School Me on Towing

peewee said:
I own a truck almost exactly like the in one the picture. It takes tongue weight pretty good. 1000lbs Won't squat it like that. So the real question is how is it so improperly loaded with such a small load. You could put that car in the bed and I think it would be loaded more appropriately.
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I know what you're saying. I've loaded down half tons with some questionably heavy loads in terms of towing capacity. Even used to tow my CJ to the mud races with a V6 Dakota. Obviously not recommending that, since I know I was well over capacity there as well. Never once have I made anything squat like that, especially so bad as to to unload the front suspension. That, coupled with those sketchy-ass tires in the pic...that dudes just looking for trouble
 
Scooter402 said:
I know what you're saying. I've loaded down half tons with some questionably heavy loads in terms of towing capacity. Even used to tow my CJ to the mud races with a V6 Dakota. Obviously not recommending that, since I know I was well over capacity there as well. Never once have I made anything squat like that, especially so bad as to to unload the front suspension. That, coupled with those sketchy-ass tires in the pic...that dudes just looking for trouble
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Those sketchy ass tires look like half the problem. They look like different sizes and the smaller one is on the first axle.
 
BigSouth said:
Those sketchy ass tires look like half the problem. They look like different sizes and the smaller one is on the first axle.
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I was hoping that wasn't my own eyeballs that was seeing different sizes. Looks like they're car tires, too. At least the ones on the front axle.
 
peewee said:
Tongue weight! Tongue weight! Right after brakes this is where most mistakes happen. Not like guy in picture. View attachment 263328
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Looking at this thing again, it almost looks like the rear tires of the car are almost even with the rear axle of the trailer, or at least within a foot. All that weight on the tongue is putting a massive moment of force on the truck's hitch.

Almost looks like if the car were backed on the trailer, he would have been fine.
 
peewee said:
I own a truck almost exactly like the in one the picture. It takes tongue weight pretty good
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I don't buy it. There was one of those in the parking lot the other day that looked just like that. I peeked in the bed only to find about 500# of firewood stacked against the tailgate.
 
Scooter402 said:
I know what you're saying. I've loaded down half tons with some questionably heavy loads in terms of towing capacity. Even used to tow my CJ to the mud races with a V6 Dakota. Obviously not recommending that, since I know I was well over capacity there as well. Never once have I made anything squat like that, especially so bad as to to unload the front suspension. That, coupled with those sketchy-ass tires in the pic...that dudes just looking for trouble
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No kidding. I pulled a massey 35 on a HEAVY trailer behind my v6 dakota, not fun, but it didnt look THAT bad.
 
I've towed a variety of things with my xj.. but I've got Dakota leafs and kept the overloads. Just need to watch the weight distribution. (And I won't tow anything over about 5000#, not counting the trailer) it used to have trailer brakes but they got removed when the shoes locked up a wheel sitting. Not going to win any races. Longest trip was from rutherfordton to siler City, towing a xj on a friend's trailer.

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Had decent distribution in that pic, though I don't like reverse loads.
 
shawn said:
I don't buy it. There was one of those in the parking lot the other day that looked just like that. I peeked in the bed only to find about 500# of firewood stacked against the tailgate.
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When I built my shed I picked up 30 sheets of 23/32 t&G OSB. It squatted but still not like the picture. That's over 2000lbs. My camper has an unloaded tongue weight of 750lbs. Only squats 2 inches. I measured it for proper adjustment of my weight distributing hitch. I think what makes this look so bad isn't that the back is so low but t he front is so high.
 
Just do like me and get way more truck than you need. I haul a samurai or 4runner around behind a 350 dually with a 7.3. Who gives a fuck about tongue weight.
 
No fries said:
No tongue weight is bad.
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That dude's chit busted clean off!


....why does it look like a plane is falling out of the sky in the beginning of that gif?.....


EDIT: nevermind, I think it's a rock chip. The way it was moving, though, it looked like something else. lol.

EDIT part deux: This is why breakaway boxes are good!
 
Scooter402 said:
That dude's chit busted clean off!


....why does it look like a plane is falling out of the sky in the beginning of that gif?.....


EDIT: nevermind, I think it's a rock chip. The way it was moving, though, it looked like something else. lol.

EDIT part deux: This is why breakaway boxes are good!
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I’m glad you brought this up, as I’ve always wondered about break away boxes. In the above, assuming that’s real, we may safely assume that thing drifted to a stop and caused no more than a huge traffic jam for a bit.

But say it had a break away box and it locked up the brakes and one grabs harder than the other or both grab but the trailer gets squirrely and the trailer turns, flips, throws the load over in the highway causing a fire ball nuke bomb mushroom cloud explosion 78 car pile up. Possible?

Idk. Seems like a catch 22 type thing. I want the load to stop, but what if the sudden braking causes more harm than good. Either way, I use a breakaway for the record. And the chances of above happening are pretty slim. If you loose your trailer in motion it’s safe to assume your day is really about to suck regardless. But for discussion sake, breakaway vs no breakaway. What say y’all?
 
77GreenMachine said:
I’m glad you brought this up, as I’ve always wondered about break away boxes. In the above, assuming that’s real, we may safely assume that thing drifted to a stop and caused no more than a huge traffic jam for a bit.

But say it had a break away box and it locked up the brakes and one grabs harder than the other or both grab but the trailer gets squirrely and the trailer turns, flips, throws the load over in the highway causing a fire ball nuke bomb mushroom cloud explosion 78 car pile up. Possible?

Idk. Seems like a catch 22 type thing. I want the load to stop, but what if the sudden braking causes more harm than good. Either way, I use a breakaway for the record. And the chances of above happening are pretty slim. If you loose your trailer in motion it’s safe to assume your day is really about to suck regardless. But for discussion sake, breakaway vs no breakaway. What say y’all?
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I've often had the same argument with myself...I've seen the aftermath of a trailer becoming disconnected from the tow rig. My uncle lost his boat this way. He was trailering it back to his house getting ready for a vacation week of bass fishing. He hit a bump in the road, then looked in his sideview mirror as he was slowing, and saw his boat coming up beside him. A faulty hitch, coupled with using no tongue lock or safety chains and no breakaway box made it careen out of control toward a gas station...ended up with the boat and trailer hitting a light pole and the boat launching off the trailer, skidding to just within feet of a gas pump. Nearly turned into exactly the scenario you described!

If it were me, I'd say go with the breakaway box, no questions asked...could have saved him the boat. It obviously was a total loss.
 
The scenario I was taught didn’t involve the trailer brakes locking up and if your electric brakes are adjusted properly, there won’t be any jerking one way or the other. Roads are tapered away from the center (so water runs off), so the trailer should work it’s way off the road too. No proof or personal experience to back this up, but sounds legit to me. You’re also supposed to cross your safety chains under the tongue to create a saddle. If the coupler gives way, the chains will catch it.
 
What about where to attach the breakaway? My thought is if the hitch and chains fail, most likely the hitch itself failed and that is about the only thing I ever see the breakaway attached to. So if the hitch is with chains and trailer what good is the breakaway.

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The main point of the breakway is so that the trailer doesn't ram your vehicle when you realize it has broken away and slam on your brakes. But since those batteries are always dead, it won't do anything anyway.
 
No fries said:
What about where to attach the breakaway? My thought is if the hitch and chains fail, most likely the hitch itself failed and that is about the only thing I ever see the breakaway attached to. So if the hitch is with chains and trailer what good is the breakaway.

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I attach mine to the same loop where the safety chains hook...but now that I think about it, that possibly could have been a fouled up move on my part...if I ever had a hitch fail (anyone ever seen a bulldog hitch fail? not me...) and the chains actually caught it (so unlikely) it would probably hit the back of my truck...wouldn't that bring the suck. But I always figured that if it dropped suddenly, the chains would probably break anyway.
jeepinmatt said:
The main point of the breakway is so that the trailer doesn't ram your vehicle when you realize it has broken away and slam on your brakes. But since those batteries are always dead, it won't do anything anyway.
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In my more motivated days, I would have disputed you saying that I hooked up to my trailer at least a few times per year, with the purpose of charging the batteries and testing my brakes each time I pulled the trailer out. Now that I've gotten older, less wise, and MUCH lazier, I don't do that anymore. But any time I actually hook up to my trailer, I still check the brakes and the breakaway. But you're right. My breakaway batteries are dead...lol
 
How do you test the breakaway? I always thought if you pulled that thing it was done, but in fairness I never looked at it real good.
 
77GreenMachine said:
How do you test the breakaway? I always thought if you pulled that thing it was done, but in fairness I never looked at it real good.
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The cable that is hooked to the hitch is connected to a small plastic plug/insert that goes into a connection in the breakaway box. You can test the breakaway by pulling the plastic piece and trying to pull the trailer forward. If your brakes are engaged, then the breakaway works correctly. If your brakes do not engage, the batteries in the breakaway box are dead and need replaced. It is possible to recharge them by hooking the 7 pin connector to your truck for a while, but it's not definite that it will recharge the batteries.

vendor.2011.aluma-atv-trailer.hitch_.jpg


The little black box on top of the trailer tongue is the connector I'm talking about. The little plastic loop that the cable is connected to is the breakaway switch. Pull that out to test the box. It can simply be reinserted after testing.
 
I feel like an idiot. I’ve just assumed it was a one and done kind of thing lol. I was always told don’t touch, don’t look at it, if it comes out you have to replace it all :confused:

I have to service my trailer soon and will test this while at it.
 
Scooter402 said:
It is possible to recharge them by hooking the 7 pin connector to your truck for a while, but it's not definite that it will recharge the batteries.
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The battery wears out after 5 years or so, too.
 
shawn said:
The battery wears out after 5 years or so, too.
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Good catch - I wasn't considering battery life.

...now making mental note to replace the battery in my breakaway box...
 
Some breakaway boxes have test lights on them. I'm not sure how accurate/reliable they are though.
 
BigSouth said:
You’re also supposed to cross your safety chains under the tongue to create a saddle. If the coupler gives way, the chains will catch it.
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I wish some people I know would listen to me when I say this! Knew one guy who never hooked them up & they had worn down over time to be too short...ball came loose one afternoon & the trailer passed him on the shoulder & crashed into some pine trees!
 
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