How To Add Tongue Weight To a Small Motorcycle Trailer

Question:

Ive recently bought a small single rail motorcycle trailer to pull with my new Honda Accord. The trailer sits level but when I was pulling the trailer without a bike on it, it began to sway a lot. Especially at higher speeds of 45-60 MPH. My trailer only weighs 140lbs and my dirtbike weighs 250lbs. Im hoping once I have my bike on the trailer it will not sway as much. My question is this: How can I add more trailer weight to my small single rail? I was thinking about using a tie down and strapping on a 20lb dumbell weight to the front. If for any reason it broke free that could be extremely dangerous for anyone behind me. How would you recommend adding tongue weight to small single rail trailer?

asked by: Sam

Expert Reply:

The issue you are having with excess sway is pretty common on light trailers. The sway issue might then be minimized when you have your motorcycle attached but odds are you are still going to have sway issues. The overall weight of the trailer is a concern but more importantly is the tongue weight. The best option you have to decrease trailer sway with your trailer would be to add as much weight as you can to the tongue.

The best way to add the most amount of weight would be to make some brackets and then mount the Buyers Products Trailer Tongue Toolbox part # 3371701680 (14 lbs) which you could then use to store some heavier items in. It looks like you already have part of a bracket installed so this might be easier than expected.

If the toolbox is not something you are interested in then we do have tongue mounted items that will add weight. For starters, I recommend a spare tire carrier like the Fulton Hi-Mount Spare Tire Carrier part # FSTC1000301 (7 lbs) and a spare wheel/tire like the Kenda 4.80/4.00-8 Bias Trailer Tire with 8" White Wheel part # AM30000 (10 lbs). If you can let me know the bolt pattern of your wheels as well as your tire size and load range I would be happy to give you the correct spare wheel/tire if the above is not. The other item you can install to add weight is a tongue jack like the Round Swivel Marine Jack w/ Wheel part # MJ-1200B (16 lbs).

The above options should add enough weight to your tongue to make towing more manageable without excess sway.