Tongue Weight

[malibu3105]

While we are on the subject, I have a single axle trailer holding my 20' Bayliner (2200lbs new).
I read in here that there should be 60% weight on the front. So if my trailer is 1,200lbs and boat is 2,400lbs, then that is 3,600lbs. Does that mean 10% weight on the tongue? That would be 360lbs. Seems like a lot of weight. I know I can't just lift my tongue up if I try. It is very heavy!!
I am guessing at these weights. No idea actually how heavy it all is.

 

[JASinIL2006]

The rule of thumb is that the tongue weight should be 10% of the total trailer+boat weight. If the total weight is 3600 lbs. (including stuff in the boat), then 360 pounds is about right.

Also, probably better to start a new thread if you have a question than to piggyback on an existing thread. If anyone in the future wants to search the forms for info on tongue weight, it will be easier for them to find it if it occupies its own thread.

 

[tpenfield]

Depending on how the rig rides, etc you can go up or down from the 10% (360 lbs) . . . yea, you won't be able to lift the tongue unless you are wicked strong.

 

[malibu3105]

Thanks. Then I am good. I can push it around lol to get it on the hitch, but that is why there is a wheel that I can crank down!!!

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

There is a method to find out the tongue weight using a bathroom scale, long board and a couple of bricks.
Hopefully someone can explain it.

 

[gm280]

There is a method to find out the tongue weight using a bathroom scale, long board and a couple of bricks.
Hopefully someone can explain it.

Here is such an article. Not hard to do at all. Simple math.

http://hildstrom.com/projects/tonguescale/index.html

 

[oldjeep]

FWIW, the factory trailer on my 2005 Bayliner 195 was nowhere near 10% on the tongue and it trailered fine at any speed. My 2012 Malibu on factory trailer is also nowhere near 10%.

Only comment I have from your picture is that your hitch looks too high on the tow vehicle.

There is also no way that trailer weighs 1200lbs. Closer to 700 would be my guess

 

[WIMUSKY]

I agree with the hitch looking too high. Your trailer should ride level, or a slightly down at the hitch. Lowering your hitch will increase the tongue weight even more.

I go with the, can't lift the tongue of the hitch theory and want to see a little sag on the tow vehicle. Then I figure I have plenty of tongue weight.... At the same time, you don't want severe sag. Then you have too much tongue weight. Never weighed any of my boats to see the actual numbers on the hitch......

 

[gm280]

The real serious issue with tongue weight is, if you don't have sufficient tongue weight you risk the change of having too much weight behind the pivot point and the trailer will throw the vehicle off the road...literally! The pivot point IS the axle. If there is more weight behind the axle then in front, you won't be able to keep it on the road because of the swaying. And it will never stop swaying either. That is a very dangerous condition. So the general rule of thumb is 10% tongue weight of the entire trailer weight. Then it trailers without any problems, straight, stable, and true, and that IS a proven fact! JMHO!

 

[WIMUSKY]

The real serious issue with tongue weight is, if you don't have sufficient tongue weight you risk the change of having too much weight behind the pivot point and the trailer will throw the vehicle off the road...literally! The pivot point IS the axle. If there is more weight behind the axle then in front, you won't be able to keep it on the road because of the swaying. And it will never stop swaying either. That is a very dangerous condition. So the general rule of thumb is 10% tongue weight of the entire trailer weight. Then it trailers without any problems, straight, stable, and true, and that IS a proven fact! JMHO!

Nobody is debating the 10%! I'm sure it has been proven! And I'm sure that's the proper way to go is by the book!

Just messin' with ya gm. I noticed alot of ! in your post...........

"For me", I'm going to keep doing what I've always done. I wouldn't doubt if I was always over 10%. But, I always haul with a 3/4 ton and it's not an issue. I always check the track of the trailer when I go down the road. So far so good, no swaying, tracks straight.....

 

[malibu3105]

Ok, thanks. Good points. So maybe I need a hitch that drops the ball a couple of inches? Try and get the trailer perfect horizontal or slightly lower?
It tracks fine now, but the back of the trailer is a little low. So I like the idea of lowering the hitch. Especially if it will ride even better.
I am glad that everyone agrees on the tongue weight, I know it is more than I can lift for sure.

 

[oldjeep]

Ok, thanks. Good points. So maybe I need a hitch that drops the ball a couple of inches? Try and get the trailer perfect horizontal or slightly lower?
It tracks fine now, but the back of the trailer is a little low. So I like the idea of lowering the hitch. Especially if it will ride even better.
I am glad that everyone agrees on the tongue weight, I know it is more than I can lift for sure.

Yup, you need to lower that tongue a bit. Impossible to tell how much from a picture.
The way I would figure it out would be
1) see how much your suspension currently drops when you put the hitch on
2) Use the trailer jack to set the trailer at about level when unhitched
3) measure to the bottom of the coupler
4) take that measurement plus your measurement in #1 and figure out what kind of drop you need

Or just get a nice adjustable receiver so you don't have to measure anything

 

[malibu3105]

Sounds like a plan. I will get it measured and then decide on either a lowered receiver, or an adjustable.

 

[H20Rat]

Nobody is debating the 10%! I'm sure it has been proven! And I'm sure that's the proper way to go is by the book!

Just messin' with ya gm. I noticed alot of ! in your post...........

"For me", I'm going to keep doing what I've always done. I wouldn't doubt if I was always over 10%. But, I always haul with a 3/4 ton and it's not an issue. I always check the track of the trailer when I go down the road. So far so good, no swaying, tracks straight.....

Vehicle size doesn't have any impact whatsoever on sway... You could hook up a tongue weight light boat trailer to a semi tractor and it has the same potential of swaying all over the road.

Anyway, 10% isn't a rule by any means. If you look up what the trailer manufacturers say, none recommend a minimum of 10%. And in fact, that is ABOVE what they recommend. I personally stay much closer to 5% on all my trailers, and they are all very stable. I've also experienced pulling extremely tongue heavy trailers, and they can cause a vehicle to do all kinds of strange things.

Loadrite - 5% - 7% https://www.loadrite.com/towing-info.php
shorelandr -5% -7% http://www.ezloader.com/images/pdf/a...ers-manual.pdf
ez loader - 5-10% http://www.ezloader.com/images/pdf/a...ers-manual.pdf
Karavan -5-10% (and they caution NOT to go over 10%) http://www.karavantrailers.com/liter...nersManual.pdf

 

[bruceb58]

Just towing a trailer down the road will not tell you if the tongue weight is fine or not. It will be during a sudden maneuver which you will find out which is too late to find out.

 

[malibu3105]

Well that makes me feel better !!! lol. Good part is I am towing with an Expedition, and when I am pulling the boat if feels fine. Just want to cross all the T's and dot the I's. I will get it level, and see about weighing the tongue. Plus, I can probably not pull the boat quite so far up on the trailer. I can leave it about 2 or 3 inches back. It will probably sit a little more level on the trailer that way also, and shift a little weight to the back.
That will also help if I drop the tongue a couple inches to get it level.

 

[bruceb58]

Pull the boat all the way up. It needs to be even with the back bunk. You don't want it hanging off the back of the bunks.

 

[malibu3105]

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True that, but looking at this picture, I think a have some room to spare on the back of the bunks. I'm thinking it would only shift it 3 inches at most.

 

[bruceb58]

The transom needs to be over the metal support of the rear of the bunk. As long as you have that, you are good. Too far forward is also bad.

 

[malibu3105]

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