by bobhenry » Sun Jan 11, 2015 7:47 am
There is a accurate balance program compiled by Andrew that takes into consideration what is placed where. I am not that organized I toss and go.
I have built 5 tiny trailers and have used a very simple percentage that work for me. Measure the body only
You said 8'
96 X 40% = approx 38 "
96 x 60% = approx 58"
so place the axle with 60% of the body forward and 40% to the rear of the centerline of the axle.
I have drifted to a 35 / 65 split and the towing improves but the tongue weight get heavier so it is a trade off.
As to the tongue length I am only spit balling here but I am going to guess the HF trailers have about a 4' tongue I have added 18" to mine and it became a nice calm , easy to back up trailer. It was kind of squirmy and hard to back prior to the added length.
To those that may know is there a correlation between the distance from axle to body front and the body front to the coupler ball center? It seems to me if the later is equal to or greater than the axle center line to the body front distance, towing is much improved. Am I imagining this?
Growing older but not up !