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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote 610gc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bouncing tow car
    Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 10:44am
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Hey fishing family

I have a 2020 Kia Sorento 2.2 diesel it tows really well but when going over NZ finest roads the back of the car bounces a lot
The boat is a 2004 scorpion 610 on a 2020 ultra trailer. the socks ect on the car are all good
is that just normal with the boat having most of the weight at the back. ie fuel tanks and engine
any tips will be appreciated

Thank you  
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 10:51am
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Interesting. I'm thinking of buying the same car with towing in mind. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 11:50am
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How does the car behave at speed? Usually if there is too much weight in the back of the boat the trailer will start weaving from side to side. If it is doing that too then you will need to shift more weight up front. Try it anyway and see if that helps.
Best gurnard fisherman in my street
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote BotStomper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 11:51am
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Check your tongue weight. Bit of a stuff around because you need to do it at the height the boat normally would sit when connected. Not enough tongue weight and the boat will see-saw around the axle, as well as being less safe to tow. Or maybe just try shifting a bunch of weight to the front when you tow and see if that makes it better.

That's assuming it's definitely not your rear shocks being flogged, but on a 2020 vehicle that would surprise me.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote 610gc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 12:12pm
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Thanks team 
Other than the bouncing every thing else is fine. Next time ill move the fuel tanks up the boat more and see if that helps 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 12:55pm
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Can you lift the boat easily by the draw bar?  When put new trailer under boat was balanced and thought nah.Need weight on draw bar,moved 150mmboat forward and weight came on,cant quite lift it off car,but tows well at 90/95 no swaying
"Times up"
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 1:03pm
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If doing long journeys, I try to get as much weight off the boat and into the car and/or move the weight to the front of the boat as possible. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote 610gc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 1:12pm
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I think i can lift it easily ill check tonight. It to tows well at 90/95kms with no swaying just the bouncing is bad 

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2024 at 2:59pm
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There is a recommended weight/formula for what is on the tow ball - compared to the weight you are towing. A bit of google may find it. But it should be fairly heavy to lift. If you can lift it easy then what it is doing is porpoising over the bumps - which in turn is lifting the back of the car. Not good. Not enough weight on the rear wheels of the car.
Alan
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Originally posted by Alan L Alan L wrote:

There is a recommended weight/formula for what is on the tow ball - compared to the weight you are towing. A bit of google may find it. But it should be fairly heavy to lift. If you can lift it easy then what it is doing is porpoising over the bumps - which in turn is lifting the back of the car. Not good. Not enough weight on the rear wheels of the car.
Alan
Yes I agree not enough weight on the tongue. Bring the boat further forward on the trailer or move the axial back. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote kimber7wsm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 2024 at 5:51am
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How many Km's has the vehicle done?If over 100,000km's then your shocks are stuffed.

Otherwise check weight distribution as above.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Fish Addict Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 2024 at 10:35pm
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Originally posted by Alan L Alan L wrote:

There is a recommended weight/formula for what is on the tow ball - compared to the weight you are towing. A bit of google may find it. But it should be fairly heavy to lift. If you can lift it easy then what it is doing is porpoising over the bumps - which in turn is lifting the back of the car. Not good. Not enough weight on the rear wheels of the car.
Alan
I believe the recommended weight on the tow ball should be in the order of 7-10% of the trailerable weight.  The dry weight of a Scorpion 610 is around 1050kg.  You could easily add another 200kg to that when taking into account fuel, fishing gear, esky etc.  Given those figures the weight on the tow ball should be in the 90-125kg range.  If you can lift the trailer off the tow ball with ease that would suggest to me that, as others have said, you need more weight on the tow ball. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote 610gc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2024 at 8:04am
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Good morning all, Thank you all for your answers they have been a lot of help
I can lift the draw bar up in one hand so I think ill be moving some weight on the trailer forward 
hopefully get it done this weekend and let you all know how it goes
Thanks again

 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2024 at 10:05am
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Thanks for getting back to us 610gc, be good to hear the outcome.
Best gurnard fisherman in my street
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Kevin.S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2024 at 10:26am
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I remember when I was a kid we had a caravan and before each trip my dad would carefully load everything into the caravan and then take the bathroom scales outside to check the drawbar weight and move stuff around as required to get the balance right.  At the time I thought he was just being fussy, but he was right.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mc Tool Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2024 at 1:09pm
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While we are here one should consider tow ball size . We have 1 7/8"   and 50mm sizes  here  ( there are peeps out there that think they are all one size ) . If you have an 1 7/8" ball and a 50mm trailer hitch  it will clatter and bang about  ( accentuating any other misbehaviour at the tow connection ). I guess depending on the design/quality and wear ( of tow hitch )  it may well come apart , Defiantly not safe.
 Just thinkin that if it was a bit light on the ball ( sounds like it ) a mismatched tow connection may make things seem even worse ..... worth a look Smile
Weight distribution is important to ( bit of a rant )  went to get some of that premixed instant concrete ....took the trailer  as with only one leg I gotta think about moving it at the home end of the trip . Helpful cnuts put  8 bags ( 40kg each ) right in the back  half of the trailer ........and this was  me parked under the sign that says  how they take load security  seriously .  So I move the load up front of trailer while they watched me from the office .
Unhappy
When I was a kid my Dad built a " Flying fifteen" yacht  and I can remember him stuffing all the holiday gear right up the front of the boat  
I wish I was young again .... Id be heaps smarter than this time
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote 610gc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 10:25am
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Hey team
So I finally got some scales and time to weight the trailer
As the boat sat with the fuel tanks in the rear and the engine where it sits in towing there was only 50kgs on the tow ball, So that explains all the bouncing.
With just the fuel tanks with about 60ltrs between moved to the front of the boat it brought the weight up to 100kg on the tow ball
I then added 170kgs of weights to the cabin/front and got it up to 120kgs on the tow ball
Then I tried one more thing and put the tanks back in the rear and left the 170kgs at the front and that brought the weight on the tow ball back to 100kgs
I've been in talks with the trailer company and they have been super helpful they say the axles need moving back
So I've decided to leave it to the pros and its booked in to be done early next year so for now i guess all of the gear will be packed at the front of the boat

Cheers for all the help team and merry Christmas happy new year and tight lines to all  
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 1:25pm
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Thanks for letting us know 610
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 3:15pm
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Originally posted by Kevin.S Kevin.S wrote:

I remember when I was a kid we had a caravan and before each trip my dad would carefully load everything into the caravan and then take the bathroom scales outside to check the drawbar weight and move stuff around as required to get the balance right.  At the time I thought he was just being fussy, but he was right.

Dads are usually right.
Grandads never fail. They know everything. (Ask my grandkids)
Alan
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 4:52pm
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Originally posted by Mc Tool Mc Tool wrote:

While we are here one should consider tow ball size . We have 1 7/8"   and 50mm sizes  here  ( there are peeps out there that think they are all one size ) . If you have an 1 7/8" ball and a 50mm trailer hitch  it will clatter and bang about  ( accentuating any other misbehaviour at the tow connection ). I guess depending on the design/quality and wear ( of tow hitch )  it may well come apart , Defiantly not safe.

While the 50mm hitch will drop over a 1 7/8 ball, it won't necessarily stay there. They most definitely can come off. Especially if the hitch tries to unload.Very dangerous.  And some of the hitches are adjustable. Which can make it worse - depending how it is adjusted - easy to get on/off.  But I suspect a lot of people don't check when dropping a trailer (hired?) on their tow ball.
I guess from a Hire Center point of view, it would be safer to have 1 7/8 hitches.
Alan
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