How to reduce body roll?

[Truck Guy99]

How do I reduce body roll in a square body Chevy? I have a pickup bed trailer made from a square body half ton and the body roll is bothering me. It pulls straight as an arrow and is stale even at 65 on the highway. But if you hit a bump at anything over 30mph it has a lot of roll/rocking motion to it. How can I reduce it on a low buck budget? Any and all help is appreciated!
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[meatwagon83]

with a sway bar off the rear of a one ton, i believe it bolts right in!

[Truck Guy99]

If it is factory, aren't the rear sway bars riveted in? If so, can I torch them and bolt it on the trailer?
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[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Are your shocks alright?

They seem to be a culprit if it rocks when you hit a bump.

[Truck Guy99]

I know one is missing the ram. It's just a metal shell. IDK about the other one. It's probably bad. I know that is part of it, but I Googled it and alot of people with truck bed trailers have the same complaints.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Leaf springs?
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[Truck Guy99]

I thought the same. Will 1 or 3/4 ton springs fit without modification? I am considering getting some 3/4 or 1 ton springs from a junk yard I know of that is PACKED with squares. I will probably take a tape measure and see if they would match up. How big of a job is it to remove and replace a set of leaf springs? Thanks in advance for any help!
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[donut]

Swapping whole spring packs, don't know. Far more knowledgeable folks may be able to help though.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be looking to add a leaf or 2. That way you don't have to deal with replacing the bushings. (unless yours are really bad, and you want to change them)

Find a local spring shop (they're everywhere) they should be able to hook you up with new U-bolts and center pins for the springs, junkyard for donor spring packs. Pull the pack apart (site search should get you safe way to do it), inspect leafs for damage, add new leaf (2?), reinstall. Change shocks.
How are the tires? With upgraded springs, passenger car radials may not be up to the task.
IMO biggest problem with the PU bed trailers is size. If they're full, odds are they're overloaded.

[SSC's76]

Originally Posted by Truck Guy99

I know one is missing the ram. It's just a metal shell. IDK about the other one. It's probably bad. I know that is part of it, but I Googled it and alot of people with truck bed trailers have the same complaints.
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Well that's your problem right there. Most real trailers don't use shocks you using something that was designed to be a part of a package for a truck and one is broke. Simple fix is to take to shocks off and let the springs do the work like a standard trailer. To make it a tad more rigid you could use square tube in place of the shocks just drill some holes in it and mount it where the shocks are now. This will also keep height up a tad. I've seen some people do some other crazy stuff I won't even mention
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[wraprail]

Do you have a picture(s) of this thing?
I'm thinking maybe the tongue is a little short and causing it to be unstable at slower speeds. Higher speeds you may not notice it as much.
Also if it sits at an angle (front to back) while being towed can cause instability.
Depending on how it's built it could have alot of flex in the frame or it may twist like a noodle.
There are just so many things that could cause this and without pictures just no way to guess.

[Truck Guy99]

Hope these work for you guys. I may have more if you want

P.S. the camper/topper is no longer on it.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

So it's just a truck frame cut down? Front shocks are softer usually so I would get fronts and then add a swaybar. The sway bare alone should really make it less roll but may make it want to jerk tip over
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[Truck Guy99]

Yes, exactly. Thanks for the tips. BTW, I'm open to any ideas for this trailer. I need something to wench on....
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[Truck Guy99]

Well boys, I took the shocks off. Pulls WAY better. I also bought a different camper for it since the first one busted. I got it secured, now I just need a toolbox for the tongue and a spare tire. I'm open to ideas and suggestions for this thing. The only bad idea is the one not spoken
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[wraprail]

lower it down some at least.
Put the fuel tanks back in it and fill them full of sand?

[Truck Guy99]

If I had the fuel tanks, maybe... But I don't. I appreciate the idea! I am also looking for a spare wheel. Hard to find some at a descent price here. Because the stake pockets are blocked off with the camper, I am also mounting some small D-rings in the floor. I am looking forward to it. For details and pictures, check out my thread in the square body projects and builds section. Thanks for the help guys!
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[mtnsackett]

I had the same issue on a trailer I made out of a truck I removed the shocks and it helped, then I ended up adding air helper springs and spring shackle lift because kept flipping and the spring was riding on the frame.