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otisrider
Oct. 9, 2009, 10:59 PM
I have a 2H straightload bumper pull (no dressing room). I need to take as much hay as I can as I'm moving to another state. Is it best to load the hay so that most of the weight is at the front of the trailer or right over the axles (I'm assuming that at the back is not a good idea)?
Tee
Oct. 9, 2009, 11:11 PM
I imagine if you put as much hay in as you can, it'll even the load out by itself... A 2 horse straight load isn't going to hold very much. LOL (Been there, done that)
grandprixjump
Oct. 9, 2009, 11:17 PM
Is only gonna hold about 20-25 bales of hay, at 50# per bale (which is heavy bales for most of the country) that is only 1200# or about the weight of ONE horse. Your truck won't even know there's anything in the trailer....
Mtn trails
Oct. 10, 2009, 12:03 AM
I'm sorry, I have to comment on the 50# bale being heavy for most of the country. What part of the country is that? Out here and probably where the OP is from 50# is very light! Bales average around 90+ lbs in this part of the country. ;)
Mach Two
Oct. 10, 2009, 02:17 AM
They do 50 # bales here in the eastern and southern states, with grass hay, bound with twine.
When I moved to TN from CA it was strange being able to pick up two bales at once and tote them across the barn lot.
ShotenStar
Oct. 10, 2009, 12:48 PM
You are safest if the hay is loaded in the horse area (over the axles), with only a few bales in the nose of the trailer.

Trailers are designed to carry the bulk of the weight over the axles. Weight in front of the chest bars places too much weight on the hitch, possibly causing the trailer to travel nose down, while the tow vehicle is riding nose up.

Also be careful if you unhitch the loaded trailer, particularly if you have a nose wheel that cranks up. The wheel assembly is basically designed to support only the weight of the empty trailer. It may not (will not) support the weight of a loaded trailer. Ask me how I learned this lesson ......

*star*
otisrider
Oct. 10, 2009, 09:34 PM
[QUOTE=ShotenStar;4429793]

Also be careful if you unhitch the loaded trailer, particularly if you have a nose wheel that cranks up. The wheel assembly is basically designed to support only the weight of the empty trailer. It may not (will not) support the weight of a loaded trailer. Ask me how I learned this lesson ......

*star*[/QUOTE}

Wow - thanks - wouldn't have thought of that!