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Trailer sway is a serious hazard, and is most commonly caused by uneven cargo distribution. Unfortunately, cargo trailers are especially prone to sway and are likely to tip over or damage your hitch if loaded incorrectly. To reduce sway and learn how to successfully distribute your cargo throughout your trailer, check out our helpful loading tips below.
Avoiding Sway
The best way to reduce sway and quickly load your cargo trailer is to follow the 60/40 packing method. This typically involves loading your heaviest items onto the trailer first, so they sit at the front of the bed near the hitch. As you continue to load your trailer, do your best to distribute your freight’s weight evenly across the bed from front to back and left to right. When you finish, 60 percent of your cargo’s weight should be at the front of the bed—thanks to those heavier items being loaded first—while the other 40 percent sits at the back to keep it from swaying.
Making the Most of Available Space
Because cargo trailers have enclosed beds, owners have the unique ability to stack their freight in order to make the most of available space. However, to ensure your items don’t crush each other, or slip and slide around while you drive, you’ll need to make sure your items are stacked from heaviest to lightest. This way your bulkier items don’t crush your smaller ones, and the added weight on top of these already hefty objects will keep them firmly in place, even without tie-down cords and straps.
Need more tips on how to load cargo, reduce sway, or take care of your cargo trailer? Then speak with one of our expert staff here at Right Trailers! Our experienced employees will be happy to answer any of your trailer questions, whether you’re looking for driving tips or maintenance and advice, and we proudly serve the nearby cities of Jacksonville, FL, and Milwaukee, WI. To speak with someone here at Right Trailers, feel free to stop by any one of our locations in Lakeland and Ocala, FL, or Caledonia, WI.