General Safety Infomation
Tongue Weight as a Percentage of Loaded Trailer Weight
Type of Hitch Percentage
Ball Hitch (or Bumper Hitch)
17
10–15% for large
trailers
6-10% for smaller
utility trailers
Gooseneck 20–25%
Uneven left / right load distribution can cause tire, wheel, axle or structural failure.
Be sure your trailer is evenly loaded left / right. Towing stability also depends on
keeping the center of gravity as low as possible.
! WARNING
Improper tongue weight (load distribution) can result in loss of
control of the trailer, leading to death or serious injury.
Make certain that tongue weight is within the allowable range.
Be sure to:
Distribute the load front-to-rear to provide proper tongue weight
(see chart). For dump trailers, a flowable load should be evenly
distributed throughout the body.
Distribute the load evenly, right and left.
Keep the center of gravity low.
SHIFTING CARGO
Since the trailer “ride” can be bumpy and rough, you must secure your cargo so
that it does not shift while the trailer is being towed.
! WARNING
A shifting load can result in failure, or to loss of control of the
trailer, and can lead to death or serious injury.
You must tie down all loads with proper sized fasteners, ropes,
straps, etc. to prevent the load from shifting while traveling.
If the door latch is equipped with a catch that has a hole for a linchpin, use a
linchpin to prevent the door latch from opening.