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The 60/40 axle placement formula is a great starting point and does take into account the tongue of the trailer from where the trailer sits on the hitch ball. Please keep in mind that this is a very basic formula or estimate for axle placement.
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The 60/40 rule of thumb method would have the center of the axle spaced at 8.4' (14' x 60%) from the center of the coupler. For tandem axle trailers this is where the equalizer would sit. The key is going to be setting the axles so that the tongue weight sits at 10-15% of the total trailer weight.
- Trailer Axle Position Goals
- Stable Predictable Towing
- Measuring Tongue Weight
- Calculating Tongue Weight and Trailer Axle Position
- Summing Moments
- Trailer Axle Position For Multiple Axles
- Proving Or Disproving The Common 60% Rule
- A Word About Center of Mass
For this discussion, we will focus on trailers with a traditional tongue attached to the rear of the tow vehicle. (Bumper Pull.) 5th Wheel (and Gooseneck) trailers are similar, but are not the focus. These are The Goalsthat drive trailer axle position: 1. Stable, predictable towing. 2. Proper weight balance for both the tow vehicle and the trailer....
The guideline above for 12-15% of trailer weight on the tongue is time tested for dynamic towing stability. If tongue weight is too low, the trailer will buck more over bumps, and wag around corners. I won’t go into all the engineering, but the summary is inertia. If there is not enough tongue weight, a change like a bump or turn or steering correc...
One technique for setting axle position is by measuring tongue weight. Most of us don’t have a scale that will go high enough, so take the trailer to a vehicle scale. (Or use this DIY methodfor a good approximation.) For an existing trailer, load it for travel. (This is difficult for utility trailers because you never know what it will haul.) Drive...
We can also calculate trailer axle position. I will give an example below. However, for existing trailers (if you want to check the axle position or maybe move the axles), please read this other article also about Calculating Axle Position.) This calculation example uses a “balanced lever” approach for loading. First, we sum forces in a vertical di...
Now we know the forces, the next step is to figure out where the axle goes so all the forces balance. We do that by summing the moments – basically, summing the loads multiplied by their distance from the ball. By setting the moments with forces up equal to the moments with forces down, we can solve for axle position. For equation 2, please note th...
What is different for multiple axles? Nothing. Use the central position of the axle group for all the measurements and calculations. Treat them as a single axle. Note: This simplification works for loading and trailer axle position on load sharing multiple axles, but not for stress or stiffness calculations. What about torsion axles? Use the locati...
On the internet there are several websites and YouTube videos saying to position the axle at 60% of the trailer bed. What do you think? In our example above, the trailer axle position is ~55% of bed length. If we put it at 60%, the tongue weight becomes 501 Lbs, ~16.7%. Or, if we take the toolbox off and went to 15% tongue weight, the desired trail...
This seems to be a point of a little confusion, so here is a quick explanation on the difference between the Geometric Center and the Center of Mass. Think about a Hammer. The Geometric Center is approximately half-way down the handle. The Center of Mass is where the hammer will balance – say on your finger. That balance point is the Center of Mass...
- Park your trailer on a level surface. Begin by making sure your trailer is parked on a level surface. If it is not level, it may shift or even tip once the loading begins.
- Chock the wheels. To further stabilize your trailer while loading it, wheel chocks are recommended. Simply chocking the wheels will help ensure your trailer won’t move or roll while loading cargo.
- Make sure the weight is distributed 60/40. Before loading anything into the trailer, take a quick inventory of your cargo and roughly plan out where you’ll be placing it in the trailer.
- Load heaviest items first. Following the 60/40 rule when loading a trailer is vitally important for safe towing. The best way to load for proper weight distribution is to start with the largest and heaviest items.
Move the Axle(s) toward the Tongue of the trailer approximately 6 1/2” New D = 264 - 6 1/2” = 257.5 . If tongue weight is less than 10% of Total Weight, increase distance "D" by "X" where: X = (10% Total - Tongue Weight) Times D . Total Weight . Example #2 Tongue less than 10% of Wheel Weight . Tongue Weight = 300# Wheel Weight = 8200#
Aug 31, 2023 · The best axle position depends on load distribution, but a common guideline is to have the axle around 40-50% of the trailer’s length from the front. How do I know if my trailer axle is aligned? Visual inspection of tire wear and tracking can help determine if your trailer axle is aligned properly.
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Apr 12, 2021 · Slide your fifth wheel and trailer axles into a “normal” configuration, with the kingpin slightly ahead of center of the drive axle, and the trailer axles centered at the 41-foot mark to ensure compliance with the kingpin-to-trailer-axle measurement rules. Ideally the fuel tanks should be full because this will be your worst-case scenario.
