macmichael Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 Whenever I tow my boat there is a separation clunk when I stop and when I take off. I was wondering if anyone could help me with this problem. Thanks, Mac Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 Does your trailer have surge brakes? If it does, that may be the source of the clunk. Another clunk can be caused by the fit of the hitch and the receiver. 1 Quote
FlipnLimits Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 The gentleman above, Tom, is most likely correct. It's the brake actuator you are hearing, not the ball and receiver. Those balls are held fairly tight and you shouldn't be hearing much, if anything, coming from the ball and receiver. FL Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 It would really help to know about your rig. Is it single axle or dual axle? Do you have brakes? How old is it? Do you have an actuator on the tongue? I have it all the time with my trailer. The actuator lets the tongue slide forward then slide back as I apply the brakes. I have had it rebuilt and it still is there. I called the mfg and was told that a new actuator would not fix the problem so I just have to live with it or buy a new trailer. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 Could be play between the receiver and the hitch, especially if the locking pin doesn't fit tight. Quote
Maico1 Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 Could be play between the receiver and the hitch, especially if the locking pin doesn't fit tight. Could be play between the receiver and the hitch, especially if the locking pin doesn't fit tight.X2 Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 Also check to make sure the ball is not loose in the receiver. Check the nut underneath. Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted March 2, 2014 BassResource.com Administrator Posted March 2, 2014 Also check to make sure the ball is not loose in the receiver. Check the nut underneath. Beat me to it! That thar is your problem. Your nut is loose or missing. You have to put that baby on there with LocTight or it will work its way loose. Quote
macmichael Posted March 2, 2014 Author Posted March 2, 2014 Beat me to it! That thar is your problem. Your nut is loose or missing. You have to put that baby on there with LocTight or it will work its way loose. Now that's not the first time someone told my nut was loose or missing. LOL Seriously though. Thanks for all the help. Single axle trailer. No brakes, 1992 bass tracker model. I'll check all the suggestions. Mac 1 Quote
BassnChris Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 If the ball is not loose or too small......I would be leaning towards receiver hitch rattling around in the receiver. Quote
macmichael Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 I'm going to wait until it warms up. We got another snow storm this week end. I'll post what I have done and what it took to fix it. Quote
spartyon8 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 The pin on my hitch fits loosely and I get a clunk. Quote
macmichael Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 The pin on my hitch fits loosely and I get a clunk. Your ok with this? Quote
BassnChris Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 C'mon Mac! Slip on those house shoes and pop there to take a look I don't blame you.......I couldn't make myself go out in the garage today.......cold. Quote
macmichael Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 Heck, I go in the garage every day. I have a Big Buddy heater that we crank up. Seems like all I do is go out there and stare at my rods and reels. 1 Quote
tntitans21399 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 can you push on the back of the boat and hear the hitch making noise? Definitely make sure it is the right hitch size. Like others said if you have surge breaks you will feel a delayed bumped but not really a sound. A loose/smalk pin in the hitch wouldn't make a lot of noise except from bumps because if you have a normal to big rig the tongue weight will keep it pinned but a empty trailer would make a lot more noise. This is a dumb question but sometimes its something easy. But the boat is cranked down to the trailer good right? Just a thought if something is hitting the boat's crank wrench. You should tray to have a friend or neighbor come over and give pressure on the back of the boat and wiggle it and see if you can find where the noise is coming from. Quote
macmichael Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 Thanks all. When it gets warmer I'll try all these suggestions. Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted March 3, 2014 Super User Posted March 3, 2014 It would really help to know about your rig. Is it single axle or dual axle? Do you have brakes? How old is it? Do you have an actuator on the tongue? I have it all the time with my trailer. The actuator lets the tongue slide forward then slide back as I apply the brakes. I have had it rebuilt and it still is there. I called the mfg and was told that a new actuator would not fix the problem so I just have to live with it or buy a new trailer. That's because you have surge brakes. There is a hydraulic piston in the tongue of your trailer. When you press the brakes in your vehicle it slows faster than your trailer does and the pressure created from your trailer pushing against your vehicle is what actuates you brakes. If your tongue didn't compress you wouldn't have brakes and if it didn't extend your brakes would be locked. No new actuator is going to prevent that from happening because it has to move as well. 1 Quote
macmichael Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 Nope I don't have surge brakes. I have a single axle, bass tracker. Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted March 4, 2014 Super User Posted March 4, 2014 Nope I don't have surge brakes. I have a single axle, bass tracker. Correct, your trailer doesn't but the guy who's post I quoted does. Quote
tacobassin Posted March 4, 2014 Posted March 4, 2014 With my truck ive made it a habit of putting one wrap of duct tape around square part of the hitch before i install it in the truck reciever. It helps with rattling and noise and takes out a little bit of the slop. For your case its probably either a worn hitch pin in the truck that doesnt fit tight enough, or a sloppy reciever on the trailer. If the trailers a 1992 maybe it wouldnt hurt to slap a new reciever on there. Just my $0.02 Quote
macmichael Posted March 4, 2014 Author Posted March 4, 2014 Correct, your trailer doesn't but the guy who's post I quoted does. oops, sorry. Quote
AQUA VELVA Posted March 6, 2014 Posted March 6, 2014 Ive seen hitches with built in shock absorbers, BPS used to carry them, Don't know if that would solve your problem. I have a 94 Bass Tracker TV-17 and I notice it on mine and it's the hitch pin hole. Quote
bamabass78 Posted March 7, 2014 Posted March 7, 2014 I recently had the same problem when I would take off and stop. When I had my boat serviced this year, I had them take a look at it. All they had to do was bleed my brake lines and the problem was fixed. My reservoir had ran out of brake fluid and when I refilled it, I didn't know how to reprime the lines. Maybe that is your problem also. Quick and cheap fix. Quote
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