Tongue Weight

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 16, 2003 | 09:01 AM

PLVN

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

Tongue Weight

I have a F250 SuperDuty V-10. The GVWR is 8800#. Weighed the truck yesterday with just me and a half a tank of gas, and it came in at a WHOOPING 6608#!

My question is that I have found a gooseneck (not fifth wheel if that makes a difference) horse trailer that's perfect, but it's curb weight is 7800#.

I thought that you calculated Tongue Weight to be 25% of the curb weight (excluding horses) which would be around 1900#. If that's right, you can see I'll be right at my GVWR.

Now, the problem comes up in that on some websites selling trailers and trail manufacturers, they state Tongue Weight at anywhere from 12% to 18%. Is this right? Weighing the trailer tongue weight is too hard since I don't have a hitch yet so can't drag it to a scales. Sellers are really too busy to do this.

Please help

--pam

Sep 16, 2003 | 09:21 AM

johnsdiesel

Post Fiend

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 5,324

Likes: 1

From: Denton,TX

Tongue Weight

12% sounds a little low, but 18% could be more accurate. The tongue weight is usually about 20% on a gooseneck of fifth wheel.

Sep 16, 2003 | 11:09 AM

jim henderson

Postmaster

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 4,968

Likes: 3

From: So Cal

Tongue Weight

Not sure what you mean by goose neck since I thought 5th wheelers were goose necks. I am no expert.

For a regular trailer hitch, they usually recommend 10 to 15% tongue weight, and for a trailer that heavy they highly recommend a weight distributing hitch.

Of course if the gooseneck is like a 5th wheel I have no experience other than to say the weight will be higher.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

Sep 16, 2003 | 12:10 PM

Shake-N-Bake

Post Fiend

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 6,096

Likes: 26

From: Mesa AZ

Tongue Weight

My fifth wheel has 1920 lbs "tongue" weight, about 17% of the total trailer weight. I installed airbags to increase the overall capacity of my truck. Seemed to work fine. From all the information I've been able to gather, installing airbags in my F250 is like having a faux F350. Both trucks have the same axle, lugs hubs, same lower spring pack. The F350 has a helper spring, so if you add airbags that should do the trick.

Sep 16, 2003 | 01:08 PM

jbalestri

Posting Guru

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 1,297

Likes: 3

From: Billings MT

Tongue Weight

Is the weight of the gooseneck empty? If so, I would think you are talking about a 3 horse slant or 3/4 combo. You will need to account for the weight of the ponies/cattle whatever you are hauling. Based on 1100 pound/horse and 3 horses, you will be grossing out at 11,100 pounds. 25% of that is 2775, which puts you way over your GVWR. But at 18% is 1998 and is really close. So, you need to get the best number you can, as the % varies from trailer to trailer and how they are built.

Adding air bags to increase capacity is fine, but it won't help with any legal issues that might come up. You will still be over weight based on sticker and that is all lawyers care about.

And a gooseneck hitch connects to a ball(2 5/8" I think) in the center of the bed and a 5th wheel has a king pin and hitch like a big semi does, only smaller.

Sep 16, 2003 | 01:21 PM

johnsdiesel

Post Fiend

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 5,324

Likes: 1

From: Denton,TX

Tongue Weight

Quote:

Originally posted by gchavez
My fifth wheel has 1920 lbs "tongue" weight, about 17% of the total trailer weight. I installed airbags to increase the overall capacity of my truck.

Just to clarify, adding airbags does not increase the GVWR of the vehicle, just makes it ride better. Nothing you do to your truck will increase the GVWR, even if you upgrade the whole suspension system and axles.

Jim Henderson, a gooseneck looks similar to a fifth wheel hitch. Both are mounted in the bed of the truck. On a fifth wheel hitch the actual "hitch" is mounted on the trailer and it latches onto the receiver in the truck. A gooseneck hitch is basically a heavy duty ball hitch mounted in the bed of the truck. The "hitch" is in the truck and not on the trailer like a fifth wheel. Typically the hitch/pin weight of a fifth wheel/gooseneck is double that of a typical tow behind setup.

Sep 16, 2003 | 06:06 PM

jim henderson

Postmaster

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 4,968

Likes: 3

From: So Cal

Tongue Weight

Got it on the gooseneck. Learn something every day from this site. I have seen em , but just thought they were weird 5th wheels.

As far as airbags, ditto the legal aspect and possibly there are other systems involved that are different on a 350. I think brakes and front axle and maybe tires and rims are different. Maybe some other stuff. Air bags are nice but still a bandaid.

Just my opinion and definitely no expereince with geese.

Jim Henderson