Yep, that's basically my understanding also.
I’m not a trailering pro by any means. As I said, there could be many reasons the trailer was loaded the way it was and you confirmed at least one. My reply was meant to be informative, not critical. I’m glad you took it that way.I like your style Meanderthal-- very diplomatic!
You are absolutely right -- the trailer was loaded incorrectly -- especially if we were planning to drive anywhere.
Here's my story:
A) We were originally planning to load some larger logs from the base of the tree on the rear of the trailer, to balance the load.
B) Then we decided that it might be best to make 2 (or more) trips.
At that point I did not feel like redistributing the load just to pull the trailer up our lane. Our '97 RAV4 used to pull a fully loaded trailer through there (maybe not quite so wet) with no problem, so I didn't think there would be a problem.
But yeah, in hindsight moving some of the wood toward the back of the trailer might have helped. It's really hard to say. With the rear locked and the front open with no traction control, the additional weight on the hitch might have helped -- even though it made the front end lighter.
I'd do some testing but we're thinking it's best to let that area dry out before we get the rest of the wood.
Also, those larger logs are really heavy and our hand truck tires (replacements, only a couple years old) lose air quickly. Side note: Has anyone tried to buy decent replacement tires for a wheelbarrow or hand truck recently? It seems like they are all made from recycled rubber bands.
Our landscaping trailer is the only thing I've ever towed. I know the basics, like: do not exceed the GVWR of the trailer; make sure the load is balanced, both side-to-side and front-to-back, with about 10% of the load on the tongue; make sure the tires are properly inflated.
In my high school days I had a ‘79 Datsun P/U and I worked at a grocery store. I was asked by my manager to go to another store, across Phoenix, to pick up some soda from that store because we were low/out of it. I dutifully did as I was asked. I can remember driving back with bed of the truck loaded with cases of soda and the front end being super light. These were the days before I knew, or thought about, this sort of thing. Definitely a life lesson moment, lucky for me it didn’t turn into a disaster.
I had a 1985 Toyota Truck for about 25 years. It was the stripped model -- no radio or even passenger side mirror(!) -- but it was a good little truck. IIRC, the cargo capacity was 1,400+ lbs. It could carry that much easily, but I did have to be careful about weight distribution. I recall one time I got a load of gravel from the quarry and the front end was so light that the steering and braking were affected. I made it home OK (rural roads) but never did that again. We began using a piece of plywood to direct the stone up toward the cab when the loader dumped it. That worked well.
I’ll see your F150 and raise you a Jetta:I had a 1985 Toyota Truck for about 25 years. It was the stripped model -- no radio or even passenger side mirror(!) -- but it was a good little truck. IIRC, the cargo capacity was 1,400+ lbs. It could carry that much easily, but I did have to be careful about weight distribution. I recall one time I got a load of gravel from the quarry and the front end was so light that the steering and braking were affected. I made it home OK (rural roads) but never did that again. We began using a piece of plywood to direct the stone up toward the cab when the loader dumped it. That worked well.
That's an extreme example of course, as is our RV with 8 feet between the rear hitch carrier and the rear axle (mentioned above).
In this case, with the BS and trailer of wood, there is much less distance from the hitch to the rear axle -- so a much lower percentage of the tongue weight is removed from the front axle.. The largest logs are directly over the trailer axle (or close to it). The remainder are between the hitch and the axle, but the weight is centered closer to the trailer axle. Had I tossed some of the wood toward the rear of the trailer before my wife pulled it through that mud, I seriously doubt it would have made any difference. BTW, she said there was no noticeable difference in the ride height, front or rear. IOW, it did not look like this F-150:
Without the trailer, I'm sure it would have made it through there with no problem -- some wheelspin but not getting stuck.
Also, as I mentioned above, more aggressive tires would obviously make a big difference. The OE tires just loaded up with mud and became slicks.
Thank you for the pictures! It is always nice to see what the Bronco Sport can do when it is put in action! Those ruts are pretty deep, but that did not stop it!We've been cutting up a downed ash tree in our backyard, and loaded some of the logs into our landscaping trailer to haul them up to the wood shed.
It was the first time we used the BS BL to tow the trailer, but it wasn't a full load, so we figured it would be no problem.
We didn't realize how sloppy the one section was, so we didn't think to put it in 'Mud & Ruts' instead of 'Normal'. My wife was driving and I was spotting for her. As soon as the tires started to spin, she stopped. I had her put it in 'Mud & Ruts' and lock the rear. No go. It was still spinning.
I noticed a lot of wheelspin in the front -- the traction control did not seem to be working. Maybe it doesn't in 'Mud & Ruts'? She was able to back up and try again, and that time it made it.
I was glad because the next step was going to be unloading the trailer.
My wife took a few photos. The one with our dog in it is looking southwest toward the yard where the ash tree fell.
We've been cutting up a downed ash tree in our backyard, and loaded some of the logs into our landscaping trailer to haul them up to the wood shed.
It was the first time we used the BS BL to tow the trailer, but it wasn't a full load, so we figured it would be no problem.
We didn't realize how sloppy the one section was, so we didn't think to put it in 'Mud & Ruts' instead of 'Normal'. My wife was driving and I was spotting for her. As soon as the tires started to spin, she stopped. I had her put it in 'Mud & Ruts' and lock the rear. No go. It was still spinning.
I noticed a lot of wheelspin in the front -- the traction control did not seem to be working. Maybe it doesn't in 'Mud & Ruts'? She was able to back up and try again, and that time it made it.
I was glad because the next step was going to be unloading the trailer.
My wife took a few photos. The one with our dog in it is looking southwest toward the yard where the ash tree fell.
Next test is to drive it out there to Iowa to visit family and find some fields that aren't planted yet to drive through.
That's about right! Lucy is 50% Rottweiler and 50% Boerboel (South African Mastiff). She is incredibly strong. Maybe a harness like this:
So she actually takes you for a walk?That's about right! Lucy is 50% Rottweiler and 50% Boerboel (South African Mastiff). She is incredibly strong. Maybe a harness like this:
And a Bubba Rope:
That's definitely the case with my wife, who doesn't weigh much more than Lucy.
I prefer underheight for my weight myself…
