Boat Trailer Bounces A Lot when No Boat is on the Trailer

Question:

I launched my boat and was driving the tandem axle trailer back to our camping site when the trailer started bouncing violently when I drove over 20mph. I had to continuously slow the car down below 20mph in order to keep it from bouncing.

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

Yes, this happens with trailers when they are unloaded. The weight of the load, in this case the boat, prevents that from happening. The only way to stop it from happening is to have the trailer weighed down or reduce the air pressure in the tires a little. I do not recommend reducing the air pressure though because you would have to fill them back up again with the boat on the trailer.

Putting weight on the trailer is also probably not the easiest thing to accomplish when you are out and about with the trailer. So basically slowing down like you were doing is the easiest way to prevent the trailer from bouncing so much.

expert reply by: Michael H