Setting Up a Tandem Axle trailer

[jlbota]

Ok folks I need some help. I just purchased a 16ft tandem axle trailer and I need to know how the trailer needs to sit without a load on it. I have an 03 Dodge 2500 and when I hook it up the front wheels of the trailer are off the ground enough I can spin them freely. Maybe about an inch or so off the ground. I realize I need a longer drop on my hitch but is there a rule of thumb when setting it up empty? Does it need to be level? Should it be 1 inch higher in the front than in the back? I have pulled many single axle trailers and a few tandem axle boat trailers. But this is my first tandem axle utilty type.
I did load the Kubota on the trailer just to see how much it leveled out and you could see most of the weight on the back axle. Any help would be appreciated.

Whats the industry standard of measuring the drop on a hitch?
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
I especially feel I need to get this right for safety reasons and also because my brakes are on that front axle. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Lou_B]

You probably have a standard tow hitch that allows a receiver with a 2 inch square piece of tube to be slid into it. The distance from the top of the square tube to the ball mounting surface would be the "drop". My guess is that you have a receiver with the ball platform just about at the bottom of the square tube - that's a reiceiver with 2" drop.

Some trailers have an adjustable coupler that can be moved up or down to get the trailer to sit more level. If your trailer has a fixed coupler, you will need to get a receiver with more drop.

You want the trailer to sit level when hooked up to your truck and the tractor is on it. As a guess, I'd try using a receiver with a 4 inch drop. Then hook up the trailer and load the tractor on it. Try positioning the tractor as far forward as it might go if you were trailering it with an attachment hooked up. If the trailer tires are evenly loaded, you have the right drop figured out.

Lou Braun

 

[jlbota]

Im sorry should have been more clear on what kind of a hitch I have. It s a class IV hitch with the slide in reciver.

Thanks

 

[ronjhall]

jlbota

Here is a thread about trailer sway that should answer your concerns.
Click Here

 

[jlbota]

Well i think i figured it out I had to put on about a 6 inch ball drop and it does leave the trailer a bit high when empty. But when I load everything on the trailer and level it out it drops the rear of my truck about 1-1/2 inches which sets the trailer just about right. This dang Dodge sits up so high in the back its hard to get the right drop...But I will try this setup for awhile and see what happens.

By the way its a 16ft Hawkline trailer and its pretty nice for the money. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Inspector507]

I had a Ford 250SD 4X4 with Tow and plow package on it and needed the 6" drop as well. See what happens and let us know /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif