Quieting a squeaky trailer?

[rangerbait]

What is a good strategy for eradicating squeaky trailer springs? My trailer is only a couple of months old (although it's a MY 2014 and weathered a Michigan winter on the dealership's lot), but creaks and squeaks to no end. I know some of it comes from my ProPride hitch, but there was a lot coming from the rear of the trailer as well. As I was setting up the other day, a Rockwood rolled through the park and was dead quiet. I know those are much higher end trailers than my Heartland, but I'm looking to get mine as quiet as possible.

Thanks in advance!

[Coolerman]

If your willing to take the springs off and disassemble the spring packs you can de-rust them, then coat them with Slip Plate #3 which is a graphite based, DRY film "paint". I did this to a my 1971 Toyota Land Cruiser spring packs and they ride like a Cadillac. The film also protects from further rust.

Spring Pack Restore

[93Cobra2771]

As Barney said, you shouldn't be getting any noise from the PP. Even from the trailer end. They are quiet as a mouse...

[coolbreeze01]

Spraying WD-40 Specialist would be my first choice. Good luck.

[rangerbait]

Excellent tips...thanks guys! I'll try the lube route while I figure out which bushings I need to replace.

As far as the 3P hitch, I think I'm getting some creaking/groaning from the trailer end of the WD mechanism; the front end of the hitch is dead quiet. Such a well built system.

[BarneyS]

The above posts have some excellent suggestions. One thing it cannot be is noise from your ProPride hitch. It should be absolutely quiet, as is my Hensley, if everything is functioning correctly and the bars where they insert into the hitch head were greased.
Barney

[myredracer]

Nice looking trailer with all the exterior black trim and other black things. 🙂

Fluid Film is a great product for use on squeaky leaf springs. Don't use anything that will attract dirt and don't let the dealer do that either. I would spray something on yourself as it will get done faster and probably better than a dealer can. Not certain, but it might help to jack the frame up to relieve pressure on the springs.

Squeaky leaf springs is common on boat trailers due to frequent water immersion and then sit for a while between use. If your TT sat on a lot for about a year, it could have built up a coating of rust on the springs, esp. if it was delivered in the winter with salt on the roads.

Potentially could also be the pivot points in the suspension. I'd inspect the bushings in springs and equalizers. The standard plastic bushings they use are quite thin and can wear out quickly. On a previous TT, ours were all totally shot from when we took ownership, but that was after about a 2K mile delivery to the west coast. We have Dexter wet bolts, but Lippert's Never-fail bushings are an option too. I'd try spraying something onto the springs first.

Also maybe check anything abnormal looking in the suspension. If it's not the leaf springs, I'd be asking the dealer to look at it, but perhaps after the end of the season otherwise it can take them weeks to get around to even simple jobs.

FWIW, you might want to look at anything steel under your TT and see if much or anything is rusting. If exposed to salt, you can expect to find rust happening in various places. If so, I'd thoroughly wash it and plan on doing some painting. Maybe next season when it's warmer and dryer for a while. Our TT was delivered in the winter and has a lot of rust everywhere, including bolts that *used* to be plated.

[donn0128]

Start with a wet bolt kit. All trailers come with plastic bushings that are already worn out when you pick it up from the dealer, so replacing them with grease blessed bronze bushings is a worthwhile first step.

[SoundGuy]

In my experience this has little to do with "high end" and in most cases is caused by the trailer's leaf spring suspension. Mine does it as well so once in awhile I give those springs a liberally coating of The Solution by Krown and although it dosn't eliminate the noise entirely I'd say it usually quiets it down by about 90%. This is a Canadian product but it can be purchased in the US, you just gotta look around for it. I swear by it, always have a can handy as it will significantly quiet anything that squeaks. :B

[Lynnmor]

Spray the springs and suspension parts with Fluid Film. That will lube the springs and stop rust. Just don't get it inside the brakes.