The old rule of 10% of gross trailer weight on the towball is a bit of a furphy, it is far more important to get the trailer balance( weigting over axles ) right for towing stability. I'll see if I can find a good link to the subject.
A certain proportion of the gross weight of the trailer will always be carried by the towball, and, as the weight goes up, so does the lift. Sure, you can lift a 16ft tinny on a single axle up. If you could lift the towhitch of, say, a 26 ft, 3.5 tonne glass boat up onto the towball you are either a) incredibly strong, or b) have far too little weight on the ball. It will have 200kg there, or if the owner firmly subscribes to the (false) notion that it should be at 10%, 350Kg.They sell towball weight gauges in caravan shops, not dear, you just put them under the towhitch, adjusted to up near the height it will normally tow at, then lower the jockey wheel to see how much weight you will have. You may then be able to adjust that weight, at least on a boat trailer, by moving the axle(s) fore and aft a bit. Too little weight and they will be very unstable, too much, unstable AND putting unecessary downward strain on your whole towbar assembly.
Travisd
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 07/05/11
1960kg
mine with a f150 on road master trailer and 50l fuel onboard
Baron Sportsman
Just the depth that Varies
Travisd
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 07/05/11
Not many boats
That vintage and size be much less than 1800kg with a four stroke on the back
Baron Sportsman
Just the depth that Varies
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
That's heavy.
My 5.65m Swiftcraft Dominator with F115 on the back, on tandem trailer and 50l fuel and safety gear went 1550kg on the bridge.
Relic
Posts: 17
Date Joined: 26/12/11
Ok thanks now I have to
Ok thanks now I have to figure out how much weight is on my towball. I believe my 100 series is good for 200kg.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Do a bit of research on that.
The old rule of 10% of gross trailer weight on the towball is a bit of a furphy, it is far more important to get the trailer balance( weigting over axles ) right for towing stability. I'll see if I can find a good link to the subject.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Here it is
www.outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/driving-towing-towing/towball-weight-and-trailer-stability
This is a good explanation.
Travisd
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 07/05/11
Towball weight
i always thought you only wanted as much as you could lift comfortably on the jockey wheel on the towball
200kg on the ball sounds a lot. Towball weight of 50-60kg is mine
Baron Sportsman
Just the depth that Varies
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
No, it will vary with size of boat.
A certain proportion of the gross weight of the trailer will always be carried by the towball, and, as the weight goes up, so does the lift. Sure, you can lift a 16ft tinny on a single axle up. If you could lift the towhitch of, say, a 26 ft, 3.5 tonne glass boat up onto the towball you are either a) incredibly strong, or b) have far too little weight on the ball. It will have 200kg there, or if the owner firmly subscribes to the (false) notion that it should be at 10%, 350Kg.They sell towball weight gauges in caravan shops, not dear, you just put them under the towhitch, adjusted to up near the height it will normally tow at, then lower the jockey wheel to see how much weight you will have. You may then be able to adjust that weight, at least on a boat trailer, by moving the axle(s) fore and aft a bit. Too little weight and they will be very unstable, too much, unstable AND putting unecessary downward strain on your whole towbar assembly.