Where to Start When Trying to Determine Axle Placement on a Boat Trailer
Updated 10/05/2015 | Published 10/03/2015
Question:
Is the 60/40 rule measuring the trailer only or is it to include the hitch also? Im making a pontoon trailer out of a mobile home frame with 3 axles. the boat is 32foot long
asked by: Paul
Expert Reply:
The 60/40 rule is a great guideline for setting up axle placement on a trailer. But in reality the goal is to place the axles where the trailer will have 10-15 percent of the total trailer weight as tongue weight. The distance you would need to measure is from the center of the coupler ball to the back of the trailer.
To determine the location for the front and rear hangers on your tandem axle trailer you will first need to make sure that you have the correct center point for the center axle.
The center point of your center axle typically needs to be located where you will have 60 percent of the frame of the trailer in front of the center of the equalizer hanger and 40 percent behind the center of the equalizer hanger. For example, if the trailers frames length is 18 feet, then the center-line location for the equalizer hanger will be 10.8 feet from the front of the trailer and 7.2 feet from the back.
Since you have a boat trailer the 60/40 rule won't typically apply for you. If the weight of your boat is more towards the back then going with 50/50 might be a better starting point.
This is where to start with when picking out axle locations for axle trailer. You will need to determine the tongue weight of the trailer and then check out the picture I attached if the tongue weight is anything other than 10 percent of the total trailer weight.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
3-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 4,000-lb Trailer Axles - 25-1/4" Long
- Trailer Leaf Springs
- Double Eye Springs
- 9/16 Inch Eye
- Nylon Bushings
- 4000 lbs
- 1-3/4 Inch Wide
- 3 Leaf
- 25-1/4 Inch Long
- Standard Grade
- etrailer
more information >
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