Trailer - drawbar noise

[BMA2]

Why would a trailer be noisey...clonking/draw bar noise on 1 vehicle. But totally silent on another.

I asked a tow bar company could it be that the noisy vehicle has a smaller ball/the height isn't right but was told that won't be the case...and made to feel a bit nuts/trailer blamed. But it was quiet when tested on another vehicle

Noisy towing - detachable Swan neck trust tow bar (fitted before I purchased)

Quiet towing (fixed tow bar on truck)

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Detachable can clatter in the housing, more so if trailer isn't same height as tow vehicle.

 

[phizz4]

Could it be the length of the break away cable? If the cable is a bit tight/short on one vehicle the brakes on the trailer can start to bite very early, or even if there is some unevenness in the road (pitching) causing clunking. If the cable has more slack on the other vehicle the brakes don’t activate until the towing vehicle is actually braking.

 

[BMA2]

Detachable can clatter in the housing, more so if trailer isn't same height as tow vehicle.

Can you explain that in very basic terms...

Pretend I'm a total moron please x

 

[BMA2]

Could it be the length of the break away cable? If the cable is a bit tight/short on one vehicle the brakes on the trailer can start to bite very early, or even if there is some unevenness in the road (pitching) causing clunking. If the cable has more slack on the other vehicle the brakes don’t activate until the towing vehicle is actually braking.

Can rule that out as slack on both...but thank you for reply x

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Can you explain that in very basic terms...

Pretend I'm a total moron please x

Could be play in the swan neck.

 

[BMA2]

Could be play in the swan neck.

Thanks...I've put that on my list of things to discuss with the tow bar place

Could the ball not being greasy be a thing...
The truck had a small amout of grease on the tow bar?

 

[neddy man]

Are both tow balls round topped, flat topped or 1 of each, Are both tow balls roughly an equal height from the ground ? If the tow ball place is nearby take both vehicles and the trailer to them to test, or have them come to you and check them, better safe than sorry.

 

[BMA2]

Height is approx the same...dark and raining but both are approx 50cm ish...if there is anything in it it's pretty minimal.

Both are round with a tiny flat spot on top the size of a penny ish

 

[angel7]

If one of the towballs has been used a lot it can be worn down a tiny bit and cause a rattle as it moves inside the tow hitch, try a really big gob of thick grease on it. If its silent for a bit and comes back you've narrowed it down to the towball.
I bought my 401 trailer and the owner delivered it in her trooper, I sat inside and it was silent.
Got home and hooked it up to my volvo S60. Banged and rattled every time I pulled away or slowed down. I filmed it to see what was happening and the damper was knackered and sliding in and out too easily. When hooked on the Trooper the trailer was nose up slightly, on my car it was nose down and the problem became apparent. New damper in the hitch solved it.
Good luck.

 

[BMA2]

Noisey vehicle = tow bat had barely lost paint on it before I got vehicle so definitely not well used.

Rest on message is on the list of possibles thank you

 

[BMA2]

Right everyone....

Had a measure on the road in the light. And last night was dark wet and on gravel.

I would saw the truck is 51cm ish from road to top of ball joint and my car is approx 48cm

 

[neddy man]

I would not have thought that 3cm--1" would make much difference, a phone call to a tow ball fitting place on Monday will probably provide the answer.

 

[BMA2]

I would not have thought that 3cm--1" would make much difference, a phone call to a tow ball fitting place on Monday will probably provide the answer.

Thanks...I will.do

 

[rabatsa]

3 cm can make a big difference to the nose weight, or lack of with a trailer. I think that you have found your problem.

 

[BMA2]

3 cm can make a big difference to the nose weight, or lack of with a trailer. I think that you have found your problem.

Is there a simple solution?

 

[Alibear]

I got this when I use my husband's car instead of mine, his has the swan neck style where as mine is fixed. A bit of grease on the tow ball stops it. Just remember when you unhitch and use the boot so you don't get grease on your trousers

 

[BMA2]

I got this when I use my husband's car instead of mine, his has the swan neck style where as mine is fixed. A bit of grease on the tow ball stops it. Just remember when you unhitch and use the boot so you don't get grease on your trousers

It's quite clonky but doesn't upset the horse....is that what his sounds like?

Any tips on what grease

 

[Alibear]

It's quite clonky but doesn't upset the horse....is that what his sounds like?

Any tips on what grease

Yep, exactly that. The grease is genuinely called multipurpose grease, and it comes in a tin. Do not get it on your clothes; it's a pain to get out.

 

[BMA2]

Yep, exactly that. The grease is genuinely called multipurpose grease, and it comes in a tin. Do not get it on your clothes; it's a pain to get out.

It's going to be a magnetic to cream jodhpurs isn't it. Ha. Right...let's give that a go.

Thanks for everyone's input so far xx