When towing a caravan or trailer that has been serviced well, you would not expect to hear much noise from the caravan while you are towing.
Caravan rattles and creaks while you are towing can be annoying but apart from that they cause unnecessary wear and can be an indication that you have a potential issue which requires fixing. Our tips will help you identify and eliminate the rattles and creaks.
Rattles and squeaks
The tow ball can become squeaky and noisy. A quality tow ball grease will keep things quiet. We recommend Hayman Reese Hitch Ball Lube as it is a white grease that will reduce friction and won’t break down. Placing a cover over the tow ball when you are disconnecting the caravan will help avoid dust, dirt and grease from sticking to the grease. If you have greased the tow ball and you are still finding that it is rattling, you may need check the tow ball for signs of wear. Over time with friction, the tow ball can wear away and require replacing. New tow balls are inexpensive and a good investment in safety. Another common cause of rattles is a loose shank in your receiver. This can be helped by using clamps or locking pins. Do not try to take rattles out of the shank by using the adjustment screw on the receiver. The adjustment screw is only meant to be tensioned when there is no trailer coupled up ie. it will stop the shank rattling when it is not in use.
Humming and squealing
A light humming sound from the magnets in the caravan wheels is normal while you are moving. It’s good to know this noise so that you can identify any strange sounds. Squealing noises from your caravan wheels is not normal and indicates that you have a problem with your caravan brakes that requires servicing. Listen out for your caravan tyres locking up while braking. Shuddering when you are braking is an indication that your caravan brakes need adjusting. For more information on caravan brake controller settings read our article here.
Groaning and creaking
Weight distribution bars are a major culprit for creaking and groaning noises. Some groaning noise from the bars is normal when initially taking off and going over steep curves. Groaning and creaking weight distribution bars can be somewhat alleviated with grease. Weight distribution bars should be taken off when reversing or turning tightly and they will make a noisy objection if you don’t.
More rattles
Items inside the caravan or motorhome, including the front boot, that are not secured well can cause lots of rattles and thumps on the road and extra wear on your surfaces. Loose oven trays, microwave plates, and tools can all become very noisy while you are moving. Lining surfaces with anti-slip matting is a great way to keep things in place and protect your surfaces. It is amazing how quickly a new van can look worn inside the cupboards and drawers without it.
Keeping your caravan or motorhome serviced regularly will prevent most of the potentially noisy problems. Clunks, groaning, squealing and rattles are not normal and require attention and our tow ball tips for caravan rattles and creaks are a good place to start. At the RV Service our professional team can ensure that your caravan is towing smoothly and as silently as possible. Give us a call or visit our showroom for help with the caravan rattles.
