Vibration when towing

[doxiedad]

Today I bought a 6'x10' enclosed trailer. Empty weight is 1,300 lbs I believe. I had 4 people in the car and during one stretch on the way home at about 50-55 mph i noticed a small vibration.

This is the first time towing anything over about 700 lbs with the 4runner, and first time towing an enclosed trailer. Other parts of the highway I didn't have the vibration, could it just be some kind of weird resonance on the highway? Or is this just how our 4Runners tow?

Thanks.

 

[1engineer]

Today I bought a 6'x10' enclosed trailer. Empty weight is 1,300 lbs I believe. I had 4 people in the car and during one stretch on the way home at about 50-55 mph i noticed a small vibration.

This is the first time towing anything over about 700 lbs with the 4runner, and first time towing an enclosed trailer. Other parts of the highway I didn't have the vibration, could it just be some kind of weird resonance on the highway? Or is this just how our 4Runners tow?

Thanks.

If you only have the vibration when pulling the trailer, it's the trailer.

 

[doxiedad]

If you only have the vibration when pulling the trailer, it's the trailer.

OK thanks. I'll check the tire pressures and maybe get a balance on the tires.

 

[philsey]

If you only have the vibration when pulling the trailer, it's the trailer.

:drum:

 

[1engineer]

OK thanks. I'll check the tire pressures and maybe get a balance on the tires.

Empty trailers will do all sort of strange things. They move, vibrate, weave, shudder and generally beat the crap out of your vehicle. Once you get some weight in them they smooth out considerably.

 

[gm350reratliff]

A lot of trailer mfg's don't balance the tires either and on top of that some trailer tires are more oval than round. Also what [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] said, some enclosed trailers do act up when empty.

 

[bofa]

Is it a road you commonly drive without vibration? I'd be tempted to find some fresh blacktop and confirm the issue persists. Agree with everything above too.

 

[frodiesel]

Put a bunch of weight in it and see if its different. I towed a dolly once and empty it would make you swear there was a horrible vibration but it did 900miles empty and 800with a small car like a dream no vib.

 

[doxiedad]

Put a bunch of weight in it and see if its different. I towed a dolly once and empty it would make you swear there was a horrible vibration but it did 900miles empty and 800with a small car like a dream no vib.

Yeah I need to try this. But I don't have any tie downs installed yet to put a 4wheeler or lawn mower in yet.

I didn't realize how much larger than my 4Runner it is

 

[doxiedad]

Is it a road you commonly drive without vibration? I'd be tempted to find some fresh blacktop and confirm the issue persists. Agree with everything above too.

Yeah it's a road I drive at least 3 times a month. It only seems to be one stretch though

Gonna try a different path next time