Trailer Build .

[Rickt]

Half way through my fold flat trailer build , but been hampered with the bad weather , cannot get it out in the yard to spray because of the rain where getting here in the North . Still a bit welding to do though . I thought I'd ask for some advice regarding the position of the trailer frame onto the torsion axle . I thought the weight would be on the axle itself , but a mate said the weight should be balanced over the hubs .What are your thoughts on this ?
I've put up a few photos so you get the idea:

This last photo, you can see the stripped line of the center of the trailer .The distance from axle
to hub shaft is 6" .Should the trailer middle be over the wheel hub or the torsion box section ?
Or rather , should the weight of the trailer be over the wheels or the torsion section ?
I do know there has to be a certain weight on the draw bar , so it cannot be balanced perfectly .

I would appreciate some advice on this .Thanks

 

[piman]

Hello Rickt,

I agree with your mate, the wheels are the balancing point, if the wheels are central and you load centrally the trailer will be in balance.

Alec

 

[Rickt]

Cheers Alec. This is the first time I've used Torsion Axles , I all ways preferred the leaf spring design and these operate differently .
I will now offset the axle as you suggest . Thanks .

 

[brightspark]

Hello Rickt,

I agree with your mate, the wheels are the balancing point, if the wheels are central and you load centrally the trailer will be in balance.

Alec

and when you load your trailer have a bit of weight slightly forward of center point it will tow more stable at speed

 

[pedrobedro]

Put the axle on the centre line and it will give you your bit of nose weight, the draw bar adds a bit of forward weight as well but on a trailer this size it is hardly critical.

 

[Rickt]

pedrobedro , you've just thrown a spanners in the works .............I'm on critical overload now :-)

If I'm reading your post correctly , you say put the center of the trailer [ last picture with the 4 lines on the box section] over the axle rather than the over the wheel hubs which many say is wrong . Personally I would of thought I should put the weight over the axle too , it's just this contradicts what most folk say . I really haven't a clue hence me asking question in the first place . So, have I understood your answer correctly ?

 

[brightspark]

as piman says the wheels want to be central to your trailer . thats it in a nutshell look here https://www.google.co.uk/#q=+2+wheel+trailer+

 

[the snooper]

as above, axle in the centre so the trailer carries the weight and doesn't add it to the cars rear suspension instead

 

[pedrobedro]

pedrobedro , you've just thrown a spanners in the works .............I'm on critical overload now :-)

If I'm reading your post correctly , you say put the center of the trailer [ last picture with the 4 lines on the box section] over the axle rather than the over the wheel hubs which many say is wrong . Personally I would of thought I should put the weight over the axle too , it's just this contradicts what most folk say . I really haven't a clue hence me asking question in the first place . So, have I understood your answer correctly ?

Yes, it will give you a bit of nose weight so you can load the trailer bed evenly without pushing some to the front. As above though on a trailer this size I don't think it will be too critical and adding the draw bar will give a bit of front load. There is a need for some of the weight of the trailer to be taken by the car's rear suspension, the nose weight, to keep the trailer following the car in a straight line. It is given in caravan manuals and there is a maximum for the towing vehicle in the manual usually. Edit to add just reading around and the recommended nose weight is between 5% and 10% of the trailer loaded weight not to exceed the towing vehicle maximum manufacturer's recommended limit.

 

[Rickt]

Thanks pedrobedro ,I understand fully now .