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Tongue weight, hitch height, trailer capacity, hitch capacity, and tow vehicle capacity are just a few variables that impact the handling, tire wear, and, ultimately, safety of your towing rigs.

You must also select the best trailer for the task. "Many customers ask for a trailer that will haul all of their equipment," says Jim Ladner, national sales manager, Landoll. "In almost all cases, there is not a single trailer that will do it all. Different equipment requires different designs and sizes."

Moving compact equipment
Many trailers can be pulled by ½- to 1-ton pickups. Make sure the truck's towing capacity and Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) are not exceeded by the trailer you intend to pull.

You also need to ensure the load is properly balanced. "You probably want overall 10% to 15% of the complete total weight (trailer weight plus equipment weight) on the tongue," says Matt Stringer, senior product engineer, Bil-Jax. "You adjust your load accordingly to get 10% to 15%."

This directly impacts handling. "If you have too light a tongue load, your trailer could be 'squirrely' going down the road," says Stringer. It tends to sway back and forth. "If you are towing a fairly heavy load with a fairly light vehicle, it could push you around."