Towing weight distribution video

[Spike]

I came across a towing video using scale models that gives quite a good demonstration of weight distribution characteristics and thought some here might find it of interest. Most of us know a bit about trailers but this is the first time I've seen it demonstrated in this way

[Alex Roux]

The video explains why a trailer would cause sway.

- More weight at the front of the trailer, causes more weight on the back axle of the towing vehicle and hence more sway.
- More weight at the back of the trailer, causes more weight on the front axle of the towing vehicle and hence more sway.
- Their conclusion then is that more weight needs to placed in the center of the trailer.

But this is not necessarily the solution. All you need is to ensure that the weight on the trailer is equally distributed between back and front, and not necessarily concentrated at the center of the trailer. It will have the same effect, I.e. that the weight on the towing vehicle is equally distributed between its front and back axles...

[Peter Connan]

Quite a nice video

Alex, there is more to consider than just stability, especially off-road.

If you have the weight spread out, the loads on the hitch will be far higher over undulations, which can cause the trailer to un-hitch, or the coupler, drawbar or towbar to fail.

In our world, the advise to keep as much as possible of the weight as close to the axle (but also as low as possible) is very sound.

Another thing that concerns me: a number of locally-manufactured off-road caravans are designed with the water tank right at the back of the trailer, and typically this tank needs to be full to achieve correct weight distribution.
In my opinion this is almost criminal. In my opinion, if you are going somewhere where you need to have a water tank in your trailer, that implies that, at some point in the trip that tank will be empty or nearly so...