Why I put weight on the BACK of my trailer.

Let me start off by saying I'm not trying to start an argument on how to load trailers. Just want to show what works for me.

Here's how I load my truck and trailer:

Stuff I need to bring home to breakdown goes in the bed of the truck. It can get pretty heavy. I do not have the time to break down items on site, so bringing it home is the only option.

Ferrous materials go in the front 1/2 of the trailer. Usually a lot of sheet metal boxes, rods, poles.

Non ferrous goes on the back 1/2 of the trailer. Usually a lot of underground wire (heavy), aluminum overhead wire, and at the very back of the trailer my buckets for various grades of copper.

When it's time to unload, the buckets come off first by hand (a hand job lol), then hit the big scale and unload the underground wire with forks.

Then hit the scale again to get the underground wire weight.

Then dump or mag off the ferrous material and hit the scale one last time to get the ferrous material weight.

Sometimes the process varies, but generally that's how it goes.

The scale at the yard is a small one where you weight the truck first, then pull ahead and weight the trailer next. A small scale is actually what the big rig drivers prefer, because you can weigh each axel ( or pair of axels) individually rather than weigh the whole rig at once. Most of the weigh stations around here have the small scales too.

So here's my weight ticket:
My pickup has a GVWR of 11,500. I knew I was coming in pretty close with everything on the truck and the tongue weight.

Truck came in at 11,320. Trailer came in at 7890.
(First weight is truck, second weight is trailer).

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/...psaahd2s3n.jpg

So now, with everything off the BACK of the trailer, and just the ferrous material on the front of the trailer, my pickup comes in overweight!!!

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2at3i1ug.jpg

@ 11,610 and a GVWR of 11,500 if I got pulled over on the road it's $10/lb overweight. So running down the road with all the weight on the front of the trailer I'd be looking at an $1100 fine! (110lbs X $10/lb).

On my trailer, the way the wheels are positioned, the trailer acts almost like a teeter-totter. We took 2000lbs off the back of the trailer, and the pickup weight increases by 300lbs.

Now here's the weight after all the ferrous goods are off the front of the trailer:

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/...psp1xtox52.jpg

Pickup at 10,810, trailer at 4,450lbs. Back to being legal on the road.

So that's what works for me. Obviously don't be too heavy on the back of the trailer, or you'll get the tail wagging the dog. If you've ever experienced that you never forget it.

Another thing about towing is you don't tromp on the gas like you are in a race. Gradually increase your speed (within reason) and make sure everything is running down the road properly.

You'll get no argument from me. Glad my yard has a large scale. I don't pull a trailer, but have seen some pretty stupid people out there that are clueless. I don't haul in ferrous much, I just let the pile keep building, but I got the space to do that. I tell the grand kids that it's their inheritance. Lol. You should see the looks!
Sounds like a good work out for you when you go to the yard. I have been looking into trucks with a dump bed. When it's time to move my steel I don't want to have to unload by hand. I'd guess I've got 20+ ton now and its constantly growing. And I've already got the OK to buy one from the boss (wife). Love that woman!

pjost- Sounds like you have a pretty good working relationship with your yard(s). I'm glad they work with you. I think if you tried all that back and forth at the west side dink (compared to the new east side one) steel yard in Soo Foo, the workers and the other scrappers would be throwing tomatoes at you. The layout and size of that yard is just miserable...

We sell a lot of straw on the farm. You'd be amazed at the stupid stunts people pull. We had someone leave, towing 6000# with a little Ranger. If you have a larger truck, you can get away with more. My last trailer load to the yard was very tongue heavy. Our K3500 can compensate for that a lot better than an F150 could. For a small truck, I'd strongly recommend a weight distribution hitch. They really make a difference. On a heavier truck, there won't be as much squat to correct in the first place.

A good relationship with the yard is well worth more than a few extra dollars per ton....

You have a great system. I just wish I had enough non ferrous to fill half the trailer. These days anything loaded on the trailer is hauled home for the stockpile. It is starting to look like a scrap metal yard. Most of it is sitting at farms hoping some day I might cash in.