Utility trailer mods

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I bought a 5'x10' utility trailer with 12" open sides all around. It was light to move by hand and well balanced. I added a 3'x5' panel across the front and 5' x 1' rail along the side. I filled the front and sides with expanded metal. The new steel added about 115# of weight, mostly forward of the axles. Of course now it is not so well balanced.My question is, does 115# make enough difference to try to move the axle forward? This is not an everyday use trailer, but I pull it with my small Nissan truck and I'm wondering about tongue weight.I appreciate any comments. Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:No...
Reply:Think of it this way...If the trailer was rated at 1100 lb's, 115lbs is about 10%, which is what is the usuall percentage for tounge weight.If the trailer is 3500 lb's you reduce that to about 3% and if it's a 5K trailer it goes down to 2%. All of this assumes that the aditional weight is almost strictly on the hitch rather than spread to the wheels as well.Just load the weight a bit farther back on the trailer to compensate for what little you have added. I doubt in reality you'll even notice the added weight at all.As far as ease of movement empty, you can add a counter weight to the rear of the trailer to decrease the tounge weight and make it easy to move. We do this with our 7500lb trailer at work, with the counter weight on the empty trailer it sits level with no need for the jack and one person can easily move it around with out hooking up. Our "counter weight" is just a half dozen or so solid cinderblocks sat on the very back of the trailer. They double as chocks for the wheels after we move it..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Boost - I like a man who spends words like money! DSW - The trailer has a 2000 lb axle, so the 115 #'s is closer to only 5% of the trailer capacity. The truck's manual says to keep tounge weight to 500#'s. I guess I am second guessing myself too much. Seems I won't be able to load a lot just in the front. Thanks for the comments.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Move the steenkin' load rearward to compensate if it really mattersThe 60/40 split on a trailer really is sort of a joke.  It's all about how you load the cargo.  Sometimes the split can come and bite you in the butt if you can't configure the load right.Ok, I know there's pulling characteristics.  Ideally, the axles should be all the way to the back.  Nicer ride, and easier to manouver.From what I can tell, not being a trailer guru, the split is to make up for low capacity hitches IE: where they're placed on the towing vehicle.  Added to that is the low GVWR of most small tow vehicles.  It's all a compromise"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I got moreLook at a gooseneck trailer.  Invented right here in the good ol' USA, although others will disagree (our Sputnik friends they invented Adam if ya listen long enough)The gooseneck moves the load 6" in front of the driving axle.  It eliminates the leverage associated with a bumper hitch, and also allows some transfer to the front axle of the towing vehicle.  The only limit, once again, is the Gross rating of the driving axle.  But it's a major improvement allowing smaller vehicles to tow larger loads"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Don't futz around about axle ratings on small trailers.  Load it until it looks as if the springs aren't too happy.  It's pretty simple really"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:You are better off with the trailer not "balanced". Keep the tongue under proper load.If the trailer is tongue light, it begins to act in very unpredictable ways driving down the road. I recently replaced the coupler on a "balanced" trailer that ejected itself from the tow vehicle while on the freeway. On a side note, the chain did not control the situation, they straightened out at the hooks, which is why I like quick links better. For example: Quick links & chain.The single axle trailer was fitted with a large ramp door at the back and was loaded with household goods, much of it in the rear of the trailer, while the driver was moving to a new home. The tongue evidently took the hit that brought the trailer to a stop. His fine new dresser drawer was completely discombobulated.  The mattress on top was the only thing keeping the contents inside.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Good comments, thanks. I'm more concerned with overloading the truck than the trailer.Obviously, I never owned a trailer before. I've tried to stay away from them, but now I have a couple of uses for this one. I should have taken a before picture, but I'll try to post one of the after (with the new sides) tonight.OK, one last question. My buddy says my truck would pull more/better with a receiver hitch "because it is mounted to the frame", instead of my step bumper hitch. But the bumper is mounted to the frame too. So does it matter? Is it worth $150-200 for a receiver hitch?  Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Originally Posted by wb4rtGood comments, thanks. I'm more concerned with overloading the truck than the trailer.Obviously, I never owned a trailer before. I've tried to stay away from them, but now I have a couple of uses for this one. I should have taken a before picture, but I'll try to post one of the after (with the new sides) tonight.OK, one last question. My buddy says my truck would pull more/better with a receiver hitch "because it is mounted to the frame", instead of my step bumper hitch. But the bumper is mounted to the frame too. So does it matter? Is it worth $150-200 for a receiver hitch?
Reply:A class three frame mounted hitch would be much better than the bumper.  I haven't personally seen a bumper pulled off, but I have seen many bent.
Reply:Spend the coin on a frame hitch as others have suggested.  Those bumper hitches are technically a "class I" hitch and not really good for towing.Come try it out and stay a while.
Reply:The bumper on my F150 states 5000lb trailer or 500lb tongue weight. Not that I have ever tested it - I use the frame mounted hitch - but the ratings on both are listed as the same. Kinda makes you wonder.
Reply:[QUOTE. So does it matter? Is it worth $150-200 for a receiver hitch? [/QUOTE]Absolutely!  Not even a remote doubt.  Bumber hitches are fine for very light hauling. You are increasing your carrying capacity, do yourself a favour and increase your pulling structure, for a host of reasons, safety first.
Reply:OK, I'm a believer. I ordered a new trailer hitch for my truck (see picture 1).The second picture is my new trailer. When I bought it, it had open 12" rails around the front and sides. I added the 3'x'5' front panel, and the 2' side sections. I filled them with 3/4" expanded metal. Let me know what you think.Thanks for all the previous comments, recommendations, and suggestions!By the way, my little truck did good today pulling the trailer full of mulch and the truck bed full of mulch (2000#). I think the trailer hitch helped. Attached ImagesBurt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Very nice!!  Keep your loads up front where they belong! CYACity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny