Dual axle trailer

[Medicine_Man1]

Should a dual axle trailer (car hauler) be tongue heavy?

[Dave_Mck]

I tow a 28' car hauler, loaded with cargo. I load heavy stuff up front, the heaviest stuff between the side door and the axle's, and light on the rear. Balancing is important with this trailer, I've never had it sway, goes straight as an arrow. My friend used to tow the same trailer, we haul the same cargo for a season then the next season it changes. We figure out the best way to load each season and load it the same way each time. On our "big" trip of the season my friend loaded a bunch of suitcases right on the rear of the trailer. As soon as he got out on the highway and went over a dip the trailer picked up the rear end of his truck and turned him sideways. He has no idea how he was able to regain control and not crash. Those suitcases almost caused a disaster. Now that I tow that trailer I'm sure to load it tongue heavy. I'd rather have it tongue heavy than tail heavy.

These trailers are designed for the heavyset stuff to be forward of the axles. The tie down hooks are located in a spot that places the vehicle engine a few feet in front of axles.Then it's expected that tool boxes and supplies will be in the very front, nothing but the light rear of the vehicle on the back end of trailer.

[blt2ski]

The other to realize too, many trailer manufactures like car haulers, equipment trailers, the max load amount is the axel capacity. THEN you have to have enough hitch wieght, ie the trailer tare as HW! My equipment trailers HAVE ALL been sold like this. Not like the RV manufactures that "generally speaking" take the axel capacity times 1.12 for ball mount, and 1.20 for 5w trailers.

I like 12-15% for my equipment style trailers.

Marty

[TXiceman]

All ball pull/bumper pull trailers should have 10 to 15% of the weight on the tongue. If the trailer tends to not track and sway, move a little more weight forward.

Ken

[APT]

All bumper pull trailers 10-15%. Travel trailers tend to handle better in the 12-15% range over 10-11%.

[2littletime]

That goes for any trailer. tongue heavy

[Medicine_Man1]

It's pulling very well. No sway.
Thanks All.
James

[Peg_Leg]

If it starts swaying you'll know you don't have enough tongue weight.

[hmknightnc]

Car Hauler is more like a boat trailer than a high wall TT. Probably don't need as much tongue weight as you would need for TT. I'd shoot for 10% but not more.

[carringb]

Ivylog wrote:
Yes unless you want it to take you to the scene of the accident. If it has torque flex axles (non equalizing) you need to adjust your ball higher than normal so it's tongue high even with a lot of tongue weight.

Be careful doing this. It should only be slightly high, if not level. Torque-flex axles don't equalize, so having it tongue high can overload the rear tires. BTDT.

[Ivylog]

Yes unless you want it to take you to the scene of the accident. If it has torque flex axles (non equalizing) you need to adjust your ball higher than normal so it's tongue high even with a lot of tongue weight.

[Jaxom]

Define Tongue Heavy. 10%-15% of the gross weight of trailer and load. So a 4,000 lb vehicle and a 1,500 lb trailer is 5,500 lbs. tongue weight should be 550-825 lbs.

[ScottG]

Yes, for the sake of handling.