Hello everyone!
In another thread - “Jacking point dimensions?” - the subject of the balance point of the 3 wheeler was raised.
In the mentioned thread the point was to know the balance center of the M3W in order to know the best position to place the lifting jacks. I believe it’s a good point to know, for safety reasons. Working below a car incorrectly suspended can cause a serious accident. I’m thinking about “home-made” lifting platforms, not serious ones as shown in some “looking-really-pro” garages!
But there is another
very important reason to know the balance point, and it’s when you plan to buy a trailer to travel with your “rocket” to a distant destination. I am precisely in this situation, asking for many quotes for a trailer.
As the M3W is quite a “light” car, I can see a general “temptation” from some trailer manufacturers to offer a single axle trailer, because it’s obviously cheaper than a two axle one. And in a single axle trailer, the balance point is really more important than in a two axle one. If the axle is not properly placed close to the balance point of the car, you risk:
A. In case the axle is far behind the balance point of the car, so this one is between the axle and your towing bracket, you’ll “overload” your towing bracket and make your car suffer from the rear suspension and brakes.
B. If the axle is before the balance point, so between the balance point of the M3W and your towing bracket, then it can be even catastrophic.
Option B with the M3W is almost impossible to happen (IMHO) as the engine, coupling and gearbox are quite in the front. I’m pretty sure that the balance point is much closer to the front wheels rather than to the rear one.
So this is the question: does someone really know where the balance point of the 3 wheeler is?
