General Towing Information
Depending on the axle configuration, different percentages of tongue weight are needed for safe towing and the larger trailers may need weight distributing hitches and weight bars or even stabilizer shocks (anti sway controls) added to the hitch assembly. Read the trailer manufactures VIN code tag on the hitch of the trailer closely and you will find the empty gross weight, total loaded gross weight and or the carrying capacity of the trailer. Ignoring or exceeding these precautions often will cause an axle to sag out of alignment in time and as such will reduce the number of usable miles on the axles, suspension, and tires.
Some general towing guidelines are as follows:
- The first 110" of wheelbase allows you 20' of trailer. For each additional 4" of wheelbase, you can add 1' of length to your trailer.
- The distance from the coupler to the rear trailer axle should be no more than twice the wheelbase of the tow vehicle.
By carefully monitoring the tire condition, wear patterns and heat build up, you will have a better time as you travel. Trailer towing is not a good time to adopt an attitude of, "If I do not monitor the trailer, I will not have a problem." We suggest that all trailer tires be checked visually at each rest or fuel stop for condition and temperature of the sidewall, brakes, and wheel bearings.
Hitch height becomes a factor when towing a trailer that has a non leaf spring configuration, as you have now eliminated the suspension from having the ability to balance or float the weight between the axles on a tandem axle design. On a leaf spring suspension, either single or tandem, there are spring shackles and equalizers install to allow the axle weight to remain constant between the two axle regardless of the height of the hitch. If you see a tall pickup towing a low tandem trailer down the road, you will notice that the two axles appear to be parallel to the road surface when the trailer may be at an angle to the hitch of the truck. If the trailer has two torque flex axles on it and the hitch height is too high or low, the axle mounted on the higher end of the trailer will not have as much weight on it as the lower axle. This sometimes results in an overload condition on that axle and can cause the actual axle alignment to permanently change due to the extreme stress.
It is very important to select a trailer hitch that is the correct height to keep the trailer level from front to rear as it travels down the road. Sometimes the tow vehicle hitch height is correct in a static unloaded condition, but will sag under a heavy load in the trunk or rear of the tow vehicle such that the trailer that is normally level now is thrown out of level and the axles take the brunt of the abuse as they travel down the road.