Where Should the Heavy Weight Be on a Trailer

Updated by: Amber S.

Last updated: 9/17/2024

Est. read time: 5 mins.

Where Should the Heavy Weight Be on a Trailer?

If you're researching where to put the heavy weight on your trailer, you probably already know that proper loading is a huge part of safe towing. All the suspension upgrades or weight distribution systems in the world won't fix an improperly loaded trailer.

In general, trailers should be loaded with heavier gear toward the front and evenly from side to side. When a trailer is loaded too lightly at the front, the back may act like a pendulum, causing swaying or fishtailing at high speeds. This can result in dangerous situations such as jackknifing or flipping. By placing the heavy weight up front, you increase the tongue weight and help keep your trailer in line with your tow vehicle.

That said, there's actually a specific weight percentage that should be at the front of your trailer: it's called tongue weight, and it's crucial to safe towing.

Achieving the Proper Tongue Weight
Tips for Loading Your Trailer

Achieving the Proper Tongue Weight

There are a lot of generic rules of thumb out there, such as the one that says you should place about 60% of the total weight toward the front of the trailer, ahead of the axle(s), with the remaining 40% in the back. This is a good starting point, but the real key to proper trailer loading is tongue weight. Tongue weight is the constant downward force a trailer tongue applies to the ball of a hitch.

Proper tongue weight is 10% to 15% of your loaded trailer weight. (For 5th-wheel and gooseneck trailers, this is called pin weight, and you'll want this number to be from 15% to 25%.)

This means you need to 1) find your loaded trailer weight, and 2) make sure 10% to 15% of its weight is up front and pressing down on your hitch ball.

You can measure tongue weight by either using a tongue weight scale, a bathroom scale, or a commercial scale depending on your trailer. Read more about each of those methods here.

Tips for Loading Your Trailer

Here are some additional guidelines to follow when loading your trailer:

Distribute Weight Evenly Side to Side: Along with putting the heaviest items near the front, distribute weight evenly from side to side. An unbalanced load can cause the trailer to lean, which affects tire wear and handling.
Tie Down Heavy Items: Secure heavy items in place so they don’t shift while driving. Shifting weight can lead to trailer sway or cause items to become damaged. (Learn more about choosing the right tie-downs here.
Avoid Overloading: Know your trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and your vehicle’s towing capacity. Overloading your trailer or vehicle can lead to poor handling, tire blowouts, and potentially damage to your vehicle’s drivetrain or transmission. This article helps you determine how much trailer you can tow, breaks down GVWR and other weight ratings, and shows you how to find them on your trailer.

Final Thoughts

You're towing heavy stuff—making sure it's properly loaded will go a long way in keeping you and others safe on the road. If you have any questions about loading your trailer, hit us up in the comments!

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