Why so much tongue weight on 22' car hauler trailers?

[BlueKnife]

I'm in the market for a 22' car hauler for my Kubota. What I've been noticing is that most of the trailer length is in front of the axles, putting a lot of weight on the hitch. What am I missing here? My last 22' trailer had the same problem and I recently sold it. I was constantly being flashed at night for high pointing headlights. Any manufacturers that put their axles a little more towards the front?

If your headlights were pointed up because of tongue weight you had way too much tongue weight. That either means that you had the load too far forward or the load was too heavy for the pickup. The further back the axles are, the more stable the trailer and the more leeway you have in where the load is placed.

 

[bcp]

Some general information:

https://www.etrailer.com/question-136065.html

https://www.etrailer.com/faq-where-to-position-trailer-axle.aspx

Bruce

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

Thanks guys for all the replies. I’ve been pulling trailers of various sorts for 30 plus years. I understand that you want proper tongue weight, but some of these 22’ trailers have too much in my opinion. I’m pulling with a half ton Sierra with the at4 trim, which has a softer suspension than the regular Sierra. Air bags are a “want” but I haven’t pulled the trigger. I’m looking a little harder at tilt trailers, they seem to have a better axle location.

 

[ultrarunner]

If you want to know the REAL reason, listen up:

If the axles were more centered, the center of gravity of the rig would be right around the center of the 2 axles. With a load placed on it, this location would pretty much be the same. Given the total mass of trailer + load, the yawing frequency would be (lets say) F_sub_yaw.

With the axles placed farther back, the yaw inertia is a higher value because of the 'axis translation' theorem (I_zz = I_zz + M*r^2). R being the altered distance. This LOWERS the natural yaw (tongue swing frequency) so it will be much more manageable. It it gets higher than about 1 Hz. you're probably not going to be able to save it if it starts oscillating above the critical speed.

Another way of saying it is that the swinging tendency will happen at a much higher speed.

That's my typical expert witness court-room testimony.

Or you could hit the trailer brakes...

I got a call to drive a pickup with enclosed trailer during a move.

No previous experience on that truck and I did not load the trailer.

All was good until hit a bad patch of rough road and the sway was wild... reach down for the slider and applied the Kelsy Hays trailer brakes and straightened out instantly.

Opened the ramp and an upright piano was the last in...

 

[ultrarunner]

If your headlights were pointed up because of tongue weight you had way too much tongue weight. That either means that you had the load too far forward or the load was too heavy for the pickup. The further back the axles are, the more stable the trailer and the more leeway you have in where the load is placed.

Not to hijack but too often I find headlight pointed up from load and/or towing and with a lot of the newer vehicles the brightness easily blinds especially if I'm in a passenger car.

Sometimes I think how can this be legal?

 

[sd455dan]

Not to hijack but too often I find headlight pointed up from load and/or towing and with a lot of the newer vehicles the brightness easily blinds especially if I'm in a passenger car.

Sometimes I think how can this be legal?

If those trucks had headlights like a newer Tesla they could take a minute and lower them on the touch screen using the headlight settings. Or if the US would catch up with EU they would automatically adjust (adaptive headlights) and cut the light going into the oncoming drivers eyes without having to do anything since it is already equipped.

 

[ultrarunner]

If those trucks had headlights like a newer Tesla they could take a minute and lower them on the touch screen using the headlight settings. Or if the US would catch up with EU they would automatically adjust (adaptive headlights) and cut the light going into the oncoming drivers eyes without having to do anything since it is already equipped.

Every rental in Germany has adjustable headlights... and the Germans use them for in town driving.

I swear if it wasn't for dimming rearview mirrors the light would be blinding...

 

[sd455dan]

Every rental in Germany has adjustable headlights... and the Germans use them for in town driving.

I swear if it wasn't for dimming rearview mirrors the light would be blinding...

I have wondered how the adaptive lights work when following another vehicle.

The test videos with oncoming vehicles looks like it works well, but if they don't adjust while trailing another vehicle that would be a problem.

 

[ljjhouser]

if you are pulling with a 1/2 ton truck you may need to use a weight distribution hitch. That can help a lot if your truck is not level. I WOULD NEVER want to buy a heavy trailer with axles in the center. It is important that the trailer trail well BOTH empty and loaded. This is my 20' tilt bed which is 20 foot. I use a WD hitch and it trails perfect. Moving axles forward - increasing weight on the back may create the most dangerous problem with sway control. Most good WD hitches also have sway control. The books say 10-15% of gross trailer weight on the tongue. I use 10%. This trailer is 14K. What is the weight of the trailer you want this time and what is the max weight of what you want to tow? When you get your new trailer, load it and go to a CAT scale to verify all the axles weight to find the best way to load it for trailing and safety. BUY a good trailer. But they are very expensive now. Best Wishes. Consider all the options you may need. BRAKES on all axles, Heavy set back front jack with side crank, location of spare, led lighting, ramps or tilt etc.

EDIT: I should also add - Keep all your numbers in vehicle specifications - Max combined Vehicle -GRVW - max vehicle axle weight, max trailer weight (load including weight of trailer) and Vehicle max tow weight. You may not be able to keep all the numbers in spec. If not, either trailer it too big or tow vehicle is too small. I have a 33 gal fuel tank. When it is full, I am very close to vehicle gross rated weight.

 

[kneedeep]

Your biggest issue is too small a truck for a loaded 22’ trailer.
The new 1/2 ton trucks are weak and poor load haulers, they are known as grocery getters for a reason.
I built trailers for several years in my younger days and the front spring hangar should be in the middle of the bed less the tongue.
Long trailers look funny but that is how long bumper trailers are built.
Good trailers have an adjustable height hitch for this reason.
A shorter trailer or bigger truck would help solve your issue.
Proper load weight position is extremely important.

 

[somanytractors]

ljjhouser has it right on the weight distribution bar. If you can get one that will attach to the trailer, preferably with a sway bar, and it's set up right they make a major difference.
I don't use one on my equipment trailer but the wheels ain't that far back, and I can always get the weight so it's not too front heavy but you do want it a little front heavy. These trailers are designed to have more weight on the front rather then on the back. If you get too much weight behind the trailer wheels, the tounge can lift up on the back of your truck causing you to loose traction on the back wheels which causes fish tailing.
My camper is VERY front heavy. I haul it using my ram 1500 laremie. Without the weight distribution bar I would never attempt it, but with the bar you hardly know it's there. The weight distribution bar causes the hitch to put the weight on all 4 of your trucks wheels, rather then just the back. If you can get one to hook to your trailer I highly recommend getting one, with a sway bar. Kurt makes really good ones.
I disagree with anyone that says a 1/2 ton truck cant handle a 22' hauler. I have a 22' trailer that I've hauled a ford 4500 backhoe on. The 4500 weighs over 10,000 lbs. I wouldn't do it often with that much weight but I have done it. Took it slow and hauled it about 25 miles to my house. I often use my trailer for hauling normal size tractors. A month ago I hauled an N model and a to-30 on it together with no problem at all. Set up right a 1/2 ton will do fine. I do recommend upgrading your brakes to drilled and slotted rotors so they dont over heat, make sure the trailer brakes work and release propery, and get a weight distribution bar.

 

[Fxfymn413]

I agree you need to start using a weight distributing hitch. They shift some of the tongue weight to the front axle of the tow vehicle to help level the load.

If you buy a new trailer the dealer should set it up for you to ensure it is road safe for the loads you intend to pull.. Make sure you ask to have this done.

A properly set up tow vehicle will be level when it is loaded. The ball height should match the height of the trailer when the empty trailer is level. The weight distributing hitch is then used to bring the loaded trailer and tow vehicle back to level.

A 1/2 ton truck should be more than adequate to tow the load you are proposing. The primary need to upgrade to a more heavily rated tow vehicle is to ensure there is adequate braking for the load and that the suspension can handle the designed load. It is easy to check the manufacturer's trailer towing capacities on-line and you should do so if you are concerned.

You should try to load two thirds of the load weight on the hitch or you will experience great difficulty in controlling the vehicle due to low weight on the rear axle. In essence the tail will be wagging the dog.

 

[NUTTERDW]

I never really looked at car haulers, but that looks like a problem for my type of towing. All of the equipment trailers I have looked at had the axles more centered.
Is it possible that aluminum trailers are so light that they need more tongue weight when unloaded?

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Towing ratings keep climbing but GVWR of the tow vehicles hasnt

Tounge weight is your friend but most people run out of truck long before tow rating.

A weight distribution hitch is just a bandaid over a bigger problem. Too small of a truck

 

[Fxfymn413]

A weight distribution hitch is just a bandaid over a bigger problem. Too small of a truck

I respectfully disagree. Weight distributing hitches are widely used in the RV market and make it possible to tow a trailer that is well within the total tow weight rating of the tow vehicle but is front heavy making the total hitch weight too high.

 

[DML1214]

I'm in the market for a 22' car hauler for my Kubota. What I've been noticing is that most of the trailer length is in front of the axles, putting a lot of weight on the hitch. What am I missing here? My last 22' trailer had the same problem and I recently sold it. I was constantly being flashed at night for high pointing headlights. Any manufacturers that put their axles a little more towards the front?

Sorry if I missed this in all the responses, but what is your tow vehicle? That's probably more important than the axle location on the trailer. In general, if the weight on your trailer is too far to the rear, your trailer may be subject to some fishtailing at higher speeds. That could be a really bad day for you, and your truck, trailer and tractor. Several of the other replies have very good suggestions, such as weight distribution hitches, load balancing, etc. Loadiing a tractor on backwards can also put the engine weight more directly over the trailer axles, which relieves some of the tongue weight. That can get a little challenging, especially if there's an implement on the tractor. Meanwhile, I would continue to search for your perfect trailer, for what you typically use it for, and concurrently look at your tow vehicle ratings and tune it in to whatever you're towing. Good luck in your search.

 

[deezler]

My 20' car hauler is like this also, axles set pretty far back.

However this is the correct way to make and use such long trailers. If you put the axles right in the middle, there would be a huge potential for negative tongue weight, which we all know is a terribly dangerous situation.

If you want such a long trailer, you need a tow vehicle that can handle the tongue weight, simple as that. You also MUST be using a WD hitch. Start there if not.

I also recently traded my trusty old 2500HD for a newer F150 with much lighter springs. I plan to add a pair of roadmaster active suspension springs if and when I need to start towing heavy again.

Chevrolet 1500 Silverado 1990 - 2024 | SD Kit

This RoadActive Suspension Kit includes an easy to install RAS Helper Spring for each rear leaf spring. RoadActive Suspension kits are designed to strengthen the rear leaf springs for towing or hauling without negatively affecting unloaded ride quality. This 3-in-1 solution works like a helper...

activesuspension.com

 

[DGF]

Towing a trailer starts with the truck and it's tongue rating. It doesn't matter how capable the truck may be if the tongue rating is 200 lbs that it.. The load needs to be balanced to meet that limit. Car haulers and other trailers like them just by their nature have a geometry that leans the weight forward. So, if for example you are carrying a car it should be loaded backward. Otherwise overloading the tongue causes the truck to droop as if the bed were overloaded with gravel. You can add all the extra options you want to stablize the overload but it is still overloaded. With a heavy tongue the short lever action over the truck's rear wheels generally keeps the front wheels on the ground but I have seen both boats and campers put a truck in peril.

I'm not saying you can't change a truck's set up and add optional equipment to match it to the trailer but to do it right you may have to take it further than it seems at first. Of course you can get away with a lot but then it is a matter of how far you want to push it or your luck.

One of the other guys said it... Go for a trailer with wheels closer to the center. It will be much more useful.

 

[dcarman]

I'm in the market for a 22' car hauler for my Kubota. What I've been noticing is that most of the trailer length is in front of the axles, putting a lot of weight on the hitch. What am I missing here? My last 22' trailer had the same problem and I recently sold it. I was constantly being flashed at night for high pointing headlights. Any manufacturers that put their axles a little more towards the front?

When building a trailer the tongue weight is critical for safe hauling. Car trailers and other tongue trailers should have 10% more of the load on the tongue. To accomplish this The wheels are moved back from the center of the deck by 10% of the length of the deck. So if you measure to the center line between the two axles if it has two axles and say it is twenty feet long the axle center line should be twelve feet from the front edge of the deck. This makes the trailer tow nicely.
When loading the load center of gravity should center on the deck center and towing is a dream. To much tongue weight may make the tow vehicles hitch be overloaded. Control and ride of the tow vehicle is then affected. The trailer should also be level when towing. I cringe when I see a trailer truck combo where the hitch is clearly overloaded and the hitch is almost dragging. This causes the tow vehicle to sway at every bump.
A gooseneck trailer has 25% of the load on the tow vehicle but that is placed over the tow axle of the tow vehicle. This is significant for handling.
From the pictures it seems those trailers have to much tongue weight. I'd question the reasoning of whoever manufactured them.

 

[BlueKnife]

If those trucks had headlights like a newer Tesla they could take a minute and lower them on the touch screen using the headlight settings. Or if the US would catch up with EU they would automatically adjust (adaptive headlights) and cut the light going into the oncoming drivers eyes without having to do anything since it is already equipped.

Or they could just not overload/improperly load the truck/trailer.