[A/S] towing

[lufr1946@xxxxxxxxxxx]

When a manufacturer designs a vehicle, they set the weights for the 
front and rear axles according to several factors. These are variable 
to a certain degree. It is simple enough to understand that if you 
add weight to the rear of a vehicle, you lose weight on the front 
axle. How much is too much? In general if a trailer has 450lbs. of 
drawbar weight, a load equalizing or weight distributing hitch (same 
thing) will when properly set up put 250lbs. on the rear axle of the 
tow unit, 200lbs on the trailer axle (axles) and will ADD 100lbs to 
the front axle. People who tow large heavy trailers without a proper 
hitch are just plain lucky. Buying a size bigger truck don't change 
the #s. Also their have been load equalizing hithes avalible for 
surge brake trailers for as long as any other kind of trailer. The 
towing advantage to a semi or fifth wheel is the fact that they are 
pinned ahead of the rear axle which automatically adds weight to the 
front axle.
 
                                              Signed
                                              An old trucker