Quote:
Originally Posted by Veloc
I have an auto hauler trailer. If I put a car on front first, my pull rig is light in the front and is no fun to drive. If I either back the car onto the trailer, or put the car as far to the rear of the trailer as it will safely go, it pulls fine. Not a pound of difference in the load (and it's not overloaded) but where the weight is on the trailer makes a huge difference between an easy tow and a tow rig that difficult to drive.
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The problem is when the tongue or pin weight is to high or too low.
Bumper pulls need 10% of total trailer weight on the tongue.
Fifth wheels require 15-20% of total trailer weight on the pin.
Moving weight in the trailer to achieve proper pin or tongue weight is fine. Moving weight in the trailer to compensate for an insufficient tow rig is not.
My point is simply that you must maintain proper pin or tongue weight and if you can't without causing suspension issues (front or rear) on your tow rig then the tow rig is improper for the load to be moved.
And after market air bags for towing, do NOTHING to increase a tow rigs capacity. They will however allow you to overload the tow rig without looking like it is.
The tow rig and trailer must be looked at as an entire system. Weak points in most rigs are:
1) TIRE CAPACITY on the tow rig because most people buy the cheaper tires...which have lower load ratings.
2) TIRE CAPACITY on the trailer because people buy trailer tires based on cost. They may well have lower capacities than the trailer axle
3) GAW of the rear axle on the tow rig.
4) GAW of the axles on the trailer
5) Suspension capacity of the tow rig.
6) Towing capacity (trailer weight) of the tow rig.... which is often determined by the marketing department not the engineers and is dependent upon what the competition says they can pull. - That 7,000 pound tow capacity on a 2002 Ram 1500 using a 5th wheel? Yeah, it will do it....at 25mph up the hills with the engine screaming...... And nothing extra in the truck besides two people and a full tank of fuel because with a 7000 pound 5th wheel and proper pin weight, the front and rear axle are both within a couple hundred pounds of max.
I was Motor T, I trained drivers, I inspected drivers and rigs, most people out there are ignorant about towing. Ask a few when you come across them, when was the last time you did a weight and balance on your rig? What's your pin (tongue) weight? What's your GCW? What does each of your axles weigh?
Important questions when you see that weight limit sign on the two lane road to the destination you've been wanting to see for months or years.
And yet, most have no clue. So yeah, I'm a bit anal about the subject. Nothing personal.