Thread: Trailer Towing Question

the trailer will go where ever its towed.

The axles orientation to the tow point is what sets the dangle of the trailer.


if you offset the hitch on the tractor the trailer will tow in the same orientation but offset by that amount.

if you kink the draw bar it will do the same thing.

Cornering geometry will be upset compared to a centrally aligned setup but not unmanageably.

Originally Posted by BMKal

Trailer will always tow straight, no matter how for offset the tow hitch is on the tow vehicle - just that the centreline of the trailer will be offset from the centreline of the tow vehicle by the same distance as the offset of the tow hitch on the tow vehicle.

As far as the trailer is concerned - the tow point is ALWAYS in the centre of the trailer axle.

The example I am concerned with is C. The vehicle tow hitch is centre.
OK to exaggerate join a solid pole to one front corner of the trailer, still parallel to the centreline. Will this still tow straight but offset by half the width of the trailer?

yes, so long as it is perpendicular to the axle AND strong enough to resist flexing.

Originally Posted by BMKal

Trailer will always tow straight, no matter how for offset the tow hitch is on the tow vehicle - just that the centreline of the trailer will be offset from the centreline of the tow vehicle by the same distance as the offset of the tow hitch on the tow vehicle.

Not relevant to example C

As far as the trailer is concerned - the tow point is ALWAYS in the centre of the trailer axle.

We ARE talking about the trailer tow point being off centre

Originally Posted by 123rover50

The example I am concerned with is C. The vehicle tow hitch is centre.
OK to exaggerate join a solid pole to one front corner of the trailer, still parallel to the centreline. Will this still tow straight but offset by the width of the trailer?

trailer will crab because (trailer) tow point is not in the centre of the (trailer) axle.

I think the trailer will try to crab and therefore try to bend the pole used to attach to the trailer at an offset point. You will either bend the towing pole or have some scuffing of the tyres as the tyres and axle orientation will try to prevent a sideways movement.

Originally Posted by pop058

trailer will crab because (trailer) tow point is not in the centre of the (trailer) axle.

Sorry - yes, you're right Paul. Just went back and read example C again. I thought (incorrectly) that it was only the hitch on the tow vehicle that was being moved.

Originally Posted by pop058

trailer will crab because (trailer) tow point is not in the centre of the (trailer) axle.

Paul, by crabbing do you mean the trailer will travell at an offset to the tow vehicle, or do you mean that the trailer will want to go in a different direction than the tow vehicle?
In my limited experience driving tractors with hay balers (36 years ago) the trailer will follow the tow vehicle in a straight line, but at an offset to the tow vehicle. Hay baler drawbars can be offset by 3 - 4 feet.
The wheels will steer the trailer into following the tow vehicle. (at an offset)

Cheers, Mick.

I am inclined to agree with pop058 and slugburner.
If the hitch at the tractor couldnt pivot then it would have to pull straight as Dave says but because it can pivot I think the leverage on the trailer pole will tend to twist it on an angle, that will make the wheels try to steer out to the side untill running parallel to the direction of travel. But the pulling force is trying to pull it centre again so scuffing the wheels.
Perhaps this would start to happen at minimum offset.
The example C at 200 mm might see the trailer run at 180mm off the centreline with little scuffing.
The exagerated example with 600 mm offset might see the trailer run at 500 mm off the centreline with the wheels acting like disc plows.
I dont know, but we could keep increasing the offset outside the limits of the trailer untill wheel contact with the ground is lost altogether and it is just dragged along corner first.

Didiman