Hauling Advice - 2005 Tacoma with Leaf Spring recall work done

[Triumph65]

Hi. Out in the woods for the first time since getting rid of the big truck. I have a 5’x12’ trailer (see pic) that we load with dead cedar. The cedar is stacked 20” high & probably weighs 50-75% of what oak weighs. It will total out at 1,500 pounds plus the weight of the trailer itself.

I don’t know how much weight will be on the tongue.

My question is about tongue weight. This trailer has a heavy tongue already, made worse by the wood sides I added to it.

Worried more about completely depressing the Gen 2 leaf springs than the overall hauling weight
The bed of the truck will be loaded with normal gear, coolers, etc... nothing too heavy.

Guess I’ll know when I hook this thing up.

 

[Triumph65]

Weight distribution is also a question.

Watching this YouTube video would suggest that most of the weight has to be in front. With a 1,500lb. load and 1,500lb. trailer, loading with most of the weight in front will exceed my tongue capacity.

I can move some of the wood behind the axles but that will put more weight in the rest of the trailer.

I don’t want the trailer to fishtail from having too much weight in the rear, see video.

 

[4wd]

The only reason to move it forward is to lessen the "whiplash" factor, BUT ! Ideally you center your max weight over the axle & load it for & aft accordingly , even with your leaf TSB you're going to find towing with the ass end light tacoma...interesting, not neccesarily bad, just different... I pull a 20' Aljo that weighs 3300lbs but I've done suspension work so most of the spookyness is gone...

 

[4wd]

But you should be fine...tongue weight be damned...

 

[Triumph65]

The only reason to move it forward is to lessen the "whiplash" factor, BUT ! Ideally you center your max weight over the axle & load it for & aft accordingly , even with your leaf TSB you're going to find towing with the ass end light tacoma...interesting, not neccesarily bad, just different... I pull a 20' Aljo that weighs 3300lbs but I've done suspension work so most of the spookyness is gone...

@4wd - does that mean I should look the rear of the Tacoma as well?

 

[Triumph65]

Well I made it back. Here was how I originally had it loaded. I changed the load around after a sketchy 20 Miles.

Pics below are the way I originally had it packed. I said, “the heck with the tongue weight & took wood out the back of trailer & put in Tacoma. This completely flattened the leaf springs but improved my sense of control tremendously.