Watch Your Specs: Stabilizing Your Trailer
Posted on: 26 September 2017
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Before you begin hauling something, you will need to make sure that the thing you are hauling has great stability. Otherwise, it will be much more difficult to drive your trailer safely. To make your trailer stable, you will need to meet the right specifications.
The Tow Rating
Your car or truck has a tow rating. It is important to know the gross combined weight rating so you do not exceed this. You will not only need to worry about the weight of your trailer, but also the weight of the vehicle itself and any passengers. Fortunately, the vehicle weight can be found on a mandatory sticker that is on your vehicle driver's door.
The tongue weight needs to be about 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer in order for it to be stable. Tow vehicles often do not have enough rear suspension spring weight for this. As a result, it might be necessary to install an equalizing hitch. When there is too much weight on the hitch, this can cause the trailer to sway back and forth.
The Hitch
Your towing components also have a maximum capacity. When this capacity is exceeded, there is a risk that your cargo will be damaged as a result. Also, it is more likely that you will lose control over your trailer. It may start swaying or may even become detached. A hitch might have a maximum weight capacity and a maximum tongue weight capacity. The tongue weight capacity refers to the maximum amount of weight that the hitch can have pressing down on it. Each individual component must be able to support the total gross weight. Otherwise, that component may fail, even if the other components are resistant to the weight.
The Safety Chains
The safety chains need to be crossed in an X pattern under the hitch. If the hitch is adrift, the tongue will drop on the chains rather than on the ground. This setup will maximize your control over the trailer and will reduce the damage to the rig.
The Hitch Ball
Your trailer will need a hitch ball that is the right size. The ball needs to have a size that is compatible with the trailer or the trailer will pop off. The latch should engage very smoothly. If it does not, you may not have a hitch ball that is the best size. The trailer needs to be level when connected to your vehicle, so use the right rise as well.
For more information, contact companies like TNT Towing & Equipment Hauling.