me, they can barley pull themselves up a hill never mind a trailer on the back, seems to me your paying for a name with Rover stuff, why dont you try and borrow a different vehicle to tow with and see if it's the same, if so it's the trailer, if not it's the Freeloader.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's a bit unfair on the Freelander. They are lightweight 4x4s, and are not as powerful as larger 4x4s, but I doubt that would be the reason why the trailer is bouncing around - if the trailer is bouncing, it is probably something to do with the trailer, IMO.

Also, it may be worth having the trailer serviced. Maybe the brakes are sticking or the suspension is worn? Do you have the tyres at the correct pressures and are they in condition?
 
ive got a friend who has an izuzu rodeo (huge bloody great thing) and said to have a go in that and see if it does the same but its not really comparing like for like is it? And the fact I'm 22 means I probably wouldnt get insured on much bigger!


Does anyone else tow either the same trailer as me or with a freelander?
 
If you do tow with a large 4x4 it is less likely that you will feel jolting (because they weight so much they can absorb the jolts into the car). However, I still think it would be wise to have your trailer checked out. Using a big 4x4 might just mask any problems with the mechanics. It's a possibilty, but you should consider it.

(Sorry - I just want a chance to use my engineering knowledge from my old engineering career... but I changed careers cos I wasn't very good LOL)
 
We had the trailer serviced just before xmas (at a richardson dealership) and it sailed through the service.

Im 22 and learning to tow (I tow in company with my mum and display L plates as I havent done the test yet) although my mum is very experienced in towing and hasnt ever felt anything like this before?

I know freelanders get a lot of stick but this is my first 4x4 (I probably wouldnt get insured on anything bigger due to my age) and so far its been perfect and as I say on 'normal' roads tows perfectly. Twig is 4 so were only going locally training at the moment no more than 15 miles and just tow her by herself as we know two would be far to much to pull so I think we are being fairly sensible about it all?
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ETA i have just e-mailed wessex about the problem so it will be interesting to see if they think it is the car or the trailer?
 
That was my thoughts too.

Also, check out your tyre pressures on both your car and your trailer.

I would go and see an expert about this. You can't mess about with trailers.

I hope you find out the problem and it is easily solved.
smile.gif
 
My friend tows with a freelander and a light weight trailer adn its well within all limits and no probs so don't get all panicked. As long as you are being as safe as o you can with yourself and all ur equipment then u'll be fine, Just remember ur transporting a live animal with an independant mind and it could just be he's being a monkey at the mo.x
 
Well lets do the maths:


Unladen weight of Wessex Clubman = 820 kg (from web)
Weight of your horse = 600 kg (guess)


So total weight of trailer = 1420 kg


Freelander manufacturer's towing weight is 1800 kg (I think), so well within that limit.
Freelander's kerb weight is about 1500 kg, so your towing about 90 - 95% of your kerbweight.

For conventional cars, towing experts recommend a ration of no more than 85%. As you are driving a 4x4 (no matter what people may say about it), then the experts say that you can tow more than this so long as it'd driven safely.

If a stabliser doesn't work, maybe you should get a lighter trailer?
 
Do you need a bit more grease on the tow ball? Mine felt a bit jolty whilst towing it empty on Saturday, but was much smoother after I'd greased it (it was bone dry)
 
I sometimes use a Freelander to tow a 510 (one Horse) and it is within max tow and under gross weight. It doesn't jolt at all. I prefer my van though as it's much heavier. My Freelander has plenty power - My road is very steep and it has no trouble going up it!!
 
From memory the max towing capacity of the Freelander is 1800kg. I'd guess your trailer is under 1000kg (the 505 is) so one horse should be fine.

No double axle trailer should need a stabilizer - they're useful on single axle caravans to prevent snaking but this is not an issue with horse trailers.

I'd speculate that you don't have enough weight on the towbar. Usually it should be 50 to 100kg to put the car in control. The empty weight is irrelevant of course so try it with the horse in place.

I did once have really odd handling when I left the jockey wheel down.
 
Try the simple things first to try & iron out the problem.

Check your tyre pressures are correct on the trailer & also check that your tow ball is set at the correct height. Additionally grease the tow ball thoroughly, I know this sounds simple but without sufficient grease the tow ball will not slide around easily in the hitch & it will snatch.

You say you've hads the trailer serviced so I can't think of anything else you can try.
 
some of the posts here are ringing true with me , i have recently towed all of the following with a freelander ( 2000kg legal towing weight ) a 9 year old 505 , a 2.5 year old 505 , a 2 year old 505

the 9 year old trailer towed just fab , a little less free than the newer ones but no jolting etc , however the newer ones have jolted a bit & the horse being travelled moved about quite alot & is normally a rock steady loader & traveller

i have also travelled the same horse in the 2.5 yr old 505 towed by a nissan terrano lwb & it didn't jolt so much & the horse was rock steady

no conclusion , but i see a pattern here with some other peoples comments/experience
 
I used a freelander and it was fab for towing one 15.1 horse only in a 505 trailer.I wouldnt tow 2 horses with one tho,only as u loose the braking power with to much weight behind car!
I tow wiv a nissan x.trail(must say there was a diff),even tho its not a huge car/engine,the BHP is fab for towing and good on fuel.
The BHP is what to look for when towing,engine size comes 2nd,as u can easily tow a horse/trailer using a heavy 4X4 car/estate it had high BHP! (god,i use to tow x2 ponies when i was younger using any car with a tow-bar.,as did most peps)I did lots of research on web b4 i bought Nissan,plus OH is car/engine mad. I will defo get a stabeliser fitted tho,just for extra security. Can u fit them yourself???
 
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