Trailer angle...
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From: Kingsland, GA
Trailer angle...
I wish I could have gotten a picture of this, but since I was driving at the time, it probably wouldn't have been a good idea... Anyway, I was heading down the I-state the other day, and going the other way was an F-150 towing a 28-30 foot double axle TT. While that sounds pretty normal, the trailer was SERIOUSLY nose down. The truck wasn't squatted down in the back either. It almost looked like someone had flipped the axle on the trailer towing it behind a 3/4 or 1 ton 4wd. Question I have is, was this safe? Or was this guy just a idiot? I've seen trailers angled a little before, but this thing looked like a 30 foot spoiler. I would think that this would really throw off the axle weight distrobution or ruin tires or something, not to mention the fact that it looked really stupid...
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Utah County, UT
I do know it looks stupid, and if you have the adjustability to correct the tongue height than I definately would have done that. I didn't see the trailer so not sure of the angle but have seen many at extremes. Who knows, maybe he just bought it and was taking it home? probably not and just ignorant about the deal. I don't really know about the safety aspect of it. I do know that it would pull harder as you'd be trying to pull it into the ground.
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From: Aurora,CO
Don't now of any trailers designed to pull like that. A twin axle needs to have the weight distributed fairly evenly 'tween the two. That'd definitely dangerously over weight and over heat the fronts! The braking would be poor at best too. Hope he was just taking it home to fix the problem....My family and friends drive the same highways!!!
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From: Wickenburg, AZ
I always cringe when I see trailers with the height anything other than level. Incorrect tongue height puts more stress than need be on the hitch, and the part about distributing that weight evenly over all the axles is right on the money, too.
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From: Kingsland, GA
It looked even worse because th roof sloped down toward th front to begin with. The thing was at least 5-10 degrees leaned forward... Depending on what the axle ratings are, I'd be concerned about overloading the front axle like that... At the very least, the front tires are going to be hurting...
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From: Wickenburg, AZ
Like I said, I had it drilled into me that you keep that tongue nice and level. I've heard explanations on why that range from safety in emergency braking situations to the idea that it leads to a nicer balance and therfore a nicer tow. Folks tell me that it's a bigger deal with bumper pull than with 5ers or goosenecks. I don't know...it'll always be straight and level for me.
With that tongue dipped down like that, I can't help but think that it would transfer more weight onto the truck's back axle, too. That is probably not a good thing, especially when it is a half ton doing all that work. Of course, they could have modified the suspension or gutted the thing.
With that tongue dipped down like that, I can't help but think that it would transfer more weight onto the truck's back axle, too. That is probably not a good thing, especially when it is a half ton doing all that work. Of course, they could have modified the suspension or gutted the thing.
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From: Aurora,CO
Originally Posted by Cowboy Brett
Like I said, I had it drilled into me that you keep that tongue nice and level. I've heard explanations on why that range from safety in emergency braking situations to the idea that it leads to a nicer balance and therfore a nicer tow. Folks tell me that it's a bigger deal with bumper pull than with 5ers or goosenecks. I don't know...it'll always be straight and level for me.
With that tongue dipped down like that, I can't help but think that it would transfer more weight onto the truck's back axle, too. That is probably not a good thing, especially when it is a half ton doing all that work. Of course, they could have modified the suspension or gutted the thing.
With that tongue dipped down like that, I can't help but think that it would transfer more weight onto the truck's back axle, too. That is probably not a good thing, especially when it is a half ton doing all that work. Of course, they could have modified the suspension or gutted the thing.
