Jerky ride??

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b52thomas
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Jerky ride??

#1 Post by b52thomas » Wed Jun 10, 2015 6:45 am

Hello everyone...new to this forum and looking forward to getting to know more of you. My question is, when pulling my toon, I get this jerky ride as if it's almost pulling back at me at times. This of course makes my wife very nervous and somewhat white knuckled.... Is this just wind resistance causing this or possible weight distribution issue?? I'm new to having a toon and not sure if it's normal or something that needs to be corrected.
Thanks,
Bill T

RcgTexas
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Re: Jerky ride??

#2 Post by RcgTexas » Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:02 am

First Welcome to the forum!

Could be several things, not enough tongue weight would make it get squirrely and sway back and forth.

Pontoon boats are the worst things I have ever pulled on a trailer. Its like pulling a big cracker box. Lots of wind resistance and bulk. Trailering is not a pontoons strong suit.

Is the Hitch tight and the ball?

What are you pulling with?
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

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b52thomas
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Re: Jerky ride??

#3 Post by b52thomas » Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:29 am

Everything is tight at the ball/hitch. I'm pulling with a Chrysler Aspen with a 5.3L Hemi.... pulling power no issue... Tire pressure set at 45# on dual axle trailer. Like I said...I'm a newbie when it comes to pulling a toon and I don't have issues when I'm pulling other trailers such as a utility trailer, a big difference I know...

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Appreciate any advice available.

Bill

b52thomas
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Re: Jerky ride??

#4 Post by b52thomas » Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:38 am

Looking through some of the other posts on here, I'm wondering if what I'm feeling is the toon bouncing a bit on the trailer. I only have straps on the bow of the boat and none at the transom. I'm going to strap it down better and see if that gets rid of the jerky ride. The past owner told me that I wouldn't need any more straps on it and I believed him. So much for being a newbie. I hope that it works.
Bill

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grouser
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Re: Jerky ride??

#5 Post by grouser » Wed Jun 10, 2015 8:32 am

Do you have surge brakes on the trailer? If so this may be the jerking sensation you are having. The hitch slides back and forth to apply the brakes for you. I you use the brakes the hitch collapses a bit to apply the brake, then as you accelerate the hitch expands back to normal position. If your not REALLY smooth you will feel this movement... Trick is,,,, to be a s smooth as possible getting on the gas after you brake
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Re: Jerky ride??

#6 Post by Bamaman » Wed Jun 10, 2015 9:24 am

Grouser has the right idea if you've got surge brakes. The hitch moves back and forth slightly to make the hydraulic cylinder pump fluid to the brakes. It can cause a slight bucking.

If you don't have brakes on the trailer, you might want to weigh your tongue to make sure it's got 10-15% of total weight (including trailer) on the hitch ball. A light trailer tongue can be really dangerous if you need to make a sudden stop.

And as you mentioned, tie down the rear if you're traveling very far.
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BobG
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Re: Jerky ride??

#7 Post by BobG » Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:08 am

Bamaman wrote:If you don't have brakes on the trailer, you might want to weigh your tongue to make sure it's got 10-15% of total weight (including trailer) on the hitch ball. A light trailer tongue can be really dangerous if you need to make a sudden stop.
I can attest to the fact that it will be squirrelly as a bag of otters if your tongue weight is too low.

The solution? You have to move the boat farther forward on the trailer. If it's all the way forward against the bow stop, you need to move the bow stop forward on the trailer (or (EEK!) move the axles back!). How far? Experiment a few inches at a time...
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Re: Jerky ride??

#8 Post by zoom650 » Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:14 am

Delete
Michael and Laura
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Waterlogged
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Re: Jerky ride??

#9 Post by Waterlogged » Thu Jun 11, 2015 12:16 pm

Surge brakes are also my suggestion, light tongue can add to the sensation.

Glenn
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grouser
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Re: Jerky ride??

#10 Post by grouser » Thu Jun 11, 2015 4:21 pm

Waterlogged wrote:Surge brakes are also my suggestion, light tongue can add to the sensation.

Glenn
Hummm ,,,, the wife told me "a HEAVY tongue can add to the sensation",,, opps,,,that might be another topic,,,LOL
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BobG
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Re: Jerky ride??

#11 Post by BobG » Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:20 pm

grouser wrote:Hummm ,,,, the wife told me "a HEAVY tongue can add to the sensation",,, opps,,,that might be another topic,,,LOL
Is she a Rugby player???
2012 Tahoe 24' Fish-n-Fun Tritoon, with Mercury 115 HP 4-Stroke
"Trine SS Cape" (Trying 2S Cape)
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grouser
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Re: Jerky ride??

#12 Post by grouser » Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:05 pm

BobG wrote:
grouser wrote:Hummm ,,,, the wife told me "a HEAVY tongue can add to the sensation",,, opps,,,that might be another topic,,,LOL
Is she a Rugby player???
no but we did stay in a Holiday Inn Express the other night and I did some carpet munching,,, :happy
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