Single axle trailer question
Submitted by slothwan on Thu, 2011-03-24 09:12
Ok, so I've just picked up my new (2nd hand boat). Its a 5.5m ali centre console. I notice that when i lowered the hitch onto my car that the rear shockies nearly bottomed out. It's telling me that there is way too much weight on the hitch.
I've heard many moons ago that the ideal scenario for the positioning of the axle on a single axle trailer is so that there is no more than 120kgs of pressure on the tow hitch, suggesting that it should be leaning on the heavier side to the hitch from the balence ponit.If this is the case it would suggest to me that I need to move the axle frame further foreward. Does anyone know if this "120kg" theory hold any water or if there is a better formular???
Any thoughts?
Cheers
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scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
rule of thumb is
10% of your boat weight should be on the tow ball ,you can either move the axle or the winch post what ever is easyier
Likc
Posts: 361
Date Joined: 09/08/09
Check your tow ball load
Check your tow ball load rating. Some cars have as little as 50kg. Otherwise the 10% rule applies – but not exceeding the ball load rating. You can go on weighbridge with fully loaded trailer and measure how much weight is on the jockey wheel (leaving trailer wheels outside of the scales).
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
trial
the 10 % rule is a guide line , what type of car do you have to tow your boat, and how much weight is actually going on the hitch now when it bottoms out, i would image that in general if you can stand on your two ball and it doesnt affect the car its in good order , 1 st your springs might be stuffed or theres to much weight on the boats hitch, i would try moving the wheels on the trailer forward and judge how much lighter the tow hitch becomes, if you dont have enough weight on the hitch the trailer will snake around, especially going down hill
Prego
Posts: 136
Date Joined: 03/06/09
Hayman reese web site has good info
There's info on tow ball weight as well as measuring the weight.