How to Properly Load Your Cargo Trailer for Safe Travels
You use your cargo trailer for a variety of projects and hauling needs, and you probably rely on it to do so safely and efficiently. While a good trailer can provide all those things, they’re only as efficient as you make them. So if you aren’t safely loading all your cargo, your trailer may not be able to compensate for this and you could wind up driving a very serious road hazard.
That’s why Double B Trailer Sales has provided some tips for safely loading your cargo trailer. Check them out for yourself and let us know if you need any additional help by contacting one of our locations in Centerville or Hurricane, Utah, serving Salt Lake City and St. George.
Check Your GVWR
Firstly, you need to make sure your tow vehicle can actually handle the weight of a loaded cargo trailer. There are a few numbers you’ll need to know for this, but the most important number is the gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR. This is the maximum amount of weight your entire towing unit can be in order to safely travel from one place to the next. This will include the weight of the tow vehicle, any towed vehicles (so the cargo trailer), cargo, and passengers. This number is usually assigned by the tow vehicle manufacturer.
Using this information, you can figure out how much your cargo trailer can weigh before it's overloaded as well, and decide if it fits well within the limits of the GVWR. Try not to cut things too close with this one, as you’ll want plenty of wiggle room for maximum safety.
Perform an Inspection
Make sure you schedule in time for a proper inspection before you hit the road. It’s much easier to spot and take care of problems before you start moving than it is to find out the hard way that your trailer is compromised in some way.
This inspection should include, but is not limited to:
- A tire pressure check
- Hitching check
- Proper towing chain placement
- Light/electrical check
- Overall inspection for any signs of excessive wear and tear or damage
The Importance of Weight
Weight is about more than making sure the tow vehicle can accommodate your loaded trailer. All the cargo on board needs to be properly distributed to avoid placing too much stress on one side of the trailer. And, of course, you don’t want to overload the trailer with too much weight, so make sure you understand its limits.
Maintaining a Proper Weight Distribution
To achieve proper weight distribution, you’ll want to start by investing in a weight distribution hitch. This is not only essential for staying safe and preventing trailer sway, but it’s actually a legal requirement after you start pulling a certain amount of weight, depending on what kind of tow vehicle you’re using.
But don’t rely solely on the hitch. Try to load the cargo trailer in such a way that everything inside it is still properly distributed. This means about 60% of the overall weight should be towards the front half of the trailer, near the hitch, where it’ll be most stable, and an even distribution from side to side.
Center Heavy Objects
There is one exception to the above rule and that is if you have particularly heavy items. These need to be centered over the axles to provide it with the most support and avoid adding strain to parts of the cargo trailer that aren’t designed to handle it.
While all these tips are vital for a safe hauling experience, it’s just as important to choose a good, sturdy cargo trailer to begin with. That’s where Double B Trailer Sales comes in. We’ve got a wide range of cargo trailers for sale that can help you with any project. Check them out for yourself and then contact us about any models that interest you. We’re happy to help all those from Centerville or Hurricane, Salt Lake City, and St. George, Utah.