How do i figure out my tongue weight? I'm using a load leveling hitch. My bathroom scale only goes up to 300#. The travel trailer weighs about 4800# loaded. Is the actual tongue weight less with the load leveling hitch because of the weight distribution or what? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Measure the tongue wieght with the trailer unhitched. There is a way to use 2 bathroom scales with a beam accross the 2 of them, to divide the weight in half so as not to overload either of them, then add the 2 measurements together. I have never done it that way but have had it explained to me. Easiest way would be to take the trailer to a truck scale and wiegh it there. Either way, you want to shoot for a tongue weight of 10-15% of the total trailer wieght. The weight dist hitch will put some of the tongue weight on the trucks front axle and rear axle because of the vertically semi-rigid hitch connection between the trailer frame and tow vehicle frame. When you tighten up your hitch bars, you will see a difference in the hieght of the the hitch ball with the load bars tightened versus disconnected, indicating they are distributing the weight over both the truck's axles.

 

This link showes how to use the bathroom scale.
hope this helps


http://www.campingworld.com/cforum/i...d/13476927.cfm

 

An easier way to get this number is to go to a truck stop, or feed store, or somewhere you know has a scale drive the truck and trailer until the tongue is the only part on the scale and un hook your truck. it would cost you from $3-$8 depending where you go. I've found this to be alot less headache then the bathroom scale set up.

Toyman

 

"Is the actual tongue weight less with the load leveling hitch because of the weight distribution or what? Any thoughts would be appreciated."

No the tonque wt. is the same. It is distributed throughout the trucks frame w/the addition of leveler bars. Keeps your nose from going skyward. Make sure yor tonque and any payload in your bed does not exceed your trucks payload.

P.S. Toyman is right go to scales easier and safer

 

The weight distributing bars actually distribute the weight over all axles including the truck and trailer. Seems kind of strange that it distributes the weight on the trailer too, but then I am not sure I understand all the physics of how it works. But from my old high school and college physics and a brain that is firing maybe half of it's cylinders, I think the actual tongue weight will be less since the weight distributing bars distribute it and keep all the load from bearing down on only the ball. Wild guess is that the wd hitch twists the load around the hitch instead of just setting the weight straight down. The bars also pull down on the A frame which puts some of the weight back on the trailer wheels.

I could be wrong about that, but in anycase, most manuals say just calculate the tongue weight as 10-15% even with a WD hitch. If you go too light it gets squirrely. Water load and location can drastically change the weight distribution of the trailer so take that into accoutn as well as whatever load is in the trailer. My trailer has 60 g water storage in back and 50g in front, depending on which tanks are full or empty we are talking about shifting as much as 800# around and depending on leverage the effect may be greater.

A WD hitch makes a great improvement in ride and handling. I would also recommend a sway bar, which improves handling in wind and when trucks go by.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Jim may be right. One way to tell for sure would be to go through the scales twice. Once w/bars on and once w/bars off. Make sure they give you weights on each axle. This will tell you if there is percentage change from front to rear axles and trailer axle.

 

Correct, I was just going to add that. I'm not sure most people realize that some of the weight is redirected to the trailer.

If you weigh the trailer at a truck scale, make sure you have the torsion bars removed.

 

Wish I'd found this website before I bought my travel trailer. When I asked the RV dealer if my E-150 conversion van would do the job towing the trailer I bought they assured me that all was ok. While I won't exceed the GCWR of 11500 # I have to be very careful not to overload. I'm going to the scales this weekend with all the stuff I take on trips. I figere the TT to be 4800 # loaded and the van to be 6150 # with a full tank of gas, wife kid and misc junk. Total weight 10950 #. Full water and holding tanks are out of the question. I'll be lookimg for a E-350 club wagon with a V-10 or a diesel next year. The E-150 will just have to do this summer. That dealer lost a customer for life plus any referrals.

 

Yep, dealers will say anything to make the sale. If left up them, minivan owners would be hooking up to 10,000 lb trailers... (exageration, but you get the idea, whatever the truck or trailer, 'it will pull it fine'). That's correct about the hitch putting some of the wieght back on the trailer axles too! Jim Henderson did an excellent job explaining the whys and hows. Sorry I forgot about that aspect of it.

 

When you get you axle weight, check your tire load weight. One advantage of a scale at home is once it is set up you can move things around and see the effect it has on tounge weight. Moving the suburban back four inches made an astronomical difference on the tongue weight. See front tires locking this forum. It is wasy to pull, it is the stopping that realy counts.

 

Took the rig to the trash dump and had it weighed. 10740# with me a full tank of gold oops I mean gas, and most of the stuff we take camping. The only stuff left is 120# wife 110# kid, 100# food, ice ,beer. and another 100# misc junk. Total loaded 11180#

320# under gross. The van towed the trailer real well. 55MPH to 65MPH.No problem and was very stable when passed by large trucks. OD was ok on the straight and level as long as I was lightfooted. But I still need more power. (Don't we all). I guess i'll be looking into diesels next year due to fuel costs and gas milage. Regular is $1.90 around here and diesel is $1.65.anyway thanks for all the good tips.

 

Glad you got it worked out!

I wish regular was $1.90 here... I paid $2.39 for 87 octane on Monday. Diesel is near that too.