How do you load your trailer?

[Dmitry]

I got mine5 by8 trailer and log splitter from TSC today . Couldn't pick better day and time . It was snowing with rain in a dark when I was driving for the first time in my life with trailer . On a top of it trailer had 22 ton log splitter in it . It was 20 min highway/ 20 min back roads drive .
My question: what is the right way to load the trailer , I was told that weight should be distributed equally if possible .I put log splitter in a middle , so not a lot of weight on a hitch . When it wasn't attached I could have lift the front of the trailer with very little effort . Should I put more weight on a hitch so it's not gonna try to rock when driving and be more stable ?

 

[Knots]

I usually try to load it just a little more on the tongue than the back. Too much behind the axle and the trailer starts to have a mind of its own. Too much on the tongue, and the car's rear axle bearings are taking the load that the trailer bearings should be taking.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

View attachment 146718 View attachment 146719 I got mine5 by8 trailer and log splitter from TSC today . Couldn't pick better day and time . It was snowing with rain in a dark when I was driving for the first time in my life with trailer . On a top of it trailer had 22 ton log splitter in it . It was 20 min highway/ 20 min back roads drive .
My question: what is the right way to load the trailer , I was told that weight should be distributed equally if possible .I put log splitter in a middle , so not a lot of weight on a hitch . When it wasn't attached I could have lift the front of the trailer with very little effort . Should I put more weight on a hitch so it's not gonna try to rock when driving and be more stable ?

Hey Dmitry! We want a report on that new splitter! And remember, without pictures it's just another fairytale

 

[Dmitry]

Gonna use it next week hopefully

 

[gzecc]

View attachment 146718 View attachment 146719 I got mine5 by8 trailer and log splitter from TSC today . Couldn't pick better day and time . It was snowing with rain in a dark when I was driving for the first time in my life with trailer . On a top of it trailer had 22 ton log splitter in it . It was 20 min highway/ 20 min back roads drive .
My question: what is the right way to load the trailer , I was told that weight should be distributed equally if possible .I put log splitter in a middle , so not a lot of weight on a hitch . When it wasn't attached I could have lift the front of the trailer with very little effort . Should I put more weight on a hitch so it's not gonna try to rock when driving and be more stable ?

Its a delicate balance. If possible load in the middle then slightly pull to the front. Should be like 55/45 ratio. If you back load you'll get fish tailing at higher speed. If you front load you'll possibly pull the hitch off the car (with a lot of weight).

 

[Dmitry]

Yeah, makes perfect sense

 

[Michael Golden]

You sure you want to haul wood with that car? I'm guessing you will wear it out pretty fast!

 

[Poindexter]

I figure if I can pretty much wrangle it around like a big wheelbarrow I am doing pretty good- but all my hitches are class II, 3500# gross, 350# tongue weight.

As above, the trailer should be doing almost all of the work, but you want a little bias to the front for better road manners.

 

[mustash29]

The empty trailer should be properly balanced from the factory. It should have it's empty weight listed on the frame tag. Weigh the tongue with a bathroom scale.

Loaded tongue weight should be about 10 to 15 % of the total gross weight. If you are pulling a loaded trailer that weighs 3000 # you should have 300 - 450 # tongue weight.

 

[Shari]

I never unhitch my trailer when there is a load in the trailer without putting cement blocks under the frame front and rear. You don't want your trailer doing a yee haw with a load on............

 

[Longstreet]

10-15% Tongue Weight, if you can get it. More tongue weight not only gives you a smother ride, it helps prevents the coupler from disconnecting in a failure.

You can substitute lower speed for tongue weight it you need to. (broken link removed to http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/tow-me-down-1609112611)

More tongue weight will almost never get you in trouble as long as you don't overload the hitch.

 

[ClintonH]

I: load trailer. Stand on back. If the tongue rises on ball, I add/move weight forward until it won't rise with me on the back. I weigh 200 lbs, so I figure just a bit over that on the vehicle won't hurt it.

 

[jeff_t]

Yep, 10-15% on the tongue. If it squats the tow vehicle too much, you need a bigger one, or a smaller trailer. Stay within the manufacturer's specs on your tow vehicle. They don't come up with those numbers for no reason.

Too little tongue weight weight will lead to sway, which you may or may not recover from. That car isn't really built to tow, and probably won't be very forgiving in a bad situation.

I spend a lot of time on the road, and see people do a lot of stupid stuff. I watched a pickup pulling a boat pass me just the other day, swaying so bad he almost hit me and everybody else he was passing. He was going about 75, and never slowed down. It wasn't a small boat either, in the 18-20' range with a big motor hanging on the back, and it was tossing that F150 all over.

 

[Applesister]

Are chains mandatory on hitch constructions? I couldnt see the trailer hitch in your pics.
I look at the trailers all the time at TSC and would like to get one, but cant recall if they are equipped with chains?

 

[Applesister]

Chains are a life saver when your load weight shifts.

 

[jeff_t]

Chains are lifesaver when your trailer comes unhooked and stays behind your vehicle, instead of crossing into oncoming traffic. Might bang up the back of your vehicle, but that's better than killing someone.

And yes, required by law.

The chains and hooks that come on those cheap trailers are totally inadequate. In fact, that is true for many trailers. I lost a borrowed trailer once, due to a failure in the coupler, and the cheap 'S' hooks straightened out and the trailer went thru the ditch on the other side of the road. Fortunately, there was no other traffic around. My trailers have firmly attached 1/4" or 5/16" chains and quality forged hooks.

 

[mstoelton]

ALWAYS load the trailer with more weight on the tongue. NEVER with more weight on the rear of the trailer.