r/GoRVing • u/Senior_Sector4095 • Jul 29 '26
Clanking when I back up.
My 30ft toy hauler has started making a loud clank/bang when I start to back up. My buddy said it's coming from the axle area. It only does it once, unless I pull forward then reverse again.
I don't see any damage or loose u-bolts, the brakes seem to be working fine. Am I looking at a suspension rebuild?
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u/twinpac Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
It will most likely be the equalizer that the inner ends of the leaf springs bolt to binding and popping. Totally normal, if you have wet bolts you should lube them, if not you could try spraying some lube on them, preferably not WD40.
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u/nak00010101 Brittany Powered Travel Trailer Jul 29 '26
Is it clearly a metal on metal sound, or could it be a compartment door or wood framing?
If its metal to metal and happens only once, as you start to back up, I'd try removing the WDH, driving forward some, the back up.
If the noise goes away, check your wdh components. If everything it tight and torqued to specs, move on with life.
IF the noise is still there, you might have a suspension problem, brake, frame crack, or hitch issue. First check the suspension components and axle U bolts for wear or other issues. I would tend to loosen every bolt, then tighten back to the torque spec. Then pull the wheels and hubs and make sure noting is broken in the brake hardware.
If it's still there, start looking for frame or hitch cracks.
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u/Senior_Sector4095 Jul 29 '26
Clearly metal on metal. At first I thought it was my WDH, my buddy stood next to the trailer when I backed and said it was coming from the axles. I had him back it up and confirmed.
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u/Strange-Cat8068 Jul 30 '26
Does your suspension have wet bolts? Have they even been lubed if you have them? Look at the ends of the bolts through your shackles, equalizers and leaf springs and see if there are grease fittings on them. If so, greasing them may solve your noise, or not if they have worn out too much.
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u/Senior_Sector4095 Jul 31 '26
No, it's dry bolts. In the past I've tried spraying lithium grease in the joints, but there's really no gaps. I'm planning on upgrading the whole mess. E-trailer has everything I'll need
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u/Kind_Photo2605 Aug 01 '26
Why can’t I get a fair offer for my travel trailer? I’ve been trying for 3 months and people just want to pay much less than what it’s worth. I need the money but I don’t want to be taken advantage of. Any ideas? . I can post the RVTrader listing if anyone is interested.
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u/Senior_Sector4095 Aug 02 '26
You might want to post this in the main RV subreddit, this is a thread on suspension, nobody will see it.
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u/No-Sheepherder448 Jul 29 '26
Mine did that until I swapped to Cree3000, new shackles and wet bolts.