Axle Placement - Point of Reference

[Oldragbaggers]

I am about ready to move my axle and I have a question.

My axle is a torsion axle and the trailing arms put the center of the wheels some distance (I didn't measure it but it looks like about 6") behind the actual axle. When determining placement what am I using as my point of reference, the actual axle or the center of the wheel?

Thanks!!
Becky

[Dale M.]

Center line of wheel.... That is major front to back pivot point and actual balance point .....

Dale

[Oldragbaggers]

Thanks Dale. That's what made sense to me and what I thought, but I wanted to hear it from the experts.

[angib]

Seconded. Whatever the suspensions system, it's the position of the centreline of the wheel/spindle that matters.

[dh]

After figuring placement of everything and punching it all in Andrew's work sheet, with tongue box, battery, and propane tank on tongue, my optimal axle placement ended up being dead on to the 'standard' 60% forward / 40% rearward that I would use on a utility trailer

[Oldragbaggers]

dh, I haven't even begun to think about tongue boxes and bicycle racks. I'm afraid my head might explode.

There was a second set of bolt holes in my frame so that the axle could be moved back exactly 2". If I use those, it will put the centerline of my wheels at 41" from the rear. The length of the frame is 110", so that's 37%. I think I am going to go with that.

Becky

[dh]

If your tow vehicle can take the weight, there is nothing wrong with being tongue heavy. It gets ugly when there isn't enough tongue weight.