Trailer Question....

Subsequent posters you are correct. Yes you can be very precise with tongue weights. However, note that the rangfe 10% -15% is quite a bit of weight difference. So yes by all means be as precise as possible but don't stress about it. The rules of towing are the same regardless of load size. You are best with a 10-15% tongue, weight distribution hitch, anti sway,electronic brake controler, two axle trailers with at least 1 axle of brakes and a large enough tow vehicles. I absouletly understand the UK posters comments as I have seen it too on american roads. I Also advise against cross strapping . The reason is because the nylon has more total stretch the longer it is. You should keep these as short as possible to keep your load stable. Additionally cross straps allow more fore and aft movement than short straps in the front to back direction. Also, most crashes with be front to rear vice versa so you need those straps short and immediately active. Prove it to yourself...tie the rear down with cross straps and you can still roll your car forward by hand as the nylon stretch/slack is taken up. The tie down in the fore/aft direction and compare. Think about what happens in just a 1G crash thats 3000lbs on those straps! Also, your side to side slipage is much less than the fore/aft. The tires alone on the trailer surface are good for 1g on racing slicks in the sideways direction. Also, prove to yourseves the value of wheel chocks. I chock my car set my e-brake and only "snug" my straps and the car stays put.

 

Billybob,

No argument with any of that. I have sometimes used a short straight strap in the rear, in addition to the cross tie downs.

As far as putting the car in facing forward or back, it would be whatever postion provides the proper tongue weight. If a trailer has a load of tools and tires in the front, it may be necessary to shift weight to the rear, which I usually have to do. I trailer my Miata race car facing backwards because the engine in the front of the car reduces tongue weight by 100 pounds. The mid-engine Ferrari goes in facing the front. My 944 Porsche was a 50-50 weight distribution so it didn't make a lot of difference.