Mower towing

So I have a trailer which weighs about 1000 pounds. In the pics is a mower about 800-900 pounds. Well within my pull rating

Truck is a 2012 dcsb sport with 130k miles. I have c rated tires with timbren bump stops.

The drive was ok. A bit rough but it's towing in a small truck so of course it's going to struggle a bit.

I am curious to see what would help the ride or the suspension droop. I don't tow all the time but trying to keep the truck from struggling so much with certain loads.

Thanks in advance

 

That shouldn’t really be a big deal. You might try putting the mower on the other direction or not going quite so far to even out the weight distribution a bit better, I’d guess you are a bit tongue heavy.

 

Exactly! As much of the weight as you can get right over the axle of the trailer.

If that doesn't help you could always add a leaf to the rear springs.

 

Check your tongue weight. You don't want too little or too much, but you really want to err on the side of too much. Too little can lead to sway, which is dangerous.


And short of adding power and more brakes, there isn't really anything that will make it struggle less. That load really isn't much though, technically its light enough to go in the bed even.

 

Weight distribution is a tricky game to play without a scale to measure tongue weight. If it were me, I'd rather err on being too far forward than too far back. While it does look like you are a little heavy on the tongue, the truck would still squat with proper trailer weighting.

Here are the solutions I discovered while researching for my trailer:

Weight Distribution Hitch: PRO- considered the safest of the solutions, properly redistributes weight across all axles, resisting ill effects like countersteer and sway. CON - Hitching/unhitching is a pain in the ass, especially for a utility trailer. Backing up can be a pain depending on type of distribution system.

Airbags: PRO - infinitely adjustable to the load, you can level no matter whats in the bed or trailer. CON- youre constantly adjusting. Its very easy to overload the truck if you arent careful.

Add a leaf/helper springs: PRO: Maintenance free, No need to adjust after install, set it and forget it solution. Inexpensive. CON- rougher ride when empty.

Sumo Springs: PRO - Inexpensive. Easy to install. A variety of models for choosing your weight range. CON: rougher ride when empty. Not at all adjustable.

Roadmaster Active Suspension: PRO- Its like a helper spring, but easily adjustable to find that sweet spot, especially if you are commonly towing the same weight repeatedly. Don't have to constantly air up/down when dropping the trailer like with airbags. Reduces axle hop. Reduces body lean. CON- more expensive than a helper spring. Not to be used if youre into off-road flexing.




I personally went with the roadmaster. Most people here swear by the airbags or sumo springs.

 

A bathroom scale with a couple of blocks to halve the load is an easy way to check tongue weight: https://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-determine-trailer-tongue-weight.aspx

And then you want it about 9-15% of the total trailer weight.

 

Mine (when towing ):
'16 Tacoma Off Road Access Cab. SnugTop canopy.
Chalet A-Frame Pop up trailer. Typical weight in use, 2100-2400lbs . Another 200-400lbs cargo in bed.
Tongue weight:275lbs +/-.
Suspension upgrade: Sumo Springs ONLY .
Results:
Improved sag when towing: 90%.
Attitude of truck when Not towing: slight positive rake.
Did the Sumos change the ride quality when not towing or bed laden ? Not in my opinion .
Not in my opinion. Did I mention not in my opinion?

 

Going to get the machine again soon. Going to load it front first and maybe not so far forward to disperse the weight over the trailer axle and Abit forward so not to get the weight behind the axle. Haven't had a chance to do some of the above ideas. Been busy

 

Can't add much to the first couple of posts. If you tow that setup often, I'd agree on reversing the ZTR and place it about where the rear tires on it are over the trailer axle, and then check your tongue weight (10% of total load or at least 150 pounds). Once you get your trailer balance right, always load it the same way. That's really not that much of a load, I routinely pull a 14' steel framed flatbed tandem axle with a small tractor with front loader and either a box blade or rototiller on back, it goes to about 2400 pounds plus the 1500 pounds for trailer. I get some squat, but the truck (2011 SR5 4x4 double cab short bed) sits level with the load behind it, on the factory springs alone .