Now that you’ve got your trailer, you must be wondering how to safely load cargo on it. If you haven’t tried placing anything on top of your trailer, make sure to read through this article to learn the fundamental rules.
If you have a single item to haul, there aren’t many factors to keep in mind. However, if you are moving house and have multiple bulky packages waiting outside your trailer, things get more complicated.
Without further ado, here are the basic steps that will help you load a trailer correctly.
Key Takeaways
- Before loading your trailer, ensure it is parked on a flat surface.
- Always start loading the bulky and heavy items before smaller and lighter ones.
- Adhere to the 60/40 rule, where 60% of the weight is placed in front of the axle, and the remaining is distributed towards the rear end of the trailer.
- Keep your trailer’s tongue weight between 10% to 15%.
How to Load a Trailer Properly
Here are 7 steps that will guide you through loading and strapping the cargo trailers to prevent swaying.
Park Your Trailer on a Level Surface
Parking your trailers on a flat surface will prevent cargo from shifting and tipping to the side. Hence, before you begin loading it, make sure your trailer is placed on a level surface. Not only will it be easier to secure the cargo, but it will also be easier to keep every item precisely where you want it to be.
Stabilize Your Trailer with Chocks
As you load bulky and light items, your trailer may move under the weight. To prevent it from happening, you should use wheel chocks. Chocking the wheel will help the trailer stay out and stop it from rolling.
The final step of loading your trailer is hitching it up to your vehicle, but for maximum safety, you can also secure it before loading cargo. Make sure your vehicle is in park, and the emergency brake is engaged.
Follow the 60/40 Rule
Now that your trailer is steady and ready, it is time to load it. To do that, you need to know how to properly distribute the weight and prevent your trailer from tilting.
It’s always a good idea to sketch a plan for your trailer and follow the 60/40 rule before loading. The rule dictates that 60% of the weight should be placed in front of the axle, and the remaining 40% should be behind it.
The 60/40 plan is exactly how you can load the trailer to prevent swaying.
Start with Heavy Items First
Once you have a good picture of where each item should go, you can start loading the cargo. Always start with the heaviest and bulkiest items. This way, your largest pieces will certainly fit and have enough space for strapping them.
As the previous rule for weight distribution suggests, the majority of your items will go to the front of the axle.
Secure the Heavy Items
Before you can continue with lightweight items, you first need to tie down the heavy items. You can do so with a rope, chain, or ratchet strap. After strapping the load, make sure to check where the cargo is firmly attached to the trailer and won’t come loose during transit.
Once you are confident the load is tightly secured, you can continue with light cargo.
Load the Lightweight Cargo
Lighter cargo is easier to load once the heavy items are already on the trailer. You will see how much remaining space there is and whether you are adhering to the 60/40 rule.
Smaller items like equipment and supplies can go over the heavier items or by their sides, but always make sure the cargo is placed safely and won’t fall over during transit.
If you have a trailer cover, use it for maximum protection.
Hitch Up Your Trailer and Check the Lights
If you haven’t yet hooked the trailer to your vehicle, it’s the last step of the loading process. Finally, you should check the lights, turn signals, and brakes before embarking on the road.
How to Load a Double-Axle Trailer
Double-axle trailers are obviously bigger, allowing for loading bigger and heavier cargo. The steps for loading bigger trailers are exactly the same as single-axle trailers. You should also start by parking your trailer on a flat surface, starting with heavier items, followed by smaller ones.
You may require more strapping equipment, but the 60/40 rule is still relevant for these types of trailers. Always remember to keep your trailer’s tongue weight between 10% and 15% – otherwise, it will be difficult to maneuver.
Drive with Caution
Driving may be something you do every day, but you shouldn’t let your guard down when transporting cargo on a trailer. You should lower your speed and be more careful when turning and overtaking.
Having a toolkit with the tools you may need for your trailer is also recommended because you never know what may happen on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct way to load a trailer?
The correct way to load a trailer is to place cargo on a level surface, start with heavy items, and finish with smaller ones. The weight should be distributed according to the 60/40 rule we’ve described above.
Where should I put the most weight when loading a trailer?
The most weight should be put in front of the axle, toward the front of the trailer. This way your trailer will be more stable when driving.
How to load a trailer to prevent swaying?
Swaying occurs when most of the cargo is placed behind the axle. Hence, 60% of your items should be closer to the vehicle rather than the end of your trailer.
Sources
https://www.wikihow.com/Load-a-Trailer
https://burquip.co.za/news/tips-on-how-to-load-an-open-trailer/
