The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Questions about trailering from a newbie.

Keith True · 07-27-2010, 08:30 PM

What are you towing it with? The tow vehicle is more important than the trailer to me.The tow vehicle I have seen the most problems with is a Ford Explorer.They are just a Ranger(Mazda)with a long cab and usually a bigger motor.I don't feel they have the stance or the wheelbase to handle a car trailer.The most common complaint seems to be,I used it all last year,just fine,then all of a sudden the trailer started to whip.Guys that are experienced with them say to nail the throttle,that straightens them out.A lot of people think that if they have enough power they are all set.An F150 is big enough to handle a Model A trailer fine,as will a full size Dodge or GM.There is a reason U-Haul will not rent you a trailer if your vehicle is on their no-go list.You can get a pretty good idea of your tongue weight with a bathroom scale.Hook the trailer up,load the car,and jack the trailer up off the ball with the scale under the post jack.You will be a little off because of the distance between the jack and the ball,but it will not be enough to bother.By the looks of your trailer if you load up with the front bumper just shy of the front cross header on the trailer I bet you will be close.

07-27-2010, 08:30 PM	#8
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,693	Re: Questions about trailering from a newbie. What are you towing it with? The tow vehicle is more important than the trailer to me.The tow vehicle I have seen the most problems with is a Ford Explorer.They are just a Ranger(Mazda)with a long cab and usually a bigger motor.I don't feel they have the stance or the wheelbase to handle a car trailer.The most common complaint seems to be,I used it all last year,just fine,then all of a sudden the trailer started to whip.Guys that are experienced with them say to nail the throttle,that straightens them out.A lot of people think that if they have enough power they are all set.An F150 is big enough to handle a Model A trailer fine,as will a full size Dodge or GM.There is a reason U-Haul will not rent you a trailer if your vehicle is on their no-go list.You can get a pretty good idea of your tongue weight with a bathroom scale.Hook the trailer up,load the car,and jack the trailer up off the ball with the scale under the post jack.You will be a little off because of the distance between the jack and the ball,but it will not be enough to bother.By the looks of your trailer if you load up with the front bumper just shy of the front cross header on the trailer I bet you will be close.