Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[WinterDeere]

I think there is a more efficient way.

There aren't many single-photo memes that I've stared at longer than that one, just wondering... "how"?

 

[California]

There aren't many single-photo memes that I've stared at longer than that one, just wondering... "how"?

How? Spun off the road backward!

 

[ning]

How? Spun off the road backward!

Tommy Flanagan

would probably say "I uh... didn't have a trailer hitch... so yeah, that's it, we put the trailer on the truck with a forklift and.. yeah the barn is right off the pic to the right, that's the ticket. Everythings! great! handles great!"

 

[Grumpycat]

I cannot recall which towing thread taught me this lesson, but I wanted to thank the experts at TBN for saving me time and perhaps more.

I was towing wrong today. Had a SxS on my trailer and was going down the road. Got up to about 30 mph and it starts to wiggle. Even before TBN, I knew this was bad. Thanks to TBN, I knew exactly what was wrong and how to fix it. I was able to go about 25 until I got to a boat ramp. Pulled in there, loosened the straps and moved the load forward about 12-18 inches. (Retightened) Presto, no more wiggle, even at highway speed.

A hearty and sincere thanks to whomever (probably many of you) pointed out the symptoms of too little tongue weight.

There is a balance to it. Maximizing the load on the tongue can also have negative effect.

My Subaru Outback really shouldn't be pulling an open 16' tandem axle trailer, but when I have if a SxS is all the way to the front the butt of the Subaru drops and the rig porpoises on bumps.

A good balance seems to be to place the rear of the SxS over the trailer axles and then a fair bit is in front of the trailer axles.

The total here is just over 2000 pounds. Subaru rated to tow 2700 pounds.

 

[dstig1]

Well that photo is much more "Hauling wrong" than towing wrong... But with the payload being a trailer, I guess it fits both categories!

Geez that had to be a ride!

 

[WinterDeere]

There is a balance to it. Maximizing the load on the tongue can also have negative effect.

Your tongue weight should be dialed in to roughly 10% - 15% of gross trailer weight. So, if trailer + payload happens to be 5k lb on a given trip, you should adjust the load to achieve 500 - 750 lb. on the tongue. Of course, most aren't going to have a way to measure trailer weight and tongue weight handy, so it becomes a bit of a SWAG.

The first time I loaded my tractor + loader + ballast + wagon all onto my landscape trailer, I remember playing musical chairs between the tractor, ballast box, and wagon, until I got the thing to balance right. After figuring it out once, you just repeat.

And when loading logs on my trailer, I've developed an eye for what's right, mostly watching how the trailer levels out under load. Generally, this works out by putting the center of each log length over the front axle of my tandem, when laying logs in length-wise.

This is very important at highway speeds, less so if you're doing 25 mph between two neighboring houses.

 

[Grumpycat]

Your tongue weight should be dialed in to roughly 10% - 15% of gross trailer weight. So, if trailer + payload happens to be 5k lb on a given trip, you should adjust the load to achieve 500 - 750 lb. on the tongue. Of course, most aren't going to have a way to measure trailer weight and tongue weight handy, so it becomes a bit of a SWAG.

The first time I loaded my tractor + loader + ballast + wagon all onto my landscape trailer, I remember playing musical chairs between the tractor, ballast box, and wagon, until I got the thing to balance right. After figuring it out once, you just repeat.

And when loading logs on my trailer, I've developed an eye for what's right, mostly watching how the trailer levels out under load. Generally, this works out by putting the center of each log length over the front axle of my tandem, when laying logs in length-wise.

This is very important at highway speeds, less so if you're doing 25 mph between two neighboring houses.

But you are citing rule-of-thumb numbers. Rarely do we have a scale to measure. Too many who read such instruction conclude the solution is to put as much on the tongue as possible.

In my cited example a trailer long enough for 2 SxS had only one parked at the very front. With a marginal tow vehicle that was far too much. When moved back so that much was over the trailer axles the rig behaved properly.

Likewise I have a purpose built very expensive Kendon Dual Stand Up motorcycle trailer. It carries 2 dirtbikes with ease behind the Subaru. But put (2) 650 pound Yamaha FJR1300s on it and we are back to porpoising. Moving one back a only a foot helped tremendously. Probably should have moved both back a foot. If I was to do it again I'd look into remounting the rails and wheel chocks.

 

[WinterDeere]

But you are citing rule-of-thumb numbers.

Yep. They became rule-of-thumb numbers, because they're right!

Rarely do we have a scale to measure.

Already noted. When setting up a new boat trailer, yes... I do actually rig up scales to dial in the position of the boat on the trailer. It's a one-time chore for years of towing that boat on that trailer. But no way am I doing that for each differing load on my landscape trailer, that is just handled by eye, and then adjusting later if it feels off.

Too many who read such instruction conclude the solution is to put as much on the tongue as possible.

Leads to proposing and potential understeer, by exceeding your vehicle's maximum allowable tongue weight.

In my cited example a trailer long enough for 2 SxS had only one parked at the very front. With a marginal tow vehicle that was far too much. When moved back so that much was over the trailer axles the rig behaved properly.

Going for a level trailer is a good starting point, but that also relies on having the correct drop on your hitch and a tow vehicle with a tongue weight rating appropriate for the trailer. Likewise, if you know you're hauling ~5k lb, and you find you can lift the tongue, you're obviously too light. After that, feeling how it tows is the final metric.

 

[aeblank]

If you have the vehicle for it, I'd argue more tongue weight is better. Look at a semi....lots of tongue weight there.

I've always done it by eye as well. Hard to even explain exactly how I get there, given the variable loads I've dealt with. Would be curious if I'm at 15% or if I'm way off. Never had sway, so I know I'm on the heavy side.

 

[kevin37b]

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