Where to position Spyder on a trailer?

[machead]

Howdy,

I just purchased an Aluma UT14 trailer to haul my Spyder behind our motorhome. Got a good deal on it.

My question for the gurus out there is this. Since the trailer is much longer (14') than the Spyder, should I place the Spyder all the way to the front of the trailer (and therefore closer to the tongue and tongue jack which is rated at 800 lbs) or place further back and over the trailer's axle?

--Allen

[Zip]

Over axle

[UtahPete]

Howdy, I just purchased an Aluma UT14 trailer to haul my Spyder behind our motorhome. Got a good deal on it. My question for the gurus out there is this. Since the trailer is much longer (14') than the Spyder, should I place the Spyder all the way to the front of the trailer (and therefore closer to the tongue and tongue jack which is rated at 800 lbs) or place further back and over the trailer's axle? --Allen

The right answer is 'wherever it gives you the required tongue weight'. Tongue weight should be 10-15% of the total load. The trailer is 800# and figure the bike in round numbers is 1000#, so you want the loaded tongue weight to be 180-270#. A bathroom scale should be adequate for checking this out.

[Bob Denman]

Actually, I think that the top of the trailer is the best place to put it!
Seriously: give yourself a fair amount of weight on the hitch.

Theory says to make sure that the balance point is about 10% forward of the center point on the trailer...
Set yourself up with about two-hundred pounds of hitch weight, and you'll be good to go!

[Chupaca]

If you use a bathroom scale best block it up to hitch height... if at floor level your throwing the combined weight forward...

[RinconRyder]

Look at the label on the towing vehicle trailer hitch for recommended tongue weight and adjust accordingly.

[UtahPete]

Look at the label on the towing vehicle trailer hitch for recommended tongue weight and adjust accordingly.

He had said the hitch is rated at 800#, but I'm pretty he doesn't need to weight the tongue that much. I doubt the trailer tongue is rated that high, actually, but I could be wrong.