How to load your trailer the right way?
Loading your trailer correctly is very important. Not least to avoid losing cargo, or creating unsafe situations in traffic.
As the driver of the tow vehicle, you are responsible for properly loading the trailer.
You must ensure that the load cannot shift and that no load is lost.
Here are some key points of interest.
Load distribution
To ensure safety, you should properly distributethe trailer load .
Proper distribution ensures proper drawbar pressure (+/- 50 kg) and this provides the safest situation.
Indeed, if the drawbar pressure is too high or too low, it will affect the steering ability of the towing vehicle, which can create dangers on the road.
To get a good drawbar pressure, you should distribute the load in your trailer evenly, best just above the axles.
When in doubt, it is better to put the load a little further towards the towing vehicle.
Securing your cargo
Because you don’t want to risk losing cargo along the way, or endangering other weigh users
Straps
The best way to secure cargo on the trailer is with straps.
Every trailer provides a system to which straps can be attached. This way you can secure your cargo so tightly and nothing will slide.
When buying straps, keep in mind the load capacity of the strap. This value indicates how many pounds the strap can tension.
Trailer net
Not every load is suitable for securing with straps.
If your load does not lend itself to this, you may also legally secure it with a net.
This net is attached across the entire board wall of the trailer.
A trailer net is perfectly suited for transporting garden waste, for example.
Keep in mind that the holes of the net may not be larger than the largest pieces of cargo you are transporting. You can choose between a fine-meshed net (no branches can get caught in it) or a coarse-meshed net (35mm x 35mm).
Trailer tarpaulin, flat sheet or hood
Besides nets, there are also tarpaulins to cover your load.
A tarpaulin is stretched over the entire side of the trailer, just like a net. This is suitable for loads that could escape through a net, such as gravel and sand.
In addition, a tarpaulin, unlike a net, is waterproof.
A tarpaulin cannot be fastened over the board wall; you need a corresponding metal frame (scaffold).
Protruding load
Sometimes your load consists of parts that protrude beyond the trailer.
Without additional signaling, a load may protrude a maximum of 1 meter behind the trailer.
If your load protrudes more than 1 meter, you must install additional lighting in the form of a lighting bar.
In addition, of course, it is prohibited to have sharp loads protruding.
Some tips:
- Never overload your trailer. This is because it affects your braking ability and thus road safety.
- Stick to the maximum speed allowed on the road. This will make you less likely to do maneuvers that endanger the load.
- Purchase a nose wheel with ball pressure gauge to correctly determine load distribution.
