Trailer Loading: Forward or Backward?


KJRGT

KJRGT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 4, 2006
2,840
SoCal
Just purchased a 28' Haulmark trailer and getting it set up for the GT. I've never towed anything but a front engine vehicle. From reviewing pictures of past threads, it seems everyone is loading their GTs forward. Just curious, anyone experience a "tail happy" tow with the GT's mid-mount engine not being completely in front of the axles? :willy
My instructions say to put 70% of weight in front of trailer axles.
 
I was worried about that too, so what I did was load the car, and used one of my race scales under the tounge, and pulled the car in untill I had (can't remember exactly) but I think I had something like 800lbs on the truck ( have load sharing bars etc) Towed great. I had the bumper about 3 ft inside the tail, with a 24' trailer.

FWIW, when I scalled the car, it ws 43.3 to 56.7% front to back weight distribution.
 
KJRGT said:
Just purchased a 28' Haulmark trailer and getting it set up for the GT. I've never towed anything but a front engine vehicle. From reviewing pictures of past threads, it seems everyone is loading their GTs forward. Just curious, anyone experience a "tail happy" tow with the GT's mid-mount engine not being completely in front of the axles? :willy
My instructions say to put 70% of weight in front of trailer axles.
Click to expand...




YES INDEED!!!!!!!

'Loaded my Delorean "nose first" ...once! As soon as I hit highway speeds the trailer was waggin' like a dog's tail. 'Turned the car around on the trailer and the thing towed just fine (for the reason you stated).

LONGER trailers may not show that trait as there's more room up forward of the axles no matter which "end" of the car you point fwd. The car's engine weight SHOULD end up fwd of the axles anyway in a case like that. ( I think the trailer I used was an 18 footer, if I remember right.)
 
Specracer said:
I was worried about that too, so what I did was load the car, and used one of my race scales under the tounge, and pulled the car in untill I had (can't remember exactly) but I think I had something like 800lbs on the truck ( have load sharing bars etc) Towed great. I had the bumper about 3 ft inside the tail, with a 24' trailer.

FWIW, when I scalled the car, it ws 43.3 to 56.7% front to back weight distribution.
Click to expand...

what he said.

I bought my 24' wells cargo slightly used and set up for a mustang. I put my cobra r in it and the tongue drug, handled like crap. I moved the car back to take weight off of the tongue and life was good.
 
Trailer

KJRGT - It really doesn't matter forward or backwards. I usually tow with the GT facing forward. Keep your tongue weight around 300 to 450 lbs. (Or 10% of the load) Factors influencing stability are the type of vehicle you are towing with (dually's are best. I use an F350) - the length of the trailer and the hitch. Try to keep the trailer nice and flat. If it’s too heavy on the rear hitch, you can fit a load distributing hitch which will push weight forward over the front wheels, and maintain your steering. Remember to get a brake controller installed if you don't already have one. The electric trailer brakes will not work without one. Careful where you attach to on the car. Be gentle and don't put too much pressure on the wheels if you "cross tie". I have seen alignments disturbed and in sever cases suspension bent!!! I use a web wheel bonnet - fore and aft – they seem to work well.

Happy towing…

G.
 
Thanks much for your helpful experiences. :thumbsup
I'll be giving it a go in a couple weeks; nose first, wheel web tied, load bearing hitch/arms.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom