[Shop-talk] Fw: car hauler advise needed

[pethier at comcast.net]

An old rule-of-thumb is to have the hitch drop 1 inch when the loaded trailer is added.  All you need to do is measure the hitch height, then hook up the trailer and roll your load around until you reach the magic 1-inch drop.  Do this test with the ignition off, since your Suburban may have an air-ride leveling system.  

I run the Stag almost as far back as I can.  The Elise rides far enough forward that I can carry a couple of tires behind the strapped-down Race Ramps.

If you hook up your load-leveler stuff, do not get the final hitch height higher than your pre-trailer level.  I don't use a load-leveler.  I expect my enclosed trailer and Stag about equals your open trailer and pickup.

Phil Ethier West Side Saint Paul Minnesota USA
1973 Triumph Stag LE22439UBW "uncle jack", Sapphire Blue
2004 Suburban 8.1, Sport Red, the only automatic of the bunch
2005 Lotus Elise, Bordeaux Red Pearl
2007 Saturn Ion 3 2.4, Berry Red
pethier [at] comcast [dot] net
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pethier
http://www.triumphtransamerica.org.uk
http://www.mnautox.com

----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Niolon" <jniolon at att.net>
> To: "shop-talk" <shop-talk at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2012 11:26:31 AM
> Subject: [Shop-talk] Fw: car hauler advise needed
> I need some advise on purchasing a car hauler... vehicle is a '53 Ford
> F-100
> with a fiberglass front clip and a 460 engine
> 15' overall length with 111" wheelbase... approx weight 3600-3800#
> with
> engine weight (700-800# centered pretty much over front axle..... Tow
> vehicle
> is 2008 suburban 5.3L with weight dist. hitch..
> 
> looking at several models and pretty much settled on an 18' steel deck
> w/wo
> dove tail... slide out ramps from the back and other goodies.
> 
> I look at the trailers and the forward of axles to back of axles is
> about a
> 60/40 ratio and that seems to be the consensus on most trailers...
> 
> got to thinking... if I pull my truck on the trailer most of the
> weight will
> be well forward of the axles. guessing my truck will be in the
> 3600-3800 range
> with the 460 and probably 80% of the weight forward of the trailer
> axles...
> that seems a little heavy on the front of the trailer and will put too
> much
> tongue weight out there... look at the sketches below and tell me what
> you
> think.. this is above my paygrade on math
> 
> thanks
> John
> 
> 
> 
> http://jniolon.classicpickup.com/trucksketch.jpg
> http://jniolon.classicpickup.com/bigtex.jpg
> 
> I'm sarcastic... what's your superpower ?
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