need trailer help

[tractorboy5500]

I just finished a 6'4'' wide by 8' long 3500lb single axle trailer. I don't know how I did it but I messed up on my location of my axle. To get 60% from the axle to the front of the trailer I needed to set my front spring skackle at51'' from the rear of the trailer. Don't know how but I ended up setting the 51'' from the front. I don't want to remove it as the trailer is near done and I had it weighed. It pulled ok down the road empty. What can I do , think it will be ok,does anyone have any suggestions. Does anyone know how to measure tongue weight. I'm adding a drop gate, will that help offset any extra weight that might now be on the tongue. THANKS.

On a 8' trailer it shouldnt be to bad, a rule of thumb on a bumber pull trailer, center axle placment on an 8' would be 56". you take half the trailer length which is 48" and add one inch per foot. That would be 56" from the front, giving you more tongue weight. Now for two axle trailers you would put the center shackle on the measurement.
On a gooseneck its differnt, its 2/3 the length from the front of the trailer. On a 30" gooseneck the center shackle would be 20' from the front of the trailer.

 

[pat32rf]

Where does the length of the tongue come into these calculations? I find that I am often replacing tongues with longer ones when rebuilding trailers. They seem to track better, are easier to back up and lift by hand (single axle).
I also find that many store bought trailers have the axle too far to the rear for my liking. Even empty it take a gorilla to hook them up on a 3500lb axle trailer. Its the LOADED weight that counts when getting a proper balance. With almost any load but stacked firewood, you just pile it deeper at the front....