natedogg624 Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 I finally finished up my HF trailer and the next step will be planning out the load and making sure it balances correctly with the proper tongue weight. I was wondering how exactly to figure this out and to make sure I don't overload the tongue? Vehicle is rated for 200-300 lbs. Do I use a bathroom scale under a jack to measure or how does this work? The items that will be on the trailer are the bike, large tote filled with toolbox, track supplies, and other items tbd, ramp and canopy, stands and spare wheels. Any help would be appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natedogg624 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 also, the large tote i was planning on purchasing (rubbermaid action packer) doesn't have the dimensions I was hoping for. What do you guys do for misc cargo on the trailer other than loading it in the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natedogg624 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 also regarding the HF trailer, I cleaned and repacked the bearings with new grease. but my question is, do I need to fill the entire hub area with grease or just having the bearings and axle greased is ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Did you actually pack the bearings? I try and fill it up, The shaft takes up a lot of room. Bearing buddies are the way to go. Tongue weight, I think your over thinking it. Trailer should have weight on the tongue when hitched and loaded. If not it will sway like crazy. 200-300#'s you should be able to just lift it. Even 100#'s of tongue weight will work. There's no perfect weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natedogg624 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Yes but I just repacked the bearings only using the bearing buddy actually. I did nothing behind the bearings within the hub itself. so i should put some grease within the hub itself you're saying? You're probably right that I'm over thinking it, I just don't want disaster to happen. I've always loaded up in the back of my truck bed so this is all new to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 http://youtu.be/agxjGtmHV_4Not sure how you packed the bearings with a bearing buddy unless the rear seal was bad and how would the grease have gotten to the rear bearing without filling up the hub? I do the above every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natedogg624 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Ah sorry I did not use the bearing buddy, I used something like this:http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-2775-Bearing-Packer/dp/B0002NYDYEWhich produced the same result as your video where it pushed the old grease out and replaced with the new grease for the front bearing. I did not know there was a rear bearing as well, that would answer my question that I need to inspect it a little closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Cool. You have to pop off the seal on the back of the hub to get to the rear bearing. I usually use a screw driver to get the seal out and they get damaged coming off. Cheap to replace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natedogg624 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Awesome thank you! Spare bearings, wheel and now seals are on the list of spare parts to have with me when towing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moto-Brian Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Uh, it is an open trailer that weighs nothing and with an F150 like you have, you can load the bike on the ball itself and have zero issue... Basically, rule of thumb is to try and center the weight right over the axle. You are way over thinking this thing, though. Slap her on the center of the axle and tow away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natedogg624 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 I didn't get the truck. I have a ford fusion v6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moto-Brian Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Same deal. Car isn't designed to tow such things, but shouldn't be an issue with such a small trailer and a bike under 400 lbs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 (edited) Loading on a single-axle trailer is more critical than on a tandem axle. Tongue load should be approx >10% and <15% of the total trailer+load weight. If you load the trailer so that the COM (Center of Mass) is close to or behind the axle, you will induce an essentially uncontrollable sway.Read here: http://www.sherline.com/lmbook.htm#refrn9Check out the site for additional info on hauling loads.EDIT: For weighing a lightweight trailer like yours, you can use a simple bathroom scale (most read to 250-300#) to get a measure of how much weight is on the tongue. Use a few blocks of wood for supporting the tongue at the ball hitch to prop the trailer at the proper height, i.e., frame level with road surface. Edited March 12, 2012 by Bubba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSparky Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 STATICS! Summation of moments and forces = 0. You've got a portion of the weight acting downward a distance from the tongue and the axle. The ratio of length it is away from either is the ratio of weight that is being supported as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfvb1225 Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 In my opinion the key is to ensure the weight of the load on the trailer falls in front of the axle(s) just enough so you have tongue weight that prevents the trailer from tipping back and staying there but not so much that you drop the tow vehicle's rear end down more than an inch or so. As far as bearings, the only way I know how to pack is with grease in one palm and a bearing in the other hand. Don't rely on a bearing buddy to get grease to those inner ones. They are the hardest to get to when they fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 On a single axle the axle is usually 60% towards the rear from the tongue. If you have a custom trailer with the axle in the middle then you have to load more towards the front. Again, just make sure you can't super easily lift the trailer off the ball hitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapesmuggler27 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 On a single axle the axle is usually 60% towards the rear from the tongue. If you have a custom trailer with the axle in the middle then you have to load more towards the front. Again, just make sure you can't super easily lift the trailer off the ball hitch.this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcat6183 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 Bro, what KTMBrian said, really you'll be fine. Load 40% of wt in front of axle and 60% behind. Or basically center the bike on the trailer then move it back 2 inches or so. If you are adding more weight or stuff to the trailer then take that into consideration. You want SOME weight but not half or more of it up front. Honestly, your best bet will be to put anything and everything you can over the rear axle of the car, i.e. back seat or in the front of the trunk. If I was in your shoes, I would put the bike and fuel can only on the trailer, but that's just me. Everything else really should fit into your car, esp. if you have a folding rear seat, then you're money.I might recommend upgrading the trailer lights to LED's too, but that's just me. Mine aren't yet, but it's also much larger and I know the HF lights are known to not work 50%+ of the time. Personal experience on a lot of trailers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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