Trailer set-up

[eggsuckindog]

I just want to make clear how important trailer set up is. My last boat was a 17 CC and seemed to pull very heavy on my Intrepid, moved it back 2 inches and made a world of difference as it had too much tongue weight.

My current 20 MA pulled by an Expedition has always pulled fine, although going over concrete slabs used on I States seemed to have sort of a pull back jerky feeling, of course I hadn't thought of it in 4 yrs and lots of miles.

Moved it forward 1 - yes 1", it lost all that jerky stuff on the slabs and according to the trucks computer actually picked up 2 MPG

Single axle trailers are very sensitive to weight distribution hence my 1". Tandom not so much and hitch hight makes a difference also.

[htillman]

Your are really correct. I purchased a tandem axle trailer for my 23 CC and have had a hard time getting it adjusted. I purchased a trailer one size larger than required and have had a difficult time getting it balanced. I am trying to find a scale so I can weigh the tongue weight before making any more adjustments.
ET

[Fr. Frank]

With a tandem trailer, the height of the top of the trailer frame needs to be measured between the axles as the frame is level. The top of the hitch ball on the tow vehicle should be the same height as the top of the frame height as measured between the axles. Lift the tongue too high and so transferring weight aft, and you get sway and greater braking difficulties. Drag the tongue too low, and you get asymmetrical tire wear, and tongue hop under acceleration and during braking. Both too high and too low will cost you in fuel economy.
Tongue weight on a tandem-axle trailer is not as critical as with a single axle, but should be between 4% and 7% of the total towed-vehicle weight. I generally shoot for 5%. Too little tongue weight is actually harder on your engine and tranny than too much tongue weight, because of the greater moment of inertia shift under acceleration.

[eggsuckindog]

Yep tandoms are different and he's right about ball height probably being the biggest factor. Sometimes even trial and error may work best, easy to move the winch stand around, I don't think there is a standard for tongue weight, it depends on the vehicle as well.