ON THE ROAD
is to have no more than 60%
of the total weight of the load
in front of the trailer’s axles
and the balance of 40%
behind.
Fourthly, if the engine power
is inadequate for the tow,
chances are the vehicle's
braking ability will be, too.
Sure, heavy trailers are
expected to be fitted with
their own braking systems, at
the very least of the inertiatype where the forward
pressure of the trailer up
against the towbar of the
The specification plate on your towbar will give you its capacity
slowing tow car engages
From page 46
towbar, for example with an
brakes on the trailer's wheels,
could lead to the engine
unevenly balanced heavy
and in more elaborate cases
overheating under strain, at
trailer, and the effect is to lift
with braking systems linked to
worst it could mean you
the front wheels of the tow
the mechanics of the tow
won't be able to tow up hills
car.
vehicle itself, but the weight
of any significant gradient.
Given that the front wheels
of a heavy trailer behind a
Thirdly, the actual weight of
are the ones that provide the
too-light car or bakkie can
the vehicle, and the weight
steering and braking (and, in
make the whole affair
distribution when the heavy
the case of a front wheel drive
unstable in the event of a
trailer is attached, may render vehicle, the traction) and the
sudden braking attempt.
the combination unstable. Put effect could be catastrophic.
How can one tell if one is
too much weight on the
The ideal weight distribution
guilty of overloaded towing?
48
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The place to start is to check
one's vehicle's manufacturer's
specifications.
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