does that Cobra Daytona trailer look way too nose heavy? Or just plain wrong? I got the instant reaction from seeing this that the trailer tongue is too low, the bumper hitch is too low, or something... wrong
The #2 Daytona and trailer on the left is easy to compare with the #1 Daytona and trailer on the right, which is level
Towing a vehicle on a trailer can get out of hand , the trailer will start to fishtail if loaded tail heavy . No problem with that rig . Nice blog you have here .
Over the years I have frequently trailer-towed automobiles hitched to a 3/4 ton pickup. (big block Chevy or Ford) Over Canadian flat prairie and Rocky Mountain highways winter and summer. The severely nose-down attitude of the pictured trailer is a potentially very expensive and dangerous accident waiting to happen! First, I would criticize the choice of trailer, I never considered using a two wheeler even for the lightest of cars/vehicle. Always a tandem, (4 wheeler) with several reasons for my choice, among them sustaining a flat or a blowout much more easily controlled even to the extent of sometimes my not noticing the occurrence until a passing motorist signaled something untoward back there. Unless going up a substantial incline, the added pull would be scarcely noticeable. This enabled me to motor-on until coming upon a convenient and safe area to attend to the situation, change the tire etc. In the scenario presented here three issues cry out for attention. First the truck springs are too light for the load, being only a half-ton the springs are seriously collapsed, possibly weakened by too many bouts of overloading or even some broken leaves as a result . Secondly, and aggravating the issue, the hitch height placement is too low and thirdly, the car probably should be situated more rearward but that could only be definitely determined by placing a scale under the trailer tongue ball enclosure, in my estimation in this case the weight bearing on the trailer ball should be at least 350 pounds. And last but not least, a pair of properly attached and sized safety chains Oh wait... I almost forgot the very serious issue of adequate trailer auxiliary braking!..... but that wasn't part of the question was it? Happy and Safe Trailering Jesse...
As an addendum to my previous commentary on the issue, addressing a couple of important details that I neglected to mention then:
Take note of the substantial truck bed loading of cargo comprised of boxes and chests containing what?... Spare replacement/repair parts? Large tool chests replete with a very comprehensive array of service tools? Loading, jacking and support/hoisting equipment? I leave the rest to your fertile imaginations.. Adding how much extra weight to that puny little, third generation Ford's half-ton hindquarters? You can be certain that all that rearward weight bias removes an alarming amount of weight from the front axle and steering wheels, potentially lifting the wheels right off the ground under certain road conditions, e.g. dips, crests, road obstacles etc., enough said I'm sure. Trailering can indeed be a veritable mine field for the inexperienced, the careless or the foolhardy. A combination of all three can be deadly, fortunately in most mishaps of greatest concern is the amount of financial loss. Obviously bodily injuries sustained in an incident can vary greatly. Long-winded but necessary to accentuate I think. Cheers!
Towing a vehicle on a trailer can get out of hand , the trailer will start to fishtail if loaded tail heavy . No problem with that rig . Nice blog you have here .
ReplyDeletethanks! So, that's the right amount of nose heavy? or close to it?
DeleteLooks nose heavy to me .
DeleteOver the years I have frequently trailer-towed automobiles hitched to a 3/4 ton pickup. (big block Chevy or Ford)
ReplyDeleteOver Canadian flat prairie and Rocky Mountain highways winter and summer.
The severely nose-down attitude of the pictured trailer is a potentially very expensive and dangerous accident waiting to happen!
First, I would criticize the choice of trailer, I never considered using a two wheeler even for the lightest of cars/vehicle.
Always a tandem, (4 wheeler) with several reasons for my choice, among them sustaining a flat or a blowout much more
easily controlled even to the extent of sometimes my not noticing the occurrence until a passing motorist signaled
something untoward back there. Unless going up a substantial incline, the added pull would be scarcely noticeable.
This enabled me to motor-on until coming upon a convenient and safe area to attend to the situation, change the tire etc.
In the scenario presented here three issues cry out for attention. First the truck springs are too light for the load, being
only a half-ton the springs are seriously collapsed, possibly weakened by too many bouts of overloading or even some
broken leaves as a result . Secondly, and aggravating the issue, the hitch height placement is too low and
thirdly, the car probably should be situated more rearward but that could only be definitely determined by placing a scale under the
trailer tongue ball enclosure, in my estimation in this case the weight bearing on the trailer ball should be at least 350 pounds.
And last but not least, a pair of properly attached and sized safety chains
Oh wait... I almost forgot the very serious issue of adequate trailer auxiliary braking!..... but that wasn't part of the question was it?
Happy and Safe Trailering Jesse...
thank you!
DeleteAs an addendum to my previous commentary on the issue, addressing a couple of important details that I neglected to mention then:
DeleteTake note of the substantial truck bed loading of cargo comprised of boxes and chests containing what?...
Spare replacement/repair parts?
Large tool chests replete with a very comprehensive array of service tools?
Loading, jacking and support/hoisting equipment?
I leave the rest to your fertile imaginations..
Adding how much extra weight to that puny little, third generation Ford's half-ton hindquarters?
You can be certain that all that rearward weight bias removes an alarming amount of weight from the
front axle and steering wheels, potentially lifting the wheels right off the ground under certain
road conditions, e.g. dips, crests, road obstacles etc., enough said I'm sure.
Trailering can indeed be a veritable mine field for the inexperienced, the careless or the foolhardy.
A combination of all three can be deadly, fortunately in most mishaps of greatest concern is
the amount of financial loss. Obviously bodily injuries sustained in an incident can vary greatly.
Long-winded but necessary to accentuate I think. Cheers!