You can categorize travel trailers into single axle or multi-axle as they react differently to not being level. How different travel trailers are affected This can cause the rear tires to skid and this might not be enough braking power to effectively stop the trailer. If the trailer is ‘nose down’ (overloaded at the front) then the rear tires will not have has much pressure on the road. Each tire will have a different pressure pressing down on the road. The braking performance of an unlevel trailer will be severely affected. The tires on the overloaded axel will look flatter than the other axel, if this occurs distribute the weight more evenly. If the front of the trailer is overloaded this will cause the front axle to be overloaded too, you may be able to tell just from looking at the trailer. Nobody want a tire blow out, but make sure that you always have a spare and the equipment to fit it just incase. The increased pressure will also cause excessive heat which can increase the chances of a tire blowout. This will cause excessive wear to the tires on that axel as they have more pressure on them. Tire WearĪn unloaded trailer will have an uneven weight distribution and will put more weight on one axle than the other. Trailer sway can also happen if the trailer is level, but it is far more likely in an unlevel trailer. This will cause the back to lift and have less traction in the rear tires. If the front of the trailer is overloaded, then it will be lower at the front and will pull the hitch down. The trailer could be lifting the hitch up damaging it and will have less traction on its front tires. This affects the weight distribution and can cause sway. If there is too much weight in back of the trailer, this will cause the back to be lower than the front. When the trailer starts to sway from side to side, also called fishtailing, it can move the vehicle with it, causing the vehicle to lose control. If the trailer is not level, or has too much weight at front or back then this can lead to the trailer swaying. The weight distribution plays an important role in keeping the trailer stable. Trailers are designed to be really stable, but only when they’re level. Therefore making it harder to pull and costing a lot more in fuel. If the trailer is not level then the aerodynamics will be off.Īn unlevel trailer will mean that the air is hitting the trailer at the wrong angle and not seamlessly flowing over it, but forcefully pushing it back.
Travel trailers are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible to reduce fuel consumption when towed. Not to mention the repair costs because the undercarriage of your trailer has been hitting the road every 5 seconds. The back of the trailer can also hit the ground and cause substantial damage by being dragged along.Īpart from you not being able to control the trailer, if this happens it will also use more fuel, as you’re flying a really heavy kite behind your truck. If it is unlevel and the front of the trailer is too high air will be pushed underneath and cause it to lift. You do not want your trailer to leave the ground. Every trailer is designed to be able to withstand small bumps that occur in the road, but if it’s uneven then this could cause the trailer to leave the ground, or hit and scrape the tarmac. This is a biggie, you want your trailer to have proper ground clearance so it doesn’t get damaged going over bumps in the road. Let’s delve into the reasons: Ground Clearance An un-level trailer can run the risk of controlling the towing vehicle instead of the other way round. There are lots of reasons why your trailer should be level when towing, and most of them are safety related. Why Should A Trailer Be Level When Towing? I will delve into why it is so important for your trailer to be level whilst towing. Making sure your trailer is level means that the tires and brakes will wear evenly, thus saving you from expensive repairs. Make sure that the trailer is level so all tires are on the ground and you can maneuver and brake effectively.
If it’s not level then it can sway, will have poor braking, and can even leave the ground, this makes for a dangerous driving experience. It’s really important that your trailer is level when towing. The forgotten toothbrush is nothing compared to a forgotten trailer 🙂īut you need to make sure that your trailer is hitched correctly before setting off, which leads us to our question, should a trailer be level when towing? Making sure your trailer is attached to your towing vehicle is the most important thing you need to do before setting off.
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