Watch: Trailer Load Distribution Really Matters

In this short must-see video, we witness a demonstration of the importance of properly distributing the weight of a load on a trailer. We outdoors people haul lots of stuff: boats, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, travel trailers, and all kinds of other great gear. Knowing how to array the load in relation to the hitch and the axle can go a long way towards keeping your vehicle and trailer stable and safe.

We have all seen those people towing trailers on the highway, swaying back and forth, sometimes violently. I’ve always wondered what they were thinking (if anything); it’s simply unsafe (and un-smart) to do that. Part of the problem may be that folks don’t realize they should have more weight forward of the trailer axle than behind it. It’s called “tongue weight,” and it helps all of your tires stay in touch with the road.

Check out this demonstration to see what can happen if too much weight is placed behind a trailer’s axle.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.