Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[goeduck]

I never thought of modifying a bottle jack with a gauge... Interesting!
I split the difference between a bathroom scale and the integrated scale / hitch by using a small hydraulic scale made by Sherline.

I was going to do something similar with the loader on one of my tractors but quickly realized I could approximate the weight by how the loader was responding.

 

[Renze]

I was going to do something similar with the loader on one of my tractors but quickly realized I could approximate the weight by how the loader was responding.

Sort of the same as approximating the weight by how much the suspension is squatting.

 

[WinterDeere]

I was going to do something similar with the loader on one of my tractors but quickly realized I could approximate the weight by how the loader was responding.

It would be a challenge with the loader, unless you always checked pressure at the same height, since the force to lift ratio changes with height. It’s usually highest near the ground, and drops as height increases, the way most loader cylinders are arranged on the frame.

 

[orezok]

I built my jack scale about 15 years ago. Bought a hydraulic jack at a garage sale for $2 and repurposed the gauge I used to adjust my hydraulic pressure on my loader. Probably spent less than $20.

 

[WinterDeere]

Is the ".7" your force/pressure multiplier?

Not sure if they'd be willing to make one-offs, but: Custom Dials & Private Labeling - Kodiak Controls

 

[goeduck]

Sort of the same as approximating the weight by how much the suspension is squatting.

No, the liabilities and consequences are nowhere near the same. Being on the road with an out-of-control trailer due to improper tongue weight is not equivalent to knowing the load you are picking up on your loader in your barn. Maybe some on here have never seen an out-of-control trailer and pickup cross traffic lanes and collide with other vehicles at freeway speeds. Something one never forgets.

 

[Renze]

No, the liabilities and consequences are nowhere near the same.

I was under the impression that the loader response was used to estimate hitch load. Which seems a complicated method to me.

Maybe some on here have never seen an out-of-control trailer and pickup cross traffic lanes and collide with other vehicles at freeway speeds. Something one never forgets.

Been there, done that. Borrowed a 4 meter trailer (it was just refurbished they said: it turned out it was just painted, but it soon turned out that brakes and lights didnt work), loaded 5.5 meter planks over the headgate. Headgate collapsed and folded back close to the police station in town, putting the load behind the center. I tightened the ratchet straps and drove off pretending nothing happened, hoping to not draw attention to the junk trailer and get a ticket or worse, confiscation of a borrowed trailer.

Out of town, the tail wagged the dog and i upended the trailer against a tree, my cars towball embedded into an oak tree, it needed a tug to free it. The radio was thrown out of the anti theft sled and was on the rear seats.

Since then i dont borrow trailers, and i do not lend mine. Not everyone has the same standards when it comes to trailers.

That being said, we have 5 to 10% towball load in Europe with our mid axle trailers. In North America the axles are not 2 to 4 inches behind the center of the trailer, but 2 to 3 foot, giving 10 to 20% drawbar load, giving far greater safety margins for keeping your center of gravity in front of the center of the tandem.

If your hitch load is that critical in vehicle stability, i suggest some inflatable airbags to stiffen up the rear suspension. We used to order a Firestone AiRide kit for gray import half ton GMC Sierra and Toyota Tundra. It makes a day and night difference in handling.

 

[orezok]

Is the ".7" your force/pressure multiplier?

Not sure if they'd be willing to make one-offs, but: Custom Dials & Private Labeling - Kodiak Controls

Yup

 

[Too many Kubotas]

That being said, we have 5 to 10% towball load in Europe with our mid axle trailers. In North America the axles are not 2 to 4 inches behind the center of the trailer, but 2 to 3 foot, giving 10 to 20% drawbar load, giving far greater safety margins for keeping your center of gravity in front of the center of the tandem.

That "forced" tongue weight can be good or bad, I think.

I prefer having the trailer axles farther forward than on a typical flatbed, giving me the option to place the load in the correct spot instead of ending up with excessive weight on the tow vehicle.

That's one reason I really liked this trailer. That and it's very low weight, of course.

I've had a trailer built with the axles 18 inches forward, which was quite helpful, but after starting to buy hydraulic dovetails the problem solved itself - the axles have to be farther forward on those.

 

[dstig1]

Cool cars!

 

[ultrarunner]

My uncle raced Super 7 with many checkered flags brought home in the 1960’s

He raced/owned many but said the Lotus was his favorite competition car.

I’m still using his Super 7 trailer which was built just for the 7… single axle with rail for the tires always towed by 455 olds vista cruiser.

 

[Renze]

I prefer having the trailer axles farther forward than on a typical flatbed, giving me the option to place the load in the correct spot instead of ending up with excessive weight on the tow vehicle.

Mine is 14 feet long with the axles 2 inches behind the center. When hauling long steel beams i more often wish the axles were further back than further front. But i didnt want to overload the V70 rear suspension by default so i chose conservative. If i was towing with a Sprinter i sure would have chosen to put the axles 6 inches behind center.

 

[LouNY]

Mine is 14 feet long with the axles 2 inches behind the center. When hauling long steel beams i more often wish the axles were further back than further front. But i didnt want to overload the V70 rear suspension by default so i chose conservative. If i was towing with a Sprinter i sure would have chosen to put the axles 6 inches behind center.

Most commonly available trailers in the states have the axles set way back,

Something like this, the axles are a couple of feet to far back. It puts too much tongue weight on the towing
vehicle.

This one with the full power tilt bed is much better.

 

[WinterDeere]

Most commonly available trailers in the states have the axles set way back... It puts too much tongue weight on the towing
vehicle.

Amen to that. My stock Big Tex TV70 trailer axles are way back, like at the 60%/40% position. It is a problem, which doesn't allow me to just load evenly with logs or loose material, without seeing excessive hitch weight.

 

[Renze]

Most commonly available trailers in the states have the axles set way back,
View attachment 2105583
Something like this, the axles are a couple of feet to far back. It puts too much tongue weight on the towing vehicle.

If our surge brake systems handled heavier tongue weights well, and i had a Sprinter as tow vehicle, i would love to set the axles that far back... I would prefer assister springs over WDH... with my tractor trailers too, i like to load the towbar heavy. More weight on driven axles is more traction and more stability.

 

[ptsg]

Mine has the axles centered with the bed, which makes it fairly easy to balance loads and really reduces the need to have stuff hang out the back.

 

[Renze]

...the need to have stuff hang out the back.

I have the need to fold down the headgate and hang stuff out the front. Like cars or steel beams.

 

[ptsg]

I have the need to fold down the headgate and hang stuff out the front. Like cars or steel beams.

I made an A frame style structure that I put in the front of the trailer so I can haul 6 meter long tubing, flat bar, whatever, on my 4 meter trailer. Those just hang over the bed of the pick up a good amount in the air so it doesn't even get close to damaging the pickup.

Anything 3 to 4 meters long, depending on the quantity/weight, I just put them over the roll bar of the pick up.

 

[Renze]

I might make a pole trestle to add to the front of my trailer so i can point them above the roof of my V70. When laying them over the drawbar you have to look out in tight turns.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Cool cars!

Thanks!

Not as impressive as you may think, they were two of four that got trailered back to California to have friend sell them for me. Not much of a market around here.

Anyway, the 7 was a replica (had a real one before that) and the MGB GT was a beater that I'd paid $1,000 for. Also had a really nice V8 GT that was sold separately.

Here's a Bugeye and my beloved Beater B going back to CA, together with a Jeep Commando chassis, on a cheap trailer with the axles too far back. Basically gave a friend (living in CA) the trailer for hauling the cars for me.

Oh, and to keep it tractor related, this is the quick way to load a car on a trailer.