Forum Discussion
Acdii
Sep 17, 2017Explorer
I see quite a few arguments regarding tail heavy. If I were to compare trailer loading to my RC planes, maybe it can help clear it up.
A Nose heavy plane lands fast, but lands, a tail heavy plane crashes. On a plane there is a balance point, usually landing on the spar of the wing, or in an area at the spar. For every ounce the tail is heavy, to balance you need 3 to 4 ounces in the nose.
While a Plane and a Travel trailer are completely different things, the one thing both have in common is a balance point, the plane, it is the spar, on the trailer, its the axles. Depending on where the axles are placed on a trailer, can determine the ratio of weight back to front to balance it, or make it tow happy.
Trailers that have a long area behind the axles, weight back there can be critical, for every pound added, you must add 2,3,4 or more pounds up front to compensate. As another poster pointed out, 100 pounds of clothes(really? Thats a lot of clothes) placed rearward can be the making of disaster, but move them forward and all is peachy.
So, the trailer in question appeared to have 128 pounds of stuff hanging off the back, and that can lead to disaster if not compensated for with 150 pounds or more up front.
If the trailers CG is dead center, you could add equal amounts front and back. Would I? Nope, that becomes a fine weighing game. I would always add more to the front to balance than what was put in the rear.
After reading the guys story about the wreck, it just proves what I have stated in several other posts about speeding up to correct sway. Don't! Unless you have a **** load of HP and torque and can do the 1/4 mile in 6.8 seconds, you wont be able to go fast enough to correct it. Knowing what I know about hitches now, if I found a crack in the hitch, I would not have purchased a hitch of lessor means than what is needed. Amazon can deliver to any address, and if I need a few extra days, I would take them in order to have the proper setup to take the rig home.
A Nose heavy plane lands fast, but lands, a tail heavy plane crashes. On a plane there is a balance point, usually landing on the spar of the wing, or in an area at the spar. For every ounce the tail is heavy, to balance you need 3 to 4 ounces in the nose.
While a Plane and a Travel trailer are completely different things, the one thing both have in common is a balance point, the plane, it is the spar, on the trailer, its the axles. Depending on where the axles are placed on a trailer, can determine the ratio of weight back to front to balance it, or make it tow happy.
Trailers that have a long area behind the axles, weight back there can be critical, for every pound added, you must add 2,3,4 or more pounds up front to compensate. As another poster pointed out, 100 pounds of clothes(really? Thats a lot of clothes) placed rearward can be the making of disaster, but move them forward and all is peachy.
So, the trailer in question appeared to have 128 pounds of stuff hanging off the back, and that can lead to disaster if not compensated for with 150 pounds or more up front.
If the trailers CG is dead center, you could add equal amounts front and back. Would I? Nope, that becomes a fine weighing game. I would always add more to the front to balance than what was put in the rear.
After reading the guys story about the wreck, it just proves what I have stated in several other posts about speeding up to correct sway. Don't! Unless you have a **** load of HP and torque and can do the 1/4 mile in 6.8 seconds, you wont be able to go fast enough to correct it. Knowing what I know about hitches now, if I found a crack in the hitch, I would not have purchased a hitch of lessor means than what is needed. Amazon can deliver to any address, and if I need a few extra days, I would take them in order to have the proper setup to take the rig home.
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