Block rear of trailer or not?

[yanmars]

I have a 24 foot long trailer. Four 7 foot long hickory detachable ramps in the back. When I load my tractor it lifts the back end of my pick up off the ground. Have loaded it without blocks under the back of the trailer and with them. The better method and the best for the trailer and truck? thanks

 

[grsthegreat]

Add 2 trailer tongue swing jacks. i did this years ago for my old ramp trailer. my new trailer is tilt bed.

 

[sandman2234]

My last trailer had a leg that was welded to the ramp that would allow the suspension to drop an inch or two before stopping the travel. Worked great and didn't require any extra steps on my part. It was a piece of 2x2 square tubing with a 3x3 flat plate on the end to keep it from sinking into the dirt.
Been many close calls and even more accidents happen when people load heavy equipment and the rear of towing vehicle comes up off the ground because that is where your parking brake is at!
David from jax

 

[ArlyA]

If the ground you are unloading or loading on is unlevel, wouldn't the adjustable jacks grsthegreat suggests be better? Most locations we are working on is not flat.

 

[Panik]

Been many close calls and even more accidents happen when people load heavy equipment and the rear of towing vehicle comes up off the ground because that is where your parking brake is at!
David from jax

One more reason to add and use rear landing gear..... If by some chance you're ever in a hurry to load up/tired/or somehow don't complete your pre-load inspection and mismatch your coupler size or otherwise forget to latch the coupler using a couple rear-trailer jacks will prevent the tongue of your trailer from launching skyward and narrowly missing the open rear hatch of your suv... lol, ask me how I know....

In all seriousness, they are a right handy safety addition to have on a trailer. Depending on conditions and how froggy you're feeling they also give you the ability to load/unload a trailer while it's uncoupled from the tow vehicle.

 

[Paystar]

Having jack legs on the rear like other have shown is great. But I don't have them so I always carry some wood block with me. just remember to keep them shorter than need so when loading and you get weight on trailer you can get them out.

 

[deezler]

First, put your truck in 4WD so that the parking brake ties the front and rear axles together.

I carry a pair of jackstands and just put them under the rear frame of my trailer. Like paystar says, gotta leave an inch or two gap so that they dont get stuck once you load anything heavy. Some permanent swing jacks would be nice, but I dont weld things myself.... yet...

 

[gstrom99]

I use these on the back corners of every trailer I have.

https://www.etrailer.com/Camper-Jacks/etrailer/SJ-R208.html

 

[JeepHead]

my 20' trailer has jacks at that back that I always use. You can add them on to yours. Makes it so easy and SAFE.

 

[JCoastie]

I use these on the back corners of every trailer I have.

https://www.etrailer.com/Camper-Jacks/etrailer/SJ-R208.html

That might work well welded on to a landscape rake for storage too!