Towing trailer

[beeper]

I have a 2005 V6 sport...rented a trailer from U haul ,6x12 with surge brakes. Drove it 80 mi,empty and the ride was terrible. The truck kept pulsating..like pushing and pulling for the entire ride. Couldn't figure it out, thought maybe the brake wasn't working properly and was causing the problem. Was making me sick from the jerking. The ride back full (light load) was a little better but not much. They were clueless at U haul. Anybody got any experience with these trailers. I diffenately would not rent a surge brake trailer again.

 

[nated05]

I just rented the same trailer yesterday (7/16) and the ride was fine. Ive rented the same size trailer in the past and never had any issues. You can def. notice its there when you go over bumps and such, but thats normal when you tow anything. I have no idea what would cause your prob. the only thing I can think of is what you said about the surge brakes.

 

[OUTRNNR]

I have a 2005 V6 sport...rented a trailer from U haul ,6x12 with surge brakes. Drove it 80 mi,empty and the ride was terrible. The truck kept pulsating..like pushing and pulling for the entire ride. Couldn't figure it out, thought maybe the brake wasn't working properly and was causing the problem. Was making me sick from the jerking. The ride back full (light load) was a little better but not much. They were clueless at U haul. Anybody got any experience with these trailers. I diffenately would not rent a surge brake trailer again.

Just two weekends ago I rented a 6x12 U-haul trailer in Glenwood Springs, CO and drove it 50 miles east to Vail empty, filled it with a few couches and tables (maybe 1000 lbs total in the trailer) and drove 100 miles east to Denver. It was a pretty new 6x12 but it was equipped with surge brakes and it pulled fine. I was doing 70+ mph on with it empty in the pouring rain and I never felt it doing anything wierd (swaying, surging, etc.) Even after I loaded it, it felt fine and I was able to get up to 80 mph for short periods of time, and it never felt unstable. By the way, the Runner was able to pull 65 mph up the steep backside of Vail pass (climbs from ~8200 ft to about 10700 ft over about 5 miles) no problem.

That being said, I have pulled many older 6x12 trailers and haven't seemed to notice anything wierd. The pulsating feeling you describe is a feeling that is pretty normal with pulling trailers, its a big percentage of the weight of the vehicle, so its going to toss you around a little.

 

[beeper]

I guess maybe the brake was the problem.....looked to see if I could disconnect it but you would have needed a big toolbox. I found I had to stay pretty much in 4th gear or else the trans did a lot of hunting...most level driving too. Guess I got a bad trailer but there's really know way to know unless you test drive which i will think about next time.

 

[LSUMBA]

I have rented several U-Haul trailers over the years. In my experience, they have good ones & bad ones. I had one that had a short in its wiring that blew my fuses to my headlights. I had another where one wheel would periodically lock up & release for no reason. I have some that handle like crap & others that handle perfectly.

The way I look at it, it is not your ride. It is the rental trailer that people regularly beat the crap out of.

 

[gizmopt2002]

We tow a 4,800# boat with surge disc brakes and dont have any problem towing it.

 

[Titan4runner]

Check if there is a gap between your ball mount and the ball shank. Loose the nut and if you and move your ball around then that is your problem. I had a similar problem the trailer was jerking like yours. Turn out a little spacer between the ball mount and the ball shank fixed it. Uhual didn't put the spacer when they put on my ball I don't know why.

 

[imprttuner88]

i routinely pull my homemade 6x8' trailer all the time with mine and I constantly get compliments from friends about how good it rides while pulling, empty or loaded. I can cruise easily at 75 mph on the freeway and never have any issues.

I suspect build quality, mechanical issue or just plain old age due to the crap getting beat out of it the issue of your bad experience.

John

 

[4x4v8]

I have a Shoreland'r utility trailer and I haul my Kodiak 450 for 2 hour round trips 2-3 times a week. The trailer is much better than the Home depot ones and the 4runner pulls it with no problem. I know the weight isnt all that much but its a comfortable ride. my 2 cents

 

[01silverSR5]

Check if there is a gap between your ball mount and the ball shank. Loose the nut and if you and move your ball around then that is your problem. I had a similar problem the trailer was jerking like yours. Turn out a little spacer between the ball mount and the ball shank fixed it. Uhual didn't put the spacer when they put on my ball I don't know why.

I have also had this happen. Make sure that everything is tight or you will feel that jerking.