The rule is 10% to 15% of the weight of the trailer on the tongue.
If you are building a special purpose trailer, like a tower trailer,
with a fixed and predictable load, this is easy to do. Build the
trailer, but don't weld on the suspension components yet. Weigh the
entire trailer (for small trailers, 3 quality scales work fine; one
under each wheel and one under the TONGUE!). If the trailer weighs
500 lbs, you want 50 to 75 lbs on the tongue. You accomplish this by
sliding the axle forward or backward. For a small trailer, go for the 15%!
If you are building a flat bed trailer that could have a number of
different loads, I'd shoot for 12% for the raw trailer and make sure
you load it properly!
For lateral issues with center of gravity, you can either use a wider
axle or lower the height of the tower being mounted. I have never
gotten our club trailer up on one wheel and I tow it at 85MPH all the
time! Normal speed is 60MPH however...but sometimes I'm not paying
too much attention to speed. This trailer has never oscillated!
Aluminum trailers are not cost effective! Those boys are expensive
and you better get a real good paint job!
A far as brakes go, here in California, if your trailer weighs more
than 1500#, you need brakes! I recommend electric brakes (and
Tekonsha Brake Controllers) if it is YOUR trailer. If different
vehicles are going to tow your trailer, surge hydraulic actuated
brakes should be used as not every vehicle will be equipped with an
electric brake controller. Keep it under 1500# and you don't have to
worry about brakes!
Here is a manufacturer of a scale I've used to build trailers. This
section has hints about trailer design and use also...
http://www.sherline.com/lmbook.htm
See here for more info from the CA DMV... (since Kelly lives in CA!)
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt12.htm
Dino
At 10:37 AM 6/27/2006, JC Smith wrote:
>Mike,
>
>Your CG problem was more likely the CG too far back as opposed to too high
>(although that's not good either). More weight on the hitch usually
>prevents the oscillation.
(This reply has been properly edited to only include the subject at
hand. All other headers, footers, etc, have been duly eliminated)
Dino - K6RIX
dino@k6rix.com
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