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Loading and balancing RV trailer

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Old Jun 4, 2013 | 07:29 PM
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wrangler's Avatar
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Default Loading and balancing RV trailer

Might be a silly question but reading RV forums they tell you to balance your load in trailer equally. Looking at a TT the queen bed is in the front. Walking down one side you have double sink on countertop with bottom and upper cabinets, stove, oven, microwave, top cabinets, fridge, freezer, cabinet with basin, medicine cabinet, tub, shower at back on same side. All weight on one side including hot water tank. Other side 2 light weight bunks, dinette table with seating. All the weight is on one side. How is the trailer balanced when it is empty.
Also, they recommend putting more weight in front. With a toy hauler all the weight of toys are in the back. New to all this. Thanks.
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Old Jun 4, 2013 | 11:39 PM
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EricJ's Avatar
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I found a good article on how to load the trailer.
http://www.sherline.com/lmbook.htm

He is selling the scales, but it is good info.
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Old Jun 5, 2013 | 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by wrangler
Looking at a TT the queen bed is in the front.

Storage area under the front bed. That's where you store heavy stuff. Also, you probably have a front "basement" storage area. More heavy stuff goes there.

Other side 2 light weight bunks, dinette table with seating.
Under the dinette seats is large storage areas for more heavy stuff. Is there also storage area under the lower bunk?

Also, they recommend putting more weight in front. With a toy hauler all the weight of toys are in the back.
Well-designed toy hauler TTs have 11 to 13 percent of wet and loaded trailer weight on the tongue with the toys loaded in the "garage". When the garage is empty, the hitch weight percentage is more than 15%.

For example, new Keystone Fusion 301 TT:
Dry weight 9096
Dry hitch weight 1495 = 16.4%

With a normally-loaded TT with the toys included, hitch weight should get closer to the 11% to 12% goal.

Weigh the rig so you know wet and loaded trailer axle weight. Use a tongue weight scale to determine hitch weight. Add hitch weight to trailer axle weight to get gross trailer weight. If the hitch weight is not about 12 to 15% of gross trailer weight, then move stuff in the trailer until you have the trailer properly loaded front to rear.

Keep only a few drinks in the reefer. Keep the rest under the dinette seats. Keep all canned goods under the dinette seats. If you haul heavy pots and pans, do not store them in the kitchen cabinets. Store them in the front basement or under the dinette seats.

In other words, use your head when loading and you can achieve a reasonably-well-balanced trailer load.

Last edited by smokeywren; Jun 5, 2013 at 01:48 PM.
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Old Jun 5, 2013 | 05:43 PM
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Sounds good. Thanks for the tips.
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