Anatomy of Loading a U-Haul Trailer
Whether you’re renting a trailer for a local move, or you’ve just purchased one of your own, it’s important to know how to load it properly. Loading a trailer takes more care than just tossing everything in the back. To protect yourself and others on the road, it’s important to know the proper loading technique. Luckily, the best way to load a trailer is pretty simple and can be boiled down to just a few steps.
How to Load a Trailer
Park on a Level Surface: You don’t want anything slipping or sliding (especially the trailer)! Make sure you park on a flat surface and chock the wheels of the trailer to make everything flat and stable.
Distribute the Weight 60/40: You’ve probably heard of this rule before. About 60% of the weight should be loaded at the front of the axle, with the other 40% towards the back. This helps prevent the trailer from swaying out of control.
Load Heavier Items First: Ideally, the heaviest cargo should be near the center, with lighter items around it.
Lightweight Items on Top: Once you have your base of heavier items down, you can stack lighter items on top (just keep the tailer’s max weight capacity in mind).
Tie It Down: If your load is starting to get a little too tall, use some bungee cord to secure it before taking off.
What to Avoid When Loading a Trailer
Don’t Overfill It: Don’t make your load too heavy and don’t leave items hanging over the edge of the trailer haphazardly. Always tie your load down to ensure nothing goes flying over the edge.
Avoid Uneven Weight Distribution: Like we mentioned before, an even weight distribution keeps your trailer from swaying, which keeps you safer!
Why Does Weight and Distribution Matter So Much?
When a trailer has uneven weight, going excessive speeds can lead to the trailer swaying outside of your control. This can be very dangerous, but completely avoidable.
Safe Trailering Tips
Don’t Exceed the Trailer’s Max Weight: You can find this number on the inside of the trailer.
Reduce Your Speed: Avoid going over 55 miles per hour with a trailer.
Wear Your Seatbelt: Not to sound like your mother, but it keeps you safe!
Keep the Tailgate Closed: Don’t let items hang out of the back of your trailer.
Test Your Trailer Lights: Before hitting the road, make sure your trailer lights work so other people on the road know your next move.
Select the Right Hitch: It’s important to select a hitch that can carry the weight of your trailer and the weight of the load you intend to carry. If you’re lost on which hitch is the best fit for you, a U-Haul Hitch Professional can help you find it.
When it comes to selecting a trailer, hitch, or anything in between, your local U-Haul center is the one-stop-shop where you can get it all ironed out at once. Our hitch professionals are experienced and ready to help you optimize your set up the next time you need to pack up a trailer.