What is the 60 40 rule for trailers?

The 60/40 rule for trailers states that 60 percent of the total loaded weight should sit in front of the trailer's axle and 40 percent behind it, ensuring proper tongue weight and stable towing.

When weight distribution follows this ratio, the hitch carries enough downward tongue weight to keep the trailer tracking straight instead of swaying. If too much load shifts behind the axle — past that 40 percent threshold — tongue weight drops, the rear of the tow vehicle lifts, and the trailer becomes prone to fishtailing. On a Polar Trailer HD 1500 loaded to its 1,500 lb rating, that means roughly 900 lbs of load forward of the axle centerline and no more than 600 lbs behind it.

• Target tongue weight under the 60/40 rule: approximately 10–15 percent of total loaded trailer weight.
• Polar Trailer HD 1500 maximum load capacity: 1,500 lbs — meaning up to 900 lbs should sit forward of the axle.
• Rear-heavy loading (more than 40 percent behind the axle) is the primary mechanical cause of trailer sway.
• Maximum tow speed for Polar Trailer products: 10 mph — improper weight distribution compounds instability at any speed.
• The 60/40 rule applies to the loaded tub position relative to the axle centerline, not the trailer's empty balance point.