Car-trailer systems, consisting of a towing vehicle (tractor) and one or more towed vehicles (trailers), are widely used today. The widespread use of these vehicle systems in traffic also brings with it increased accident risks. Sometimes the aim is to transport more cargo and goods at a lower cost, while other times it's for recreational and hobby purposes. Regardless of the purpose, there are several important vehicle parameters that significantly affect driving dynamics in such vehicle combinations. While it's possible to prevent accidents by using expensive control systems and vehicle equipment, it's also possible to prevent accidents simply by understanding and paying attention to the effects of important vehicle parameters. In this study, the effects of the trailer's load distribution, i.e., its center of gravity position on the vehicle's longitudinal axis, and the hitch distance of towing vehicle from the rear axle center of the vehicle on the driving dynamics of both vehicles were investigated. It was found that both of these variables have a significant impact on the lateral dynamics of the car-trailer combination. It was observed that the trailer's load distribution and the hitch distance of towing vehicle from the rear axle center of the vehicle can trigger undesirable jackknifing and snaking behaviors, thus increasing the tendency of the vehicles to roll over. Therefore, it is believed that many potential accidents can be prevented simply by paying attention to the positioning of the loads during trailer loading and the hitch position of the towing vehicle.
Turgay Ergin (Tue,) studied this question.