Load by Trailer Type – Empire Trailer Hire
← Safety Hub
Load by Trailer Type

Dial in the load once, tow confidently. The right setup for your trailer type — right here.

Universal Rules
4 Rules for Every Load Always Apply

These apply regardless of trailer type. Get these right before anything else.

Ball Load 8–12% of total trailer weight on the tow ball. 10% is the sweet spot.
Re-tension At 10 km Straps loosen after initial movement. Check again at every fuel stop.
Strap Rating WLL Visible Only use straps with a readable WLL tag. No frays, cuts, or faded labels.
Winch Loading Only Never use the winch as a tie-down. It will not hold under emergency braking.
By Trailer Type Tap to Expand

Select your trailer type for specific guidance. The two most common are open by default.

Cage Trailers General cargo, household, green waste
General
▾
  • Weight placement: Heavy items low and centred, in the front half of the deck to keep ball load in the 8–12% range.
  • Tie-down points: Anchor to the deck lashing points first. Use cage sides as secondary support only — they're not rated primary anchor points.
  • Top cover: Add a cargo net or tarp and lace it to multiple points. Open cage trailers at speed will lose loose items.
  • Small items: Box them or bag them so nothing can bounce through the mesh. Even a house brick at highway speed is a serious hazard.
✓ Do

Use edge protectors on sharp loads (timber, sheet steel) to protect strap webbing and maintain tension.

✗ Avoid

Hooking a single strap high on the cage side — it can bend the panel and still let the load slide.

Car Trailers Vehicles, boats on trailers, ride-ons
Vehicles
▾
  • Positioning: Winch or drive slowly onto the deck, stopping with the engine weight slightly ahead of the axle — this hits the ~10% ball load target.
  • Primary restraint: One wheel strap per wheel (or wheel nets). Route clear of brake lines, ABS wiring, and painted panels.
  • Secondary safety: Optional short lanyards to rated recovery points only — never to suspension arms, tow eyes not rated for tie-down, or steering components.
  • Before moving: Vehicle in park or first gear, handbrake on, steering straight, ramps fully pinned flat and stowed.
✓ Do

After loading, bounce the vehicle suspension and re-ratchet all four wheel straps — you'll gain extra clicks as things settle.

✗ Avoid

Using the winch cable as a tie-down. It's for loading only and won't hold under emergency braking.

Flat Top Trailers Open deck, machinery, building materials
Open Deck
▾
  • Even spread: Place densest pieces directly over the deck beams. Fill gaps with dunnage (timber blocks, rubber matting) to stop rolling or rocking.
  • Strap choice: Ratchet straps for most loads. Rated chains or chain binders for very heavy, hard-edged items where straps could be cut.
  • Strap count: At least two independent straps per item. More for tall, round, or irregular loads. The total forward-facing WLL of your straps should meet or exceed load weight.
  • Strap tails: Wrap or tuck excess tail — any flap at highway speed will loosen tension and can become a road hazard.
✓ Do

Add up the WLL values of all straps in one direction. Total must equal or exceed the load weight.

✗ Avoid

Unavoidable overhang without marking — fit a red flag by day and red light by night. Check local limits before you leave.

Enclosed Trailers Protected cargo, furniture, electronics
Enclosed
▾
  • Centre of gravity low and forward: Heaviest items flat on the floor in the front half. Tall items braced against the tie-down rails.
  • Anchor points: Use floor lashing rings as primary anchors. Wall rails and D-rings are secondary restraint only — walls are not structural anchor points.
  • Stacking: Heavy items on the bottom, light on top. Use load bars to compress and stabilise stacks.
  • Moisture: Enclosed spaces trap humidity. Wrap fabrics, electronics, and anything moisture-sensitive before loading.
✓ Do

Use a "spider" strap pattern (front-left to rear-right and front-right to rear-left) to lock stacks against braking and swerving forces.

✗ Avoid

Opening doors wide immediately on arrival — contents may have shifted. Stand to one side and open slowly.

Bike & ATV Trailers Motorbikes, dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs
Powersports
▾
  • Chock and centre: Wheel chocks front and rear. Keep each bike or ATV on the deck centre-line to maintain side-to-side balance.
  • Four-point tie-down: Two straps forward, two rear. Use soft loops at the triple clamp or handlebar risers — avoid hooking straps on bars or levers directly.
  • Fork compression: Compress forks roughly 30–40% when tensioning straps. This keeps the bike stable without bottoming the suspension during transit.
  • Multiple bikes: Stagger bars and levers so nothing rubs. Pad any contact points between bikes with foam or rags.
✓ Do

Pack helmets and gear in a sealed bin. Loose items in an open trailer become dangerous projectiles at speed.

✗ Avoid

Strapping only at the handlebars without front and rear anchor points — bikes can still tip sideways under hard cornering.

Pro tip: Re-check strap tension after the first 10 km — fork compression changes slightly once the bike settles into the vibration of the road.
Universal Tips Worth Remembering

These apply to every trailer type, every time.

Check the feel at the hitch If the trailer feels too light or floaty at the ball, or if it's already swaying at low speed, you need more weight forward. Adjust before you leave.
Inspect every strap before use If the WLL label is unreadable, or the webbing has cuts, frays, or heat damage — don't use it. One failed strap at speed can shift the entire load.
Re-tension schedule: 10 km then every stop Straps vibrate loose faster than most people expect. The first 10 km is the most critical — things settle and compress. Check tension again at every fuel stop.
Adjust for wind and wet Rain + strong wind = slower speeds, bigger gaps, and extra attention to strap tails. Wet webbing under tension can slip. Check and re-tension after any sustained rain.
Related Guides Up Next

Load secured — here's what to check before you drive.

Loading & Unloading Guide Step-by-step process for loading and unloading safely
→
Safety Checklist Tick-off list before every trip once loaded
→
Electric Winch Guide Safe operation for loading vehicles and heavy gear
→
QLD Towing Regulations Legal weight limits, overhang rules, and load requirements
→