Importance of tongue weight

Excellent example of the importance of the correct tongue weight while towing:

http://i.imgur.com/dYz2tCE.gifv

 

Sorry:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/towing-you-must-see-this-one-weird-trick-doctors-hate.454145/

 

The setup in that video is unrealistic in order to increase the dramatic effect. Simply put, that trailer is balanced perfectly neutral without any weights on it. When the weight is put on the BACK of the trailer, it is actually LIFTING UP on the tow hitch.

There is a relationship between load balance and stability, that also involves SPEED. Simply put, if the way a trailer is balanced makes it unstable at a particular speed, you just have to SLOW DOWN in order to stabilize it. And to flip that statement over, if a trailer's balance seems STABLE at some particular speed, increase that speed too much and it WILL become unstable.

In europe, they specify a 5% tongue weight, and a towing speed limit of 80 kph. Stability is just fine. Try to take a trailer at 5% up to 110+ kph though, and it could become incredibly unstable. In north america, there is usually NO special towing speed limit, and the tongue weight is given under the assumption that the driver will go stupidly fast. Hence 10%.

There's nothing wrong with slowing down. More stability, better load moving capability, better control, less fuel consumption, MUCH improved safety.