Can trailer load be too far forward?

[Chapap]

If all weights are within the limits of the various related components, can the load be to far forward?

 

[sgtsandman]

If the tongue weight is 10% - 15% of the total trailer weight, the location of the load doesn’t matter.

Too much tongue weight stresses the trailer tongue and causes the rear of the tow vehicle to sag and takes weight off of the front tires, which can cause steering problems.

Too little tongue weight will cause trailer sway issues and, depending on the size of the trailer, can take weight off the rear axle.

 

[Chapap]

Is there trailer stability concern with weight too far forward? Say it's an F350 with a light utility trailer. Would there be an issue having the load at the very front?

 

[don4331]

Too little tongue weight on trailer results in stability issues

Too much tongue weight is just hard on certain components.

The 10% minimum number is for an average trailer - any less and you get sway.

But a boat trailer, especially with outboard engined boat, often have the wheels set way back on the trailer. And as a result, you can get away with less tongue weight - say 7%. Of course, having less weight on tongue causes other issues - e.g. not being able to pull the boat up the ramp.​

Aside: We reset the boat trailer wheels much further back to get tongue weight into 20% range, added a weight distribution hitch to Ranger. The result was we could walk the bow rider up the ramp, much to surprise/envy of many in the crowd.​

​

Historically, RV and goose neck trailers had recommendation of 25% pin weight (Big rigs put 50% on pin). But that would limit towing capacity on current trucks, so it has been "relaxed" to 10-15%.

 

[sgtsandman]

Is there trailer stability concern with weight too far forward? Say it's an F350 with a light utility trailer. Would there be an issue having the load at the very front?

You have to factor in for both the trailer and the tow vehicle. Not only do you need to stay with in the limits of the tow vehicle, you need to stay within the limits of the trailer too.

So, it could be an issue depending on what the load is. If it’s a Little Tikes car, it won’t be an issue. If it’s a riding mower with an engine on the front, maybe. It depends on the load limit of the trailer.

 

[scotts90ranger]

That's a lot of thinking, on my F350 I just load it tongue heavy, in the past I've hauled a lot of random farm stuff for my brother and wing it every time, only one time hauling two small tractors was it sketchy but we couldn't move the tractors forward so we just bought 300lb of bagged manure and put it on the tongue, drove great from there

 

[Chapap]

Here's the source of the question. I was pulling a 14k gvwr trailer (2800 curb) with my 2500. I was hauling a 1500# SxS. That weight seemed like peanuts for the system so I tied it down at the very front of the trailer. There should have been zero structural concerns, but the cg of the trailer was probably a good bit further forward than if I had 10000# on it. Just wondering if that matters at all.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Here's the source of the question. I was pulling a 14k gvwr trailer (2800 curb) with my 2500. I was hauling a 1500# SxS. That weight seemed like peanuts for the system so I tied it down at the very front of the trailer. There should have been zero structural concerns, but the cg of the trailer was probably a good bit further forward than if I had 10000# on it. Just wondering if that matters at all.

Yes it does esipicially on a heavy sprung trailer.

If i put even my 750lb quad way to the front of my 10000gvw trailer behind my F250 it rides like total shit. But if i put 2 quads on with one on the front its smooth sailing.

When im hauling something short, square, with some heft....ill usually load it just in front of, or over the axles

 

[Roert42]

I try to load everything with about a 60/40 split over the axels on my flat bed. Depends on the weight distribution of the object itself.

I’m sure I’ve towed at it over the CGVWL for the ranger, gives me about a 5k towing with a weight distribution hitch. I’ve done at it over without a weight distribution hitch.

Load is too far back, rides like crap, too far forward, same for different reasons.

 

[sgtsandman]

Here's the source of the question. I was pulling a 14k gvwr trailer (2800 curb) with my 2500. I was hauling a 1500# SxS. That weight seemed like peanuts for the system so I tied it down at the very front of the trailer. There should have been zero structural concerns, but the cg of the trailer was probably a good bit further forward than if I had 10000# on it. Just wondering if that matters at all.

Unless you have something else you want to move along with it, I would move it back over the axle(s). Look where the engine and transmission is. If it's under the back like I think it is, you could favor more forward with the engine over the axle(s). That should get you in the ball park.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I usually look to balance the load as best I can. Or to load to what I know by experience will come out ok. I hauled skid steer all the time for my dad, we backed it up the ramps since motor in the back is heavy and that’s the nicest way to load it, but to keep from putting all of that weight on the hitch, dad had experimented and found where it hauled best which was somewhat centered over the dual axles and scribed a line on the deck to line the bucket up with.

That was with the dump trucks. When I hauled that trailer with my F-150 to fetch my Ferguson TO-20 tractor and accessories and stuff home, I had them put the 5’ brush hog and 7’ back blade on the front of the deck and the heavier tractor on the back. I had enough tongue weight like that to pull nice and I had enough weight with other things in the bed for traction, but I wasn’t hitch heavy.

 

[franklin2]

All you have to do is watch the truck as you are loading. Move forward on the trailer till the truck settles down in the back a 1 inch or 2. Stop there, works for me. Of course you know your truck, so different trucks settle different amounts.

If it gives problems, pull over and move the load. Experience is the best teacher, no one got up one morning and suddenly knew everything there was to know about towing and pulling loaded trailers.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I bought a receiver with an integrated weigh scale. It works good. I found it on clearance sale at Princess Auto. I don't "need" it but the price was too good to pass up.

 

[sgtsandman]

I usually look to balance the load as best I can. Or to load to what I know by experience will come out ok. I hauled skid steer all the time for my dad, we backed it up the ramps since motor in the back is heavy and that’s the nicest way to load it, but to keep from putting all of that weight on the hitch, dad had experimented and found where it hauled best which was somewhat centered over the dual axles and scribed a line on the deck to line the bucket up with.

That was with the dump trucks. When I hauled that trailer with my F-150 to fetch my Ferguson TO-20 tractor and accessories and stuff home, I had them put the 5’ brush hog and 7’ back blade on the front of the deck and the heavier tractor on the back. I had enough tongue weight like that to pull nice and I had enough weight with other things in the bed for traction, but I wasn’t hitch heavy.

Wheeled or tracked equipment is so much easier than stacked items. I loaded and unloaded the camping equipment multiple times before I got the distribution right and every bin, wooden box, and crate had to be weighed individually. It was so much of a PITA I drew a diagram on waterproof paper with write in rain ink and taped it in the inside of the tongue box for future reference.

 

[Curious Hound]

Wheeled or tracked equipment is so much easier that stacked items. I loaded and unloaded the camping equipment multiple times before I got the distribution right and every bin, wooden box, and crate had to be weighed individually. It was so much of a PITA I drew a diagram on waterproof paper with write in rain ink and taped it in the inside of the tongue box for future reference.

Never disobey the loadmaster