Skid rollers,

My last TT a 30' dutchmen sport BH had very heavy swivel rollers welded to the frame.. a 'few' times I would have them 'take the load' for a few feet and I was glad they were there... but, as mentioned once they moved sideways about 4-5 feet before the weight was on the tires again... I liked them after the TT before that one 'flattened the tri-angle' skids, but your mileage may vary..

rbpru wrote:
I would like a better outcome next time.

That might be an unrealistic expectation.....at least not 100 percent of the time.

A LONG rear end is a concentration and perspective problem.
It can cause damage swinging wide, down and sometimes even UP if you lose your concentration and perspective.

I thought I had accounted for the occasional mis-calculation or lapse of good judgement with the addition of rollers instead of skid plates BUT THEN hooked up my little trailer and realized that the bottom of the hitch ball mount is really the first part to hit the pavement.

SIGH.

I must admit I was surprised to see the steel triangle collapse but it did save the black and gray water lines.

We watch for such things of course but this kind of stuff happens. I would like a better outcome next time.

I have pointed tungstine steel tips that plow a 1 inch gouge into their stupidly designed approach to hold the trailer straight. www.06fargobs.com

Sam Spade wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

I personally seen a trailer with the swivel wheels pull out of a steep has station entrance. Once the wheels hit the drive the trailer went sideways quite a bit.

I like to think that my observational skills are good enough to NOT try and go under a 10 foot under pass NOR to drive over a dip that is 3 foot deep......certainly not at an angle.

I agree, but there are those out there that may not realize just how much of an angle can do damage! And the OP's post proves that! So it can and does happen!

dodge guy wrote:

I personally seen a trailer with the swivel wheels pull out of a steep has station entrance. Once the wheels hit the drive the trailer went sideways quite a bit.

I like to think that my observational skills are good enough to NOT try and go under a 10 foot under pass NOR to drive over a dip that is 3 foot deep......certainly not at an angle.

Sam Spade wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Do not get the swivel ones. the last thing you want is your trailer going sideways once it sets on the rollers!!!

Don't agree with that at all. YOu don't want to STOP it from going the direction that it wants to go from the steering action of the front of the vehicle.

You can get heavy duty swivel wheels and the mounting hardware at most any real hardware store or farm store or probably any place that sells trailers and parts; even Harbor Freight. They need to be mounted to the frame or hitch receiver mount. Most bumpers aren't nearly strong enough.

The driver becoming more aware of the problem helps a LOT. ;)

I personally seen a trailer with the swivel wheels pull out of a steep has station entrance. Once the wheels hit the drive the trailer went sideways quite a bit. Fortunately the tires grabbed at the high point and stopped the trailer. There was only 5 more feet before it would've rolled into the light pole! This was a low trailer with what I believe we're torsion axles.

As I said, I would never use them. The metal triangles are there to do what the OP stated they did. They are sacrificial. Have it bent back and continue on. What do you think would happen to a roller with that kind of impact? Especially a swivel, that would come apart!

If you want rollers, go with the non swivel style!

I had the typical steel triangle straps and try to avoid hitting the ground with them. Usually I am successful, this time they were crushed about three inches

This last time I had no problem entering the gas station but it was quite a jolt going out. Lesson learned.

Obviously the roller only has to support the small portion of the total TT weight in contact with the ground. Still, it has to be stout and able to withstand the under trailer environment.

A swivel sounds like a good idea, it would be guided by the TT wheels. Now I need to know how big a roller and where to buy them.

dodge guy wrote:
Do not get the swivel ones. the last thing you want is your trailer going sideways once it sets on the rollers!!!

Don't agree with that at all. YOu don't want to STOP it from going the direction that it wants to go from the steering action of the front of the vehicle.

You can get heavy duty swivel wheels and the mounting hardware at most any real hardware store or farm store or probably any place that sells trailers and parts; even Harbor Freight. They need to be mounted to the frame or hitch receiver mount. Most bumpers aren't nearly strong enough.

The driver becoming more aware of the problem helps a LOT. ;)