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Old 07-15-2015, 06:52 AM   #1
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Turning sounds

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased my first trailer, a Jayco 264 BHW, and so I have a newbie question.

When I'm turning even mildly tightly, the things sounds like an old wooden pirate ship. It creaks and moans just like an old ship would. I'm always going slowly and I don't necessarily think anything's wrong but I thought I'd ask if this is normal. Driving down the road everything is fine & dandy but anytime I'm parking it makes a racket! Is this fairly common?

Thanks everyone!!!
-John
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Old 07-15-2015, 06:53 AM   #2
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When you are at highway speed, you may be leaving the sounds behind.
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Old 07-15-2015, 06:54 AM   #3
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That means your hitch is working properly and is normal. When it stops moaning and groaning is when you need to worry. You can disconnect during parking. That may also keep you from damaging the hitch.
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Old 07-15-2015, 06:56 AM   #4
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Thanks!

When you say disconnect, do you mean disconnect the sway bars? I do that and get quite a bit of noise even so. Good to hear it's normal!!!!
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Old 07-15-2015, 07:01 AM   #5
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that is normal on tandem axle trailers. it is your suspension components adjusting.
you will here it to when raising the tongue levelling front to back at times
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Old 07-15-2015, 07:02 AM   #6
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WDH's are known for their creaking and groaning. The chains, cams, etc. are dry and when they are doing their job it is metal-on-metal movement. The good news is that, under normal circumstances, there is very little movement.


Removing the anti-sway before backing is a must, unless you like bent anti-sway parts.


Taking the time to remove the spring bars before backing will stop the noise, but you will loose some of your front end control that the WDH provides. Try it and see which side you'll be comfortable compromising to.
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Old 07-15-2015, 08:22 AM   #7
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All normal. You do not mention what your TT is nor what your WDH is. If you have twin axle unit, you will notice when backing up, the wheels will look out of alignment, all normal.

To help quiet the hitch noise, grease the ball. Some WDH's can be lubed. For example on the E4 hitch you an lube the pivot points for the bars at the knuckle. All these things help reduce hitch noise.
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Old 07-15-2015, 08:28 AM   #8
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Figured out how to list my TV & TT in the signature.
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Old 07-15-2015, 08:37 AM   #9
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If you have a friction sway control like this one it will make this noise when turning. You can silence it by loosening the friction once you get to the park entrance. Also make sure you loosen it before backing up.
Pro Series Friction Sway Control Kit - Economy - by Draw-Tite, Reese and Hidden Hitch Pro Series Weight Distribution 83660
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Old 07-15-2015, 08:42 AM   #10
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I really need to get the details on what I have. I have both the sway bars and the friction control. I take it all off whenever I'm backing up or in any situation where my speeds are going to be @ 20 MPH - i.e., just to the dump station and back.

Looks like I need to grease the hitch ball a bit and be happy with the noise.

Thanks to everyone for your posts. It's a huge help to always have a few ears and some good advice. Getting into this stuff is pretty fast and having experienced advice for free is priceless.

Thanks again!
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Old 07-15-2015, 12:13 PM   #11
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Depending on what style WDH you have, you may need to apply some greese to the ends of the bars. I have a round bar set up and read it somewhere. I dont remember where I read it, but I did. I did greese the ends that go into the hitch (which if your not careful will make you dirty when handling them) and it pretty much removed all the snap, crackle, and pops during turns.
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Old 07-15-2015, 12:23 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdrumsr View Post
I take it all off whenever I'm backing up or in any situation where my speeds are going to be @ 20 MPH - i.e., just to the dump station and back.

Looks like I need to grease the hitch ball a bit and be happy with the noise.
Not picking on the op, but can anyone explain to me why they would remove the torsion bars while prior to backing? I saw a guy while we were up north getting ready to back into his site. As I ride past him on my bike, I hear a huge "BANG" and see the back of his truck drop. A minute later I hear it again. So I went up to him and asked him first if he was alright? (theres a ton of pressure on those bars) Then asked why he didn't wait to unhook the bars until he had taken some of the weight off the tongue? He said this is how the guy he bought the camper a year ago told him how to do it. I explained how I do it and that I was under the impression its o.k. to back with the torsion bars, but not the sway control.
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Old 07-15-2015, 12:26 PM   #13
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You are correct. There is no need to unhook the round bars until you have jacked up the trailer. But you do need to release the friction on the sway control before backing.
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Old 07-15-2015, 12:37 PM   #14
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You are correct. There is no need to unhook the round bars until you have jacked up the trailer. But you do need to release the friction on the sway control before backing.
Yes, the WDH will continue to function correctly during backing and tight maneuvering. But the sounds of 'tearing metal' can be disturbing to some. It's too close to fingernails on a blackboard at times.
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Old 07-15-2015, 01:11 PM   #15
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I usually unhook my bars before I back into a spot, unless it's nice and even with no sharp turns to get the TT into the site. My truck can handle the "ball only" connection. Some vehicles may need to keep the hitch on until after they're in the site and situated. Last trip, I didn't even hook my bars up until I got the TT out onto level ground which was at the entrance of the CG. I hate driving through a crowded CG and the trailer is carrying on like crazy. Just a peeve I guess.
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Old 07-15-2015, 01:18 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike837go View Post
Yes, the WDH will continue to function correctly during backing and tight maneuvering. But the sounds of 'tearing metal' can be disturbing to some. It's too close to fingernails on a blackboard at times.
If you keep your WDH bars greased, there shouldn't be much noise.
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Old 07-15-2015, 01:41 PM   #17
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If you keep your WDH bars greased, there shouldn't be much noise.
It's not the bars that need greasing, it's the chains that make the noise.

Then you can handle the lightly greased chains just before getting behind the wheel.

I'll keep the pieces dry. Put up with the noise. And NOT destroy her truck's vinyl steering wheel!
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Old 07-15-2015, 01:58 PM   #18
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Yes, if you have round bars, grease or oil the ends where they insert into the hitch. Also lube the balls that the friction sway bar attach to (and the main hitch ball). I didn't lube the first hitch I had with the TT, and after 20k miles of towing, the holes that the round bars insert into were worn so badly the main hitch casting was replaced under warranty. Dealer told me no need to lube- Reese instructs that they SHOULD be lubed. Dealer was wrong!

Quote from Reese install manual:
Quote:
LUBRICATION
1. Place several drops of oil at spring bar / ballmount contact points. Excess oil, dirt, and grit should be wiped out whenever trailer is uncoupled.
Source:

http://www.hitchpro.net/application/...ons/n67509.pdf
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Old 07-15-2015, 06:11 PM   #19
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Had similar problem, put "Reese" Grease on hitch sway bar ends at attach point and on ball.
Noise gone.
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Old 07-15-2015, 08:24 PM   #20
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Ours makes a horrible squeaking noise too my hubby says he isn't worried lol
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