Originally Posted by
Mauser308
Yep that, to be meeting the 'lawful' requirements for towing at trailer you need to be loaded at 10% downforce although it's not really enforced. It is written into the rule for light trailers so a legal requirement in NZ. That means on a 3500Kg 'TB' class trailer you are meant to have 350Kg downforce give or take - and 350Kg downforce on most utes on the ball is the max legal loading for the rear axle due to load centers.
I personally don't like the TB class trailers, the electric brakes are prone to stopping working and the electric/hydraulic are a pest to maintain and keep working although are extremely effective. On one occassion, it was the trailer hydraulic brakes that stopped the rig I was in as the towing vehicle's brakes decided at that moment to gas up and have a dramatic fade event. The driver was very on to it and recognised the situation straight off, and hit the 'panic' button on the controller which bypasses the proportional settings. Unsure why exactly that occurred as there wasn't an apparent 'reason' for it, but the pads at both ends were replaced anyway and it never happened again.