Trailer nose weight

[Grumpyget59]

Hi all, I'm looking for advice on trailer nose weight, the maximum tow bar nose weight for my 4 x 4 is 140kg, I've checked my trailer nose weight with a propierty nose weight scales, and I have a weight of 118kg, my trailer is a twin axle , when towing with no boat the rear wheels just make contact with the road, I want to reduce the nose weight, what's the best way, moving axles, moving winch post, the trailer is a sbs 3000, which came with the boat, a Larson 220Cabrio , dry weight of 1905kg, I tow with normally half a tank of fuel, around 30 gallons, or 113 litres, trailer weight is 890kg, any advice is much appreciated

 

[pvb]

Hi all, I'm looking for advice on trailer nose weight, the maximum tow bar nose weight for my 4 x 4 is 140kg, I've checked my trailer nose weight with a propierty nose weight scales, and I have a weight of 118kg, my trailer is a twin axle , when towing with no boat the rear wheels just make contact with the road, I want to reduce the nose weight, what's the best way, moving axles, moving winch post, the trailer is a sbs 3000, which came with the boat, a Larson 220Cabrio , dry weight of 1905kg, I tow with normally half a tank of fuel, around 30 gallons, or 113 litres, trailer weight is 890kg, any advice is much appreciated

Welcome to the forums!

If the nose weight with the boat on the trailer is 118kg, it's within the max limit so will be OK. I wouldn't think it's a good idea to start messing about with the trailer's axles. What's the minimum nose weight for your car?

 

[northwind]

Why do you want to decrease the nose weight?

 

[andsarkit]

Moving the winch post so that the boat sits slightly further back will reduce the nose weight. I would think that 118Kg is reasonable for such a heavy rig and any less could lead to snaking and loss of control under unfavourable circumstances.

 

[Stork_III]

Raise your tow ball, if possible, so the rear wheel contact the ground.

 

[ProDave]

Raise your tow ball, if possible, so the rear wheel contact the ground.

When I used to tow my boat with an obviously homemade twin axle trailer I had to do that. With the trailer spine horizontal the tow ball sat about 6" higher than the towball.
for a while I had an "upside down" drop plate with a second tow ball above the normal one (that was still used for everything else) with the upper ball just used for towing the boat.

 

[Easticks28]

A lot of research was carried out on the relationship between noseweight and the stability of an outfit .https://purehost.bath.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/147993632/JAUTO981.pdf

A recommended noseweight for towing stability is generally in the region of 5% to7% of the laden trailer weight. Seems you are pulling about 3 tonnes total, so based on this, it would appear that 118kg is well below that mark !
Do NOT reduce noseweight.
Is your tow vehicle capable of towing that weight of trailer ?

 

[Easticks28]

When I used to tow my boat with an obviously homemade twin axle trailer I had to do that. With the trailer spine horizontal the tow ball sat about 6" higher than the towball.
for a while I had an "upside down" drop plate with a second tow ball above the normal one (that was still used for everything else) with the upper ball just used for towing the boat.

If you fit a drop plate to a tow ball to reduce the height they have to be tested at the same time together at the point of manufacture otherwise they can void the insurance if the worst happens. Brink don't make drop plates so are never tested together and Witter does not recommend them, and if you tow with a commercial vehicle including pick ups they are illegal after 2014 by a Euro directive!

 

[Grumpyget59]

Welcome to the forums!

If the nose weight with the boat on the trailer is 118kg, it's within the max limit so will be OK. I wouldn't think it's a good idea to start messing about with the trailer's axles. What's the minimum nose weight for your car?

My car is a 270xdi ssangyong rexton, unfortunately they don't supply a minimum nose weight, just maximum permissible nose weight of 140kg, issue I have have is that even though the nose weight is within maximum weight, I've had to replace rear coil springs, so definitely a problem

 

[pvb]

My car is a 270xdi ssangyong rexton, unfortunately they don't supply a minimum nose weight, just maximum permissible nose weight of 140kg, issue I have have is that even though the nose weight is within maximum weight, I've had to replace rear coil springs, so definitely a problem

Easticks28 made a good point about trailer nose weight affecting stability. You should be OK with your 118kg nose weight. If your Rexton is a 270Xdi, it's not in the first flush of youth, so the fact that you've had to replace the rear springs may just be down to wear and tear.