Carrying cargo in your travel trailer can seem a bit daunting if you’re new to the process of towing. You’re probably aware that overloading your trailer or failing to securely pack the cargo inside it can lead to serious problems on the road, such as tire blowouts, trailer sway, or damage to your vehicle or trailer. Fortunately, with a little know-how, you can ensure that your trailer’s cargo is evenly distributed and secure in transit to prevent these mishaps.
1. Understand Your Towing Limits
First off, you should look at your owner’s manual for your towing vehicle and your travel trailer to determine the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) that each of these vehicles can handle. You don’t want to exceed this rating, as it’s set for a reason: to keep you safe.
You can use highway weigh stations to weigh your trailer if you’re concerned about overburdening it, but you can also do some math and make a guess as to how much everything will weigh when it’s loaded into your trailer.
2. Distribute Cargo Evenly
You shouldn’t place too much cargo on either the left or right side of your travel trailer if you want to avoid tire blowouts and trailer sway. Try to balance cargo between the left and right, while placing about 60% of the cargo weight towards the hitch and 40% towards the rear of the trailer. A nice even distribution will go a long way towards making your trip safer.
3. Secure Cargo in Place
If you’re loading up items that could slide around in transit, you should use ropes, tie-downs, or secure containers to latch these items in place. Store as much of your cargo in your travel trailer’s storage spaces as you can to avoid having items falling out or sliding everywhere, unbalancing your load.
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