Striking a Balance: The Essential Guide to Properly Loading a Light Trailer

Summer is coming up, and that means towing season is upon us. Most common is towing a camper.  

Before Loading 

Before you begin loading, it’s important you start on the right foot.  

First and foremost, always double-check your vehicle’s towing capacity. Going over your vehicle’s towing capacity leads to unnecessary wear on your vehicle, as well as potentially causing issues mid-transport, including losing control or brake failure.  

Moving on to your actual trailer, ensure your trailer is parked on level ground. This is essential, as proper weight distribution is key for loading up your trailer, as we will discuss below.  

Another key component to preparing your trailer for loading is ensuring your wheels are properly chocked. Place chocks in front and behind the trailer wheels to keep it from moving while loading the trailer.  

During Loading  

The golden rule for loading a trailer is that 60% of the load weight should be at the front and 40% should be at the back, with the imaginary line directly over the axle. Generally speaking, also keep your heaviest materials in front of the axle. These tips both serve to limit sway when transporting.  

Also important is keeping in mind is keeping your cargo properly secured – that means tying down your cargo with tie straps.  

Once the heavier items are placed near the front and the larger items are tied down, make sure you put any lighter cargo items on top.  

Once all your items are located, also take a moment to consider whether or not you might need a tarp or other items to protect your load.  

After Loading/Before Travel 

Finally, once your trailer is loaded up properly and your load is secured, there’s only one thing left to do: make sure your trailer is hitched and working properly. Make sure to get someone who can help you test the trailer lights to make sure they’re all in good working condition so as not to create a safety issue. 

Well, there you have it. There are lots of other facets that play into safe cargo transportation within a light trailer, but we’ll leave those for another day. Until then, happy trailer travels this summer!