Re: [VAC] A Weighty Matter

["Scott & Lise Scheuermann" <schrmnns@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Wayne, To the best of my knowledge you are not going to hurt the trailer in
any way by adding weight to the front of the trailer (assuming that you do
not exceed the total GVWR for the trailer, and your tires and rims are of
the proper rating). Trailers seem to handle the best on the road when you
have 10 to 15% of the trailer's weight on the tongue. Going over 15% doesn't
seem to make the handling any better or worse. But an increase here may
overload the rear axle of your tow vehicle. All modern passenger vehicles
have a sticker on the door jam (or elsewhere) that shows the permissible
weight per axle. If the rear is overloaded, but you have less than maximum
on the front axle you can compensate by adjusting the link that you put your
load leveling bars on. This alone is an excellent reason to find the local
public scales and get your fully loaded tow vehicle and trailer weighed.

Scott