Pulling a AATV on a trailer...

[martwell]

Im just about to built myself a nice 8x8 plate-form trailer for my argo. I was wondering how you guys are putting you aatv on the trailer... Engine in front of the trailer or at the back of the trailer... I got a small car (4cyl ) and a 2000lbs hitch with 200 lbs on the tongue. I dont want my car to scrape the asphalt at every bump...

Martin

[jerrynuss]

I'd get it where it is balanced then go to just a little tongue heavy then make an index mark so you can stop on the same spot every time. With the Argo I drove it of forward so the engine is at the front of the trailer, with the others I back them on.

[RKlingborg]

I back mine on so i dont have all the tounge weight. that way ether me or my brother can move the tailer around his yard with the Argo loaded on it and it does not seam to Matter to the KIA witch way it faces.

http://www.6x6world.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/767/ppuser/159

[GREASEMONKEY]

Towing a tail heavy trailer is dangerous! Just my opinion!
The reason for having tongue weight is #1 the trailer connection itself is kept from bouncing around by the weight #2 the weight added to the vehicle provides stability, and breaking stability! I worked at a job years ago delivering flooring. The boss liket to load thousands of sq ft of hard wood flooring tongue heavy on the trailer, so it was easy to unload on site! Over time it wore on the latching part of the trailer. One fine day I'm running 75 down I20, and start down a steep hill, and feel a tugat the rear of the truck, next thing I know the trailer is passing me going down the hill! It had completely worn the latching part of the trailer to the point it poped off the ball, and poped the safety chains!

[m350]

Definately need some tounge weight,,,Spot on GreaseMonkey !,,Please Please make sure you have a Good Hitch and Latch,,,,A few years Back,,working with a Guy,,following him back to the shop,,,he was towing his 16' 4 ton Equip. trailer empty,,,Had an Older POS Pintle Hitch,,,,just on the outskirt of a city,,hits some bumps,,trailer bounces up against his hitch,,,opens the pintel,,bounce off the pintel,,,now onto the original safty cables(not chains),,trailer goes right, then left, then right,,,swerving his truck,,breaks the cables,,heres a runaway trailer over the sidewalk,,between a tele-pole and guidewire,,crashs into the corner of someones Garage,,,OH MAN,,talk about a FREAK thing,,I saw it all too,,NO one got hurt ! Owners of the House said they were Just outside there 5 mins before !!

If the trailer Had even a small peice of equip. up front for tounge weight,,would of never came off the hitch ! Needless to say the next day he purchased a new pintel, and safety chains,,amoung other parts,,,OH and good thing for Insurance too !

[xrover]

I drive on forward direction as you want 60% of the weight forward of the trailer wheels if possible. Without proper tongue weight she'll fishtail wildly. I saw a trailer for a barrel roll one day attached to a car. Snapped the hitch but kept attached with the safety chains. I did not notice the mention of safety chains. Make sure you use them and use them properly.
And lastly, if you have a windshield on the argo, strap it down as the snap grommets are not strong enough to hold it on cross winds.

[Roger S]

Yes you need tongue weight, but depends on how the trailer was built/where the axle was placed, and what you put on it. I have a trailer with so much tongue weight empty, I leave the argo toward the rear to counter balance some of it. But yes it's very dangerous to have a tail heavy trailer wagging the dog.

[philipatmaxfour]

Making an 8x8 platform trailer

Right, so everybody here agrees that you Must have tongue weight on your trailer. Me too.
Now about Mr. Klingborg,s picture showing his Frontier backed on. In his case ,perfect, 99% of the vehicle is ahead of the axle and the heavier engine and tranny are pretty much on top of the axle. You can,t do better than that!
Hey Martwell,I bought a 6x10 open trailer but my life got better after I made it into a covered trailer,especially in the winter. Then I bought an 8 wheeler, with winches front and rear ,now I wish it was 12 feet long!

[liflod]

I think the general rule is %10 - %15 of the trailer weight on the tongue. I actually set my machine back on the trailer for better balance. Too much tongue weight isn't good either.

[GREASEMONKEY]

Yes you need tongue weight, but depends on how the trailer was built/where the axle was placed, and what you put on it. I have a trailer with so much tongue weight empty, I leave the argo toward the rear to counter balance some of it. But yes it's very dangerous to have a tail heavy trailer wagging the dog.

X2
That's why i got a smaller trailer! Mine is 6.5'x12.5' and the axle is about 1.5' too far back, and I mounted a full size pickup tool box on th e tongue, oh and the floors are wood. I have to play with the parking spot to assist the vehicle limitations. My argo, and the trailer together were 400lbs over my capacity! 03 Jeep is rated at 2500lbs, and 250lbs tongue. My trailer alone was 1800lbs + 100lb tool box! I ended up getting a 5x8'trailer with mesh floors thats only 5-600lbs.. The argo just squeezes on it, but it's light! I flipped the axle to give a little better ground clearance for getting to a drop piont!

[lewis]

trailer weight

To reduce overall weight you can replace your wood floor with a expanded metal one , my trailer is a 6x10 and has this type flooring and i move it by hand when needed. Bought it because of the flooring. It also is a tight fit but that is not a problem. If you haul dirt or other things on you trailer that may filter through the mesh you can place plywood flooring down as a temp floor. My trailer is pretty much dedicated to my Avenger.

[martwell]

trailer for my Argo

Thanks you all for your great advices. I will balance my trailer the best that i can with tongue weight in perspective. I dont want to be on the evening news with my argo loose on the freeway . I bough the metal to built my frame this afternoon. I will put it together in weeks to come. I ll post pictures when he will be finished. Again thanks..

Martin

[chapy]

I have a 7 foot wide by 16 foot flat bed rated for 5 ton. Duel axel just for my argo. Well maybe not just for the argo. the trailer even when empty is too heavy for my truck. We also have a 1 ton duelly that we use to pull the trailer when we deliver coal. I just use it because it's the only road leagal trailer I have. No mater where I put the argo on the trailer I have plenty of toungue weight.