Axle placement

[James9324]

I'm curious to know on my build about axle placement. I have read the general rule of 40/60 and then I see 35/65. I have seen some trailers where the wheel is much further back than 35%. I am understanding that the further back I go, the more tongue weight I will have. My trailer I am building is going to be a 5x10 frame and the camper body itself will be 5x9 with a foot or so at the front left over for a supply box.

I'm considering doing the 35/65 rule. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm sure there is something on this forum but there is so much info to go through...lol

Thank you everyone.

James

[halfdome, Danny]

It depends on how much weight you plan on adding to the storage box.
My teardrop is a 5x10 with a 12" x 45" tongue storage box on the front.
The center of my axle to the rear of the cabin is about 47".
I'm very close to the 60/40 rule but I've tweaked it over the building of 6 teardrops.
I do have two 48 pound batteries very close to the axle.
It tows like a dream even with or without 2 full sized adult bicycles and rack.
Danny

[James9324]

thank you Danny for the reply.

Is this a photo of the trailer that you are referring too? It's awesome! Nice job! Where do you keep your batteries? You said near the axle so I am assuming inside???

Thanks again. I may have more questions.

James

[John61CT]

You put the axle where your ball weight ends up being ~10% of the total.

Having choices of placement for water / propane / batteries will give flexibility for future changes without moving the axle location.

As does a variable tongue.

[halfdome, Danny]

thank you Danny for the reply.

Is this a photo of the trailer that you are referring too? It's awesome! Nice job! Where do you keep your batteries? You said near the axle so I am assuming inside???

Thanks again. I may have more questions.

James

Yes James the photos in my signature line is what I'm talking about, Thank You
Here's a picture of my chassis, the batteries are placed in the 2 trays with the 3 round cutouts.
I purchase them from Summit Racing's website.

The batteries are installed through the 2 hatch covers shown with aluminum trim and seals under the footboard cabinet.

This method makes it easy to install & maintain the batteries. Danny

[John61CT]

I guess you don't go off road with those hanging down?

What clearance?

[James9324]

Thanks again Danny! That does look like a great idea!! I guess I am still having a difficult time trying to figure out weight. I read posts that say make sure you have 10% of the weight on the hitch. I'm having a difficult time understanding how to do that. I've been looking at a lot of designs and basically am just going to make mine off of what I see in others.

I wonder if there is a way to put the batteries in a small box outside on a platform by the tires? Do I even need a storage box??

Thanks again

[James9324]

And also, would it depend on the tongue length also???? I am thinking I need to have my tongue length at least 42 inches of clearance so I can open my Jeep door.

Thanks
James

[Shadow Catcher]

Our axle was too far back and has been replaced and moved forward.

[Tom&Shelly]

I guess you don't go off road with those hanging down?

What clearance?

I won't speak for Danny, but we built ours back there, based on what he did, and they are still above the bottom of the axle. I expect we'll be just fine off road as the axle would make contact first



Tom

[tony.latham]

I have read the general rule of 40/60 and then I see 35/65.

Either of those will work fine.

Take a look at these two. The axles are at 36/64. I adjusted them from 40/60 so the doors would clear the fenders. (The doors need to be at your hip location.)



Both go out with 60 pounds of water and a 50-pound cooler in the galley. They come home empty.

Flash, on the right, has a 60# battery in the tongue box. Flame has the battery in the galley and an 11-pound propane tank on the tongue that must weigh close to 20#.



Sometimes we'll put the bike rack on Flame and take a cycle or two. The rack must weigh 50 pounds and who knows what the bikes weigh.

Both of these teardrops tow like champs with our Tacoma.

Put the axle at close to 40/60 and she'll tow like a dream.

Tony

[halfdome, Danny]

I guess you don't go off road with those hanging down?

What clearance?

We have no need or desire to go off road, besides our chromed fenders would get more rock damage than they get on road.
The battery trays are 6 1/2" above the pavement and are 2" above the bottom of our 16' rims.
We didn't have a problem with scraping when the right tire came apart at 70 MPH.
Danny

[Capebuild]

Danny, when you place the batteries in the metal carriers, are they exposed to the weather and any debris that might fly up from the road while traveling?
And do the electrical connections to the batteries get concealed in some way?

thanks.

John

[halfdome, Danny]

Danny, when you place the batteries in the metal carriers, are they exposed to the weather and any debris that might fly up from the road while traveling?
And do the electrical connections to the batteries get concealed in some way?

thanks.

John

John, Here's the side that faces forward and as you can see no damage, this TD has been in use since early Summer 2015.
We don't forge rivers or go off road so they stay out of harms way.
Please excuse the mess, we store TD items under there.

Here is the rear view and you can see the batterie cables are attached to the underside of the floor.
The floor is covered in one continuous sheet of plam.
Notice how the hatch covers are held in place with wooden window screen thumb catches/levers.
The battery trays have a very secure way of holding them in place

Danny

[Capebuild]

Nice set up, Danny.

Thank you for the pictures.

John