This is rather complexificated.I finally scraped up enough money to get a 20 foot flat bed gooseneck trailer. I even bought it new which is rather uncharacteristic of me (can I get an AMEN from the antique tractor lovers (or cheapskates, whichever you prefer to be known as)?). I bought it with the intention of hauling roundbales of hay and occasionally my MF 2135 (gas) with a MF 100 front-loader. The tractor itself is just over 15 feet long with the loader. I think it weighs about 7,000 lbs (liquid filled tires). On the maiden voyage of the trailer, we hauled four huge roundbales. They actually stuck out over the back of the trailer about a foot. As we were driving, it (the 3/4 ton truck and trailer) kind of jerked forward and backward a little, especially when accellerating or braking. I find out today that that is because the tongue weight was too light. I was told that it should be about 30% of the total load. I was told that the load should be generally centered above the wheels and that on a good trailer, for every inch in length of the trailer, the wheels should be about an inch behind the center of the trailer. Upon measuring the trailer, the bed is certainly 20 feet, and the FRONT wheel is almost exactly 20 inches behind the center. So my questions are: 1) Does that sound right for trailer construction? and loading? 2) How about tongue weight? 3) How do I figure out the center of gravity for my tractor? I figgered I could drive up to the scales, and just weigh the front wheels and then just the back wheels and a little simple physics calculations might get me the center of gravity. See anything wrong with that? I eagerly await your collective judgement.
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