Gdetrailer wrote:
JaxDad writes “First off, unless its a single axle trailer, no, you can't overload one wheel, the equalizer between the axles, as its name suggests, spreads the weight over the 2 or 3 wheels on that side.”
Actually multiple axle trailer CAN have more weight on a single wheel, “equalizers” do not distribute the load “evenly” across all axles. Don’t get me wrong they do give but they do not spread the load evenly.
The operative words is “axle loading will be CLOSE, but NOT EXACT”. You are ASSUMING that the axles are "equalized" perfectly, in the real world does not happen that way.
Think of this way, picture a teeter totter, the “equalizer” is the center point, tip the teeter totter towards the front axle and the front axle WILL now have additional weight added to it.
Tip the teeter totter towards the rear axle and now the front axle will lose some weight and the rear axle will gain some weight.
Variations in axle placement, spring rates and even spread of the axles all can alter just how "equal" the load is among the wheels.
If you want to quote to try to frame an argument, please, at least read what I posted first.
I said the equalizer "spreads the weight over the 2 or 3 wheels on that side.” I did not say it equally divides the weight to the 100th of an ounce. I never used the word "exact".
I also said "overload", as in the weight is "spread" over the others tires on that side, so all of them carry more weight, not just the one below the bankers vault someone might install.
As for a teeter-totter, that's a very good analogy, too far fore or aft will alter the center of gravity and the weight balance between axles.
There's a wide spread in weight and balance with any trailer, more so with a 5'er, we're not talking about a small airplane here. Take for instance pretty much the same chassis as the OP is thinking of but in the form of an enclosed cargo trailer. I'd be willing to bet far less of them go down the highway properly balanced than do properly balanced.
The OP was talking about a good-sized 5'er, just how far off level do you suppose a 5'er can be towed? Maybe hitch it to a monster truck and drag the back axle?
The whole thing is now past silly, the argument is over such minute details that its getting beyond just funny now.
