Placement of Front and Rear Hangers When Building a Tandem Axle Trailer

Question:

Im building a tandem axle trailer with tortion bar axles. In reading about your 60/ 40 location point, Im a bit confused if you mean the trailer cargo bed length or the overall length from ball to tail end. For example, if the trailer cargo area is 16 feet long plus a 5 foot tongue , should the Centerpoint between the axles be at 12.6 feet from the ball or 9.6 feet behind the front of the cargo area? Finally, if building 4 beaver tail does the tail count as part of the trainers overall length as it seldom carries any weight in transit. Thanks and Judy was very knowledgeable and helpful when I was ordering parts.

asked by: Phil C

Expert Reply:

To determine the location for the front and rear hangers on your tandem axle trailer you will first need to make sure that you have the correct center point for your equalizer hanger.

The center point of your equalizer hanger needs to be located where you will have 60 percent of the frame of the trailer in front of the center of the equalizer hanger and 40 percent behind the center of the equalizer hanger. This includes from the very front of the trailer to the very back. So the from where the ball will be located in the coupler to the very back.

For example, if the trailers frames length is 21 feet, then the center-line location for the equalizer hanger will be 12.6 feet from the front of the trailer and 9.6 feet from the back like you mentioned.

expert reply by: Jameson C