ZR-1 Center of Gravity

[A26B]

Don't have time to install my equalizer hitch on the trailer, so.......

Would like to know what others may have determined where the center of gravity is, relative to the wheelbase. I am picking up a new open deck trailer tomorrow morning & would like to know just where I should park the Zee, relative to the trailer axles. The trailer manufacturer should be able to tell me how much weight is on the hitch with the trailer empty. I would like to tow with about 4~500 pounds on the ball.

Actual data appreciated.

[A1990]

Jerry are you bringing your Zee to BG? I am trailering the Atomic-Z on an open deck trailer and I am interested in the response you get.

I am looking forward to seeing you there! :cheers:

[A26B]

Hi Dennis,
Yes I am. Maybe we can do another Aerobody Group shot. Have a safe trip.

[diamond zr1]

Jerry/Measure the distance to the ground,both prior to and after loading/If you want 400 lb tongue weight,load the rear of truck with 400 lbs to first establish loaded height/unless you have airbag overloads,it will squat/I have sometimes loaded backwards with my 5th wheel setup,when I am too heavy in front,with motors etc,in front of the car/need to have a balance on trailer axles/If too much weight on rear of trailer,you will have the tail wagging the dog//Drive safe/see you there

[A26B]

Yea, I have auto-leveling, Cadillac EXT. I used to tow with my enclosed trailer & had it set up pretty good. New trailer, starting over. Looking for some numbers. Thanks for your info. Over the years I have overloaded trailers & learned the lessons you pointed out. Couldn't agree more with "never load tail heavy". Thanks for the info!

[RussMcB]

According to a few Google hits, the C4 Corvette was advertised as 51%F/49%R.

If true, the center of gravity would be an inch or so forward from the midpoint between the tires.

You can measure tongue weight with a bathroom scale even if it can't go up to 400 lb.
https://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-determine-trailer-tongue-weight.aspx

[WVZR-1]

Use the weights on the **certification label and a couple quick dimensions you can do and use this BendPak formula to do your car. Very straight forward and quite simple. There are Excel programs also but they get very difficult to manipulate because they want to calculate roll centers etc.

* Callaway/Lingenfelter I would think supplied/applied a corrected certification label to their cars.

http://www.bendpak.com/support/balancing-safety/

There's a .pdf download link included there also.

See how close your tape measure does compared to these:

4295

I would think that if the trailer sales outfit doesn't have a tongue weight scale you can borrow you could certainly gather one locally at a hitch installer to rent. Sherline would be the most likely product you would find.

They also have a "load balance" worksheet. Tongue weight "percentage" is generally considered the more important number. A friend does his always using their worksheet.

http://www.sherline.com/lmwkshet.htm

Maybe more importantly - did you escape the weather yesterday/last evening?

[RICHARD TILL]

I have and frequently haul cars on a 22 ft. dove tail trailer to car sales. A lot depends on how much empty trailer tongue weight and where the axles are placed on the trailer. I have about 300 pounds of tongue weight and pull a car forward on the trailer until i can see the rear of the tow vehicle squat about 3 inches. This is on an 08 GMC 4x4.

[A26B]

Lots of good info here that will be of use to both of us (Dennis too). Thank you all.

[Paul Workman]

Yes, good to know info. Hope the Archivist picks it up!

FWIW, the few times I've needed to haul a ZR-1, I found the tandem axial U - Haul car hauler tows like a dream. But, the trailer brakes are "pot luck" at best.

[WVZR-1]

Jerry,

Yours with two passengers or more plus the parts etc. I believe might require more substantial thought. You might consider a few hundred pounds in the Cadillac and actually use scales for ball height calculations and tongue weight. With the equalizer bars not quite the issue but without I'd think likely. Is this an aluminum trailer?

[A26B]

Yep, I'm planning on putting 10%, scaled, loaded trailer weight on the tongue, weighed un-hitched. Trailer has 2" ball & my equalizer hitch has 2-5/16" ball. In the essence of time, I am forgoing the equalizer. I much prefer the equalizer when towing as the ride is much improved.

Trailer is steel, weighs 2000#

[gbrtng]

Figure the ZR-1 at 53% front, 47% rear - the ZR-1 is not as nicely balanced as the base car ... so if you put the vehicle slightly forward of the axles ...

[ZR-1 Franz]

My favorite trailer.
Buy such a trailer and tongue weight does not matter.
It works fine for machines as well as for cars too.
Cars or machines up to 5600 lbs you can move with it.

Franz

[RussMcB]

My favorite trailer.Very interesting.

I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone offers a trailer like that in the USA.

I've owned several trailers for towing race cars. That one looks pretty high, so would take some long ramps, I'd guess. It does look sturdy and stable, and I like how it would not push down on the rear of the tow vehicle.

[ZR-1 Franz]

Yes indeed, the ramps are rather long, but it is easy to move
them under the trailer where they are stored.
The orange tube is the support for the ramps if they are
used. But this tube is also able to rotate, so you can push the
ramps back to their rails under the trailer easily.
The tube as support is great, because you can choose the
track of the ramps from wide to narrow.
I had already Corvettes and Fieros on the trailer. No problem.
The brake system of the trailer is electric/hydraulic.
An electric signal is sent from the towing vehicle to the trailer.
And this signal depends on how hard you brake the towing vehicle.
But you also can regulate it if you want to brake smooth, if the trailer
is empty for example. The braking system on the trailer is hydraulic/mechanic.
It is a rather complicated system, but it works fine and smooth.
It was developed by a company here in Switzerland and it is called "trailerstop".

[Franke]

Now that is an interesting concept Franz.