Study for the How to Drive Handbook Test. Enhance your understanding with quizzes and detailed explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your driving test!

Multiple Choice

Which percentage of weight should be placed on the front half of a trailer?

Placing weight toward the front of the trailer helps keep the trailer stable behind the tow vehicle. The idea is to have about 60% of the load on the front half, which increases tongue weight enough to improve the coupling and dampen sway, helping the trailer follow the tow vehicle more predictably. If the front is too light, the trailer is more prone to swaying and can be harder to control at speed. If the front is too heavy—putting roughly 70% of the load forward—the hitch and the tow vehicle’s rear axle take on too much load, which can hurt handling, braking, and vehicle balance. So the best balance is around 60% in the front half and 40% in the rear half to maintain stable, controllable towing.

Placing weight toward the front of the trailer helps keep the trailer stable behind the tow vehicle. The idea is to have about 60% of the load on the front half, which increases tongue weight enough to improve the coupling and dampen sway, helping the trailer follow the tow vehicle more predictably.

If the front is too light, the trailer is more prone to swaying and can be harder to control at speed. If the front is too heavy—putting roughly 70% of the load forward—the hitch and the tow vehicle’s rear axle take on too much load, which can hurt handling, braking, and vehicle balance. So the best balance is around 60% in the front half and 40% in the rear half to maintain stable, controllable towing.