Baja Man wrote:
1. How can I determine if less links are needed...since my TW is at 1450# or slightly higher after I add some front storage weight?
2. I did have to jack up the truck/trailer pretty high (with tongue jack) to be able to crank on handle (rotating latches) and lock chains in place at 9 links. Is this normal?
1a. The rule of thumb is, measure from the road to the bottom of the front wheel well while the trailer is not touching the tow vehicle in any way. Write down that number. Hook the trailer onto the ball and raise the tongue jack so the tow vehicle is holding the full tongue weight. Measure the front wheel well again. Increase tension on the chains until the front wheel well measurement is within 1/2 inch of its original reading. Under no circumstances should the front wheel well measurement be lower than the original reading.
1b. (This is out of my Ford manual.) Do step 1a with one exception. Instead of within 1/2 inch of the original reading, remove 1/2 of the difference between the first two measurements.
2. Yes, it is normal to have to crank the tongue up pretty high to tension the bars.
