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Thread: Ball weight

  1. #1
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    Default Ball weight

    I was helping a mate with his 6 berth dog trailer the other day. I think the ball weight is huge, but I really dont know. The axle is about 2/3 the way back. If we both stand on the back bumper (180kg) it doesnt lift the front of the trailer off the ground. Are there any rules of thumb for ball weight? or just that the tow vehicle doesnt lift the front wheels off the ground? hehe
    Its being towed by an Navara which doesnt seem to mind at all, but I just thought I'd ask.
    Thanks

    Stuart

  2. #2
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    From memory, ball weight should be about 10% of loaded trailer mass.

    Again from memory, if you have scales for humans, you can set one to one side of the jockey wheel, a brick on the other side and a plank between them, and then multiply the reading by 3 but I don't trust my memory anymore and you could check with a post on www.myswag.org

    Tow bars have limits on the weight on the ball as well as weight to be towed. Can't see a Navara being fitted with a noodle quality bar but you never know.
    Cheers, Ern

  3. #3
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    rsser
    Many hours of reading in that link.
    I'll get a look at the bar rating next time I see it.
    Thanks
    Stuart

  4. #4
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    I was talking to a local trailer builder about ball weight last year as I am going to rebuild my trailer. He said that he normally has about 10 kilo on the ball for a (probably tandem) box trailer but it is up to the buyer and will do what they want. Some people want zero ball weight.

    My idea is that you tow a trailer to carry the load, not add the load to the towing vehicle.

    Dean

  5. #5
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    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    Default

    I've always taken issue with the generalisation that the towball weight of a trailer should be a standard 10%. While the 10% figure is a reasonable guide, every towing vehicle and trailer combination is different, and as such, needs to be set up and loaded differently. Too much weight on the towing vehicle's towbar, and the vehicle will be unsafe to drive, reducing both steering and braking effectiveness. Too little weight on the towball, and the trailer itself will become unsafe to tow, from minor swaying to wanting to swap ends with the tow vehicle. And it's not just the static ball weight you have to take into consideration. Any trailer that has a large front surface area will have its towball load dramatically reduced as the wind loading on the front of the trailer increases with speed.

    As for a trailer builder that recommends a 10Kg ball weight, or leaves it to an unsuspecting buyer to determine, doesn't fill me with much confidence about driving on the same roads as his trailers.
    Too many projects, so little time, even less money!
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  6. #6
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    I always thought that manufacturer of the vehicle determined the allowable towball weight...
    ....................................................................

  7. #7
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    Well to the best of my knowledge he is happy with the way it tows, so I guess I'll stay out of it.

    Thanks
    Stuart

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oldneweng View Post
    .... Some people want zero ball weight.....
    Until they try to go about 80KPH & the whole show goes into a very hard to control sway.
    Cliff.
    ...if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail...

  9. #9
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    Thats when you need a Curtis SwayBraker - I've had one on every trailer I've owned since I got one after they won an Inventors program in 80s. Same family still makes them I think Curtis Automotive and Engineering and I reckon they should be compulsory - especially on any trailer without brakes. Simple, effective and easily transferrable from trailer to trailer and car to car.

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