Re: Great short on importance of center of mass when towing
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 6:09 am
by Russ
Great illustration. I try to load as much weight forward as possible. When I added the second axle I wish I moved it a tad further back instead of center the original.
Re: Great short on importance of center of mass when towing
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:31 am
by Be Free
It is surprising what a difference the location of the boat makes. If my boat is snugged up to the roller I can run at 70mph; if it's even an inch short I'll start to fishtail above 55. It's not much of a move but it is moving a lot of weight in front of the axles.
Re: Great short on importance of center of mass when towing
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 8:01 am
by TrailerTrash
Towing is dangerous. I'm stunned that we don't have more highway deaths from the RVs pulled by people who are not qualified to operate that equipment.
But step #1 should be safety on the trailer, and step #2 safety on the water. I'm more qualified on the trailer than the water.
Re: Great short on importance of center of mass when towing
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 3:25 pm
by Stickinthemud57
Interesting story about something that happened to me:
I was driving on a little two-lane rural road with a bar ditch on either side, and noticed a pickup truck coming toward me in the other lane. As it neared, I was alarmed when I saw it was trailering a small skid-steer that was starting to sway side-to-side like the test trailer in the video.I could see that the next oscillation was going to bring it into my lane about the time I would be passing it, so if figured it was either end up with 3-1/3 tons of skid-steer in my lap or drive off into the bar ditch. I decided I liked my chances with the bar ditch and drove off the road. As predicted, I saw it sliding sideways, still attached to the truck, in the lane I had been in.
After I regained my composure I managed to drive out of the ditch and went to check on the driver of the truck - a kid in his twenties who looked at least as scared as I had been. I didn't feel it necessary to point out how lucky we both were, so I wished him a better day and went on my way.
Sobering to think I could have died that day had I not seen the danger in time to act.
