Trailer damper 'gone'

[Birker2020]

Been struggling with what I thought was my damper on my trailer. Dad replaced it about 8 years ago and gave the brakes an adjustment as well. I haven't taken my trailer out for about four months now, but took it out about a month ago to get some shavings and it was snatching the car and every time I came to a stop it would thump at the back of the car. It was better laden, and wasn't quite as bad snatching, but still bad coming to junctions and stopping with the thumping. And reversing - big bang reversing, like it had jammed. Same experience as last time when the damper needed replacing which is why I thought it was the damper.

Rang a chap who does trailers from Worcester for him to come and have a look. He said he would be passing the yard the following Sunday after going elsewhere on another job. This was last Sunday. I rang him the day before and he said he hadn't forgotten and he would come late afternoon. So I got all my jobs done, didn't bother riding as I wasn't sure what constituted late afternoon and waited for hm to turn up and then I got a text from my partner who said the chap had texted him to say he wasn't coming and he would come the following weekend. I was really disappointed. I can't do much with my girl now other than hack and rather fancied having the opportunity of doing half a fun ride (shorter course) or parking up at the pub car park and going off for a quiet hack on Sunday mornings like I used to.

My friend has chased her friend who repairs her and her sisters lorry and some of the trailers at our yard. He's very kindly been out today to the yard whilst I've been at work and said he thinks its because there is too much play on the rod cables on the brakes which will affect the damper, but the damper deffo hasn't gone.

I miss my Dad for obvious reasons, but I also miss him for his advice and the fact that he used to fix everything for me and would always know what to do in any given situation.

I'm towing the trailer to this guy later for him to give the brakes an adjustment and service. I will be thrilled if he is able to fix it for me and I will recommend him on the forum if anyone needs any trailer/lorry servicing around West Midlands/Warwickshire area on the regional board.

I must remember to ring the other chap from Worcester and tell him to not bother coming out..........or I could do as he did to me and leave it to the very last second and tell him about ten minutes before he was due to arrive.

 

[ihatework]

I’m sure he will be able to fix it, sounds like routine maintenance kind of stuff

 

[Birker2020]

I’m sure he will be able to fix it, sounds like routine maintenance kind of stuff

I hope so. I wished I'd asked him to do it before, but I assumed it was the damper and thought it was a specialist job that only a trailer repair company would be able to undertake.

 

[Annagain]

Is it the Horsebox Handyman HB? If not, I can reccommend him. He's in Warwicksire, near Banbury (which I know isn't in Warwickshire!)

 

[gryff]

I had mine replaced during a service. Cost £56 and the trailer service man said it would make a huge difference to the ride for the horse.

 

[Flicker51]

I’ve always found Stonehall trailers excellent in Worcester. Otherwise I use The Ifor dealership in southam though you have to take it to them

 

[Birker2020]

Is it the Horsebox Handyman HB? If not, I can reccommend him. He's in Warwicksire, near Banbury (which I know isn't in Warwickshire!)

No I think his company is in Hatton and he does cars mainly but also lorries and trailers both horse trailers and agricultural trailer repairs. It was a nightmare towing it to him as it kept snatching (felt like I had a horse making some shapes in the back!) . He watched me pull up outside and when I braked it made that thumping noise and felt like it was smacking into the car. He said there he thinks there is way too much travel on the brake rods which can affect the way the damper performs and they have just got loosened with use. He's stripping the wheels and checking the brakes today so fingers crossed it should be fixed in the next few days. At least it will have a bit of a service.

I just feel so helpless without Dad and very emotional at the moment about it all
But then I personally know someone who lost their Dad at 21 so I have nothing to cry about and certainly shouldn't feel cheated. At least I got some quality years with him and he lived a good age. So I need to crack on basically.

Thanks for the recommendations guys, hopefully where I taken it to can fix it.

 

[Birker2020]

I’ve always found Stonehall trailers excellent in Worcester. Otherwise I use The Ifor dealership in southam though you have to take it to them

I'm afraid it was Stonehall Trailers that let me down in the first place. I was surprised as they have a good website, although I know that doesn't count for anything I thought they may have been professional. Shame as guy seemed to be knowledgable on the phone (well certainly more knowledgable than me lol). I've rang him and left a voice mail thanking him for his time and explaining I don't need him now.