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Thread: All things car trailer.

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  1. #1
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    Quote Originally Posted by ZR View Post
    Loading your ride, not sure where this came from but do see the odd person loading a car (empty shell or trailer long enough to move load far enough forward are exceptions) on the trailer backwards. To say the practice is dangerous would be an understatement. Did you know, even when pulling with a dually or similar all it would take is a couple or three little scallops / whoops in the road to see the trailer and truck start a motion that would lift / take enough wt off the rear of your truck for it to suddenly change direction? Yes exception to the rule would be a trailer long enough to move vehicle further forward. Just because you may have done it a "million times" without incident does not mean your not an accident looking for a place to happen.
    Some may also not be aware, how far forward or backward you tie your ride down makes a profound difference in how your truck n trailer combo perform. While you need adequate tongue wt, no upside to having excessive wt and having the trucks butt dragging or just plain driving poorly. If your unsure, good idea to buy a tonque wt scale, not expensive. There are also a few apps out there that do that and then some.
    Just to clarify, you are referring to vehicles that have much more front than rear weight? If that's the case, how would you load a mid or rear engine vehicle?

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie View Post
    Just to clarify, you are referring to vehicles that have much more front than rear weight? If that's the case, how would you load a mid or rear engine vehicle?

    Yes exactly that scenario. Based on how far back many / most trailer mfg's are locating the axles, suspect they are building in a higher level of idiot proofing into their offerings vs years gone by. While that puts a product out there thats harder to make dangerous, leaves most with tongue wt far above whats needed to be safe unless they load with with rear bumper pretty much even with rear of the trailer. Example, when using a U Haul transporter for my own car, position front tire just behind cross bar for the tire basket and use my own straps (front and rear) to secure. Still leaves it with excessive tongue wt but way closer to manageable. Of course with smaller / lighter cars, less of an issue. Trailer I just bought, axles are a good ways further back vs where I'd think is optimal for my use, I'll use tongue wt scale to confirm but moneys on rear bumper ends up pretty much even with rear of the trailer.
    Good thought on the mid or rear engine car, if trailer is long enough, bet you can bring far enough forward to keep the hitch scale happy or if req'd, load backwards. Based on wheel positioning of my own trailer, bet more than enough room to get it balanced n pulling safely.
    Funny story about wheel positioning and wt carrying, back in the day, local major wrecker supplier built me their first ever roll off / alum flat bed tow truck with a stinger on an extended cab dually chassis. Truck looked great n drove well but even with a car on the deck we could not keep front wheels of the truck on the ground with even a small car on the stinger. Seems they made a lil miscalculation on wheel base, truck required complete dismantle and re stretch chassis n reinstall wrecker.
    Back to car trailers, for those pulling with a 3/4 ton or perhaps one ton dually, extra tongue wt would easily go un noticed unless loading with a scale or similar. Same extra wt on a 1/2 ton and the truck tells you in a hurry to sort things out.

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