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Demonstrate Incorrect Loading (Too Far Backward)

11:37
21:13
872.4K views

At 11:37 in

How NOT to load an equipment trailer. What 99% of People don't know

What happens here

Reposition the Bobcat S185 skid steer too far backward on the trailer. This demonstration highlights the hazards of insufficient tongue weight, which results in the truck's rear end squatting excessively while its front end remains high. The trailer's rear tires will show significant compression, while the front tires appear light. This configuration is highly unstable and can cause dangerous 'porpoising' or 'death wobble' at highway speeds, making the trailer difficult to control. In such a situation, to regain control, activate the trailer brakes only using the manual controller (not the foot pedal), then slowly apply the truck brakes once the trailer begins to stabilize. Never mash the foot pedal directly, as this can exacerbate instability.

Goal: Load the skid steer too far backward on the trailer to show how insufficient tongue weight leads to rear-end squat and potential 'porpoising' or 'death wobble' during towing.

Tools and materials

  • Bobcat S185 Skid Steer
  • Trailer Ramps

What they say

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right let's break her back too far backwards all right let's make it worse what yeah let's make it loose another indicator that i'm not loaded right are my tires and this is where having the trailer perfectly flat makes a big difference i'm not totally right here guys but look at these trailers you see how this back wheel is squished more than that wheel that's because my mass is too far backwards over the back of the trailer now this is a more dangerous situation you guys can get yourself into if you do get yourself into the situation where you have it improperly loaded and you're going down the road she starts i'm going to call it purposing i call the death wobble in another video i was corrected that's a jeep thing it doesn't matter because the trouble is all the same you guys what happens is as you're going down the road your trailer is going to start to do this sort of thing and you usually only have three swings before it takes your truck and flips your trailer right along with it so it goes one two three and you're over it's not a fun ride i've seen it in person followed behind a truck watched it flipped and rolled and literally counted one two three boom there's an easy way to get out of it and that's by applying your trailer brakes alone do not mash on your foot pedal your first instinct is going to be to mash on your foot pedal and that's better than nothing but that's not the solution the solution that we found inside is to grab that trailer brake controller and hit it as hard as you can just slam on the trailer brakes don't touch your your truck brakes slam on your trailer brakes and that will your trailer will slow down and keep everything to slow your truck down and then you hit your truck brakes so you smash your trailer brakes and then smash your truck brakes just a couple moments aft let your trailer brakes activate first what will happen is if you hit the foot pedal first your truck will typically activate its brakes faster than your trailer well now your truck is getting pushed at this point that's why it's going into this purposing effect if you activate those brakes the trailer is going to push the truck even more but if you activate the trailer brakes the trailer is no longer pulling the truck and you can activate the truck brakes and hopefully come to a nice smooth ride on the side of the road and then go change your pants let's find the sweet spot on this one

Auto-generated from the video audio.