Can trailer load be too far forward?

[4x4junkie]

Here's the source of the question. I was pulling a 14k gvwr trailer (2800 curb) with my 2500. I was hauling a 1500# SxS. That weight seemed like peanuts for the system so I tied it down at the very front of the trailer. There should have been zero structural concerns, but the cg of the trailer was probably a good bit further forward than if I had 10000# on it. Just wondering if that matters at all.

As long as you are not exceeding your truck's rear GAWR, the trailer's (and your hitch's) maximum tongue weight, and the trailer follows the truck fine (no swaying or other instability), there should be no concern.

That said, why do you not want to center your SxS ATV on the trailer (having it slightly forward of the trailer axle(s))?
Do you also haul large 4x8' sheets of styrofoam behind your ATV and is why you can't load the ATV at center?

All you have to do is watch the truck as you are loading. Move forward on the trailer till the truck settles down in the back a 1 inch or 2. Stop there, works for me. Of course you know your truck, so different trucks settle different amounts.

If it gives problems, pull over and move the load. Experience is the best teacher, no one got up one morning and suddenly knew everything there was to know about towing and pulling loaded trailers.

That's pretty much how I do it too. It's worked well for hauling everything from ATVs to loads of furniture to a cord of firewood.

 

[Chapap]

Do you also haul large 4x8' sheets of styrofoam behind your ATV and is why you can't load the ATV at center?

LOLZ… I was too lazy to figure out a tie down method and didn’t have the most appropriate tie downs (3” ratchet straps). I wasn’t sure how I was going to attach the Gordon to the sxs and have it satisfactorily placed slightly forward of the long double axle wheel wells. I just scored it all the way in front. The ride was not great, but it was pretty bad with the empty trailer too.

In the past I rented an 1800lb sump grinder with a smallish tilt trailer. I had to move the grinder a good bit further forward than expected to stop a bit of trailer wiggle.

I figure it wouldn’t matter since it was a short trip and the load was so far below all the equipment ratings… and apparently that’s true. I know you can get in quite a pickle with the load too far back but have never heard of anything mentioned about too far forward. Am I reading this thread right by saying that ride quality is the only concern with loading too far forward (assuming nothings overloaded)?

 

[Roert42]

Am I reading this thread right by saying that ride quality is the only concern with loading too far forward (assuming nothings overloaded)?

Depending on how heavy, If the load is too far forward it will take too much weight off the front wheels and cause braking and potentially steering issues.

 

[Chapap]

Depending on how heavy, If the load is too far forward it will take too much weight off the front wheels and cause braking and potentially steering issues.

That should be calculated into max tongue weight shouldn't it? the front wheels don't know if there's a properly loaded 14,000# trailer or a forward loaded 3,000# trailer?

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I will +1 @sgtsandman .....it all depends and its all about the tongue weight.

Also I cant help but to include...That's what she asked.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

All about weight distribution....

 

[scotts90ranger]

I have a 1200 pound diesel engine over the front axle of my F350 so I don't really have to worry about the front brakes or steering (if steering is light from the tongue weight, your brakes are going to suck too!).

I usually just load stuff based on the amount of sag on the tow vehicle but that's hard to gauge from the drivers seat of whatever you're putting on the trailer since it goes up before it goes down, unless you don't start looking until you're on the COG of the vehicle and trailer... but on a Sterling 10.25 axle it's rating is like 7k pounds so good luck overloading anything... way different than even the 31 spline 8.8's that's like 3200lb...

The only times I've fought unstable trailers was towing two Allis Chalmers B tractors on a single trailer and my '90 Ranger on a 12' deck trailer with very few tiedowns and hard to judge balance (since the ranger is 14' long)

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Pic of my reciever with integrated scale;

 

[sgtsandman]

Pic of my reciever with integrated scale;

I had considered one of those but they don't make one light enough scale for it to be useful to me.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I had considered one of those but they don't make one light enough scale for it to be useful to me.

Hmm, I think mine goes from 100 to 1500 lbs. I'll check in a bit.

 

[sgtsandman]

Hmm, I think mine goes from 100 to 1500 lbs. I'll check in a bit.

I need something with a channel since I don’t have a regular ball draw bar. I have a Lock N Roll hitch system since my trailer goes off road. It’s too easy for a ball and hitch system to either pop off the ball or damage the ball or coupler since they don’t have enough rotation.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Hmm, I think mine goes from 100 to 1500 lbs. I'll check in a bit.

I thought about buying one of those kind of hitches....but i know how i am id try to see if i could break my truck or the scale first.

 

[Ranger850]

I bought a receiver with an integrated weigh scale. It works good. I found it on clearance sale at Princess Auto. I don't "need" it but the price was too good to pass up.

Didn't Ford add some Kind of scale to the New F-150's ? I thaught I saw something about a scale display at the tail lights to let you know if your truck is overloaded.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Didn't Ford add some Kind of scale to the New F-150's ? I thaught I saw something about a scale display at the tail lights to let you know if your truck is overloaded.

I think its on the infotaniment screen...but yes

 

[Ranger850]

I think its on the infotaniment screen...but yes

Do you know if "tongue weight" is included, or is it just the bed payload?