[A/S] Re: towing

["Jim Clark" <jec1938@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Everyone seems to have a fair grip on the idea, but let me add...

You have to have a balance of forces around any given point ( in this 
case the hitch ball) or the whole thing will rotate in space...

The force pushing up on the front axle of the tow times the distance 
between the front axle and the ball plus the force pushing up on the 
rear axle of the tow times the distance between the rear axle and the 
ball must equal the force pushing up on the trailer axles times the 
distance between the trailer axles and the ball.... distance being 
measured in the same units in each case...foot pounds would be a nice 
choice...remember the last time you used a pry bar... force times 
distance = force times distance....if you unbalance the distances, 
you will unbalance the forces... the force you need to exert on the 
long distance side of the pry bar will be less than the force exerted 
on the short side... hopefully the greater force is enough to make 
the whole thing rotate around the balance point in this case....


Fun stuff....

Jim