Loading Your Toy Hauler Safely: What You Need to Know About Weight Distribution

Safety is paramount when it comes to buying and using a toy hauler. In particular, it's important that you load the hauler so the weight is distributed evenly. If the weight isn't balanced, your toy hauler could start to sway and potentially tip over, leading to serious damage and serious injury.

Why Is Weight Distribution Important?

Simply put, an unevenly distributed toy hauler is an accident waiting to happen. That's because weight distribution has a big impact on how your hauler will move when it's being pulled. One of the most dangerous types of uneven distribution is when you put too much weight on the left or right of the trailer. This can make it sway from side to side like a pendulum, potentially tipping the vehicle over. Another danger is putting too much weight at the front of the hauler, which makes it harder for your tow vehicle to steer and grip the road. Knowing how to load your toy hauler safely will eliminate their risks, ensuring you can transport your toys and yourself safely.

How Should the Weight Be Distributed?

Distributing weight on the left and right of your toy hauler is easy—just make sure it's the same on both sides. If you're only hauling one toy, this means you should position it in the centre of the trailer. If you're hauling two toys the same size and you need to position them side by side, you should put one on the left and one on the right—but make sure you turn one to face in the opposite direction so the engine weight is the same on both sides.

Front to back distribution isn't much more difficult if you use the 60/40 rule. This means you should put 60% of the weight at the front of your toy hauler and 40% at the back. To determine the 'line' between the front and back of your hauler, look at the axle—the axle is the centre in a single-axle trailer, while in a double-axle trailer, the centre is between the two axles.

How Much Weight Is Too Much?

Alongside distributing weight evenly on both sides of your toy hauler, you need to make sure you don't overload it with too much cargo. When buying a toy hauler, take a look at its weight restriction; this is often called the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). Remember that weight restrictions include the weight of the trailer and passengers as well as the cargo, so you'll need to subtract your own weight and the weight of the hauler (usually listed as unloaded vehicle weight or ship weight) to figure out whether its right for your toys.