Difference in weight/ tow ratings
05-31-2016, 10:34 AM
#41
Well bubba, considering I have been carrying a Class A CDL since 1988, and have over a million miles experience driving, I think I know what I am talking about. You never tow *NOSE DOWN* if you can avoid it. However maybe what you call nose down is more like the 12-15% tongue weight needed for proper weight distribution.
Did you even bother looking at that manual? Probably not.
Since you mentioned RV.NET
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/f...d/17730894.cfm
I did find this in that thread, so there is a little bit of wiggle room for you.
You definitely don't want the trailers tail dragging, so a little nose down is better than tail down, but ONLY if you can't get it level.
If you are traveling with the trailers nose down, then you are doing it wrong. If the truck is level, you need to raise the ball. If the trucks nose is in the air, then you need to readjust the WDH, provided you use one, if not, get one.
Did you even bother looking at that manual? Probably not.
Since you mentioned RV.NET
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/f...d/17730894.cfm
I did find this in that thread, so there is a little bit of wiggle room for you.
You definitely don't want the trailers tail dragging, so a little nose down is better than tail down, but ONLY if you can't get it level.
If you are traveling with the trailers nose down, then you are doing it wrong. If the truck is level, you need to raise the ball. If the trucks nose is in the air, then you need to readjust the WDH, provided you use one, if not, get one.
Level is alright but nose down, keeps the rig more stable. Maybe you need to tow a camper more than a load of pigs, to know this.
I've had many conversations with Barney and Ron at rv.net. Both are really good guys. As I said level is good, but putting a bit more weight on the trucks hitch with a slight nose down situation, is the more stable. That slight nose down shifts weight toward the trailer tongue/truck hitch and plants it better. BUT being a trucker, i would think you knew this already.
Last edited by Mike Up; 05-31-2016 at 10:40 AM.
05-31-2016, 11:28 AM
#42
Senior Member
Thats not correct, a properly setup trailer should be level, so should the truck. If the nose is down, that means you have too much tongue weight, which raises your front wheels up, giving poor steering. A WDH setup correctly gives the best stability you can buy, and those with built in sway control help keep it steady.
Heres an owners manual for the Equ-Li-Zer WDH, the directions show how to install it and how the trailer should be setup. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/pdf/EQOwnersManual.pdf
If you tow tail heavy, or have a heavy TW without a WDH, all you are doing is asking for trouble.
Heres an owners manual for the Equ-Li-Zer WDH, the directions show how to install it and how the trailer should be setup. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/pdf/EQOwnersManual.pdf
If you tow tail heavy, or have a heavy TW without a WDH, all you are doing is asking for trouble.
From page 28 of the document you linked:
Trailer coupled attitude: Attitude or pitch refers to the angle that the
trailer is tipped to. It is generally accepted that a trailer should be
towed sitting parallel to the ground, or with the front (coupler) tipped
slightly down. The front tipped too far up or down may be an indication
of improper trailer loading, or a need to adjust the ball height or
weight distribution settings.
Imagine that, slightly down is acceptable. And given hole spacing, you may not be able to get it perfectly level and so slightly nose down is better than slightly nose up.
As for you and everyone else who uses their commercial license as proof that they know more about towing than whoever they are arguing with...nobody cares that you've towed a 53' box a million miles with a semi because 99% of your 'experience' is not relevant to towing a bumper pull TT with a half ton truck.
