Balancing Load

[henw]

There are posts abound on TT gross weight limits, axle and tire limits. What about side-to-side weight distribution limits. It's advised that one in general balance the load in a TT, but, is there any data to support how much variance is acceptable. Can the street side for example support 100lbs or 500lbs or 10% difference from the curb side?? What can an AS handle?
Anyone know of any performance and/or safety data along these lines?
Is there any merit in using the scales to measure such??

Thanks, Tom W

[bryanl]

From a practical point of view, just keep the thing from having a tilt as it goes down the road. The constraints of what you can put in the trailer and where pretty much inhibits misloading.

You'll feel it if the load isn't properly placed as the handling won't be as good as it should be (as determined by experience).

Scales are a good idea after you have things configured just to make sure that the tires and wheels are not overloaded and things are pretty much as they should be but that is an assurance and comfort thing and not a real necessity.

IMHO, of course, there's folks here that take umbrage at such opinions it seems so consider it for what it's worth.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Agreed.. it would be very hard to overload side/side.

Unless my 275# BIL is in the shower.

[Action]

The diff in distance from each side to side isn't that great. 8 feet from side to side is abount the practical extreme and may be less.

The greater issue would be from front to back. The max distance could be as much as 30 feet in some trailers.

Both imbalances can cause towing issues the front to back imbalance is likley to be more of an issue.

Action

[slowmover]

Came across this the other day, might be of use: search under

"Load Distribution Hitch Calculator" an xls. file

I thought to play with it per COG questions as well as obtaining side-to-side weights (empty and loaded) by keeping first one and then the other side of the rig off of the scale after the usual round of weighing.

While F-R is most important, some judicious work may be necessary to balance out a "reloaded" trailer.

Probably only of interest to someone like myself who wants to find the best possible at least once.