Where to Measure From When Determining Axle Center on Trailer

Updated 02/09/2016 | Published 02/07/2016

Question:

build a 12 foot x 7.5 trailor with a drop hitch that extends 5 feet from deck total length 17 ft . deck an most of nose are to be enclosed with walls an roof walls 7.5 high. ice shack no significant weight inside. if use a axle system do I measure from tire spindle or where axle fastens to frame an pivots for lowering to get 40 60 splitt.

asked by: Ray S

Helpful Expert Reply:

Sounds like you are trying to place the axle of your trailer so that you get 60 percent of the trailer in front and 40 percent to the rear. You would want to use the axle center as the dividing point for the frame dimensions. Ideally the 60/40 split is a starting point and from there you determine the tongue weight of the trailer in hopes of it being 10-15 percent of the total trailer weight. If so, then you are good to go.

If not then you need to adjust the axle location.

expert reply by: Jameson C