Swing Away and Tongue Weight

[mike343]

Re: Swing Away and Tongue Weight

Maybe 10% less tongue weight. Move the bow stop a couple of inches forward,

 

[Paul Ryan]

Re: Swing Away and Tongue Weight

Yep, not by alot.......

This we can handle Thanks Knight and thanks all!!! Great input!

 

[Paul Ryan]

Re: Swing Away and Tongue Weight

Maybe 10% less tongue weight. Move the bow stop a couple of inches forward,

When I do get around to doing this I will be using a scale so I can dial it into the 10 to 15 %. Pulls great right now. Might be a wee heavy, but not off by much.

Can't move my bow stop. It's fixed. I'll weight it out and if I have to do anything I'll be sliding the axle.

 

[HotRod416]

Re: Swing Away and Tongue Weight

Maybe we're talking about different things. What the metal tongue weighs will go up if you add more metal (swing away tongue); the effort is needed to lift the tongue with a longer tongue goes down (longer fulcrum). The amount of weight on the ball of the hitch has to do with the position of the boat on the trailer in relation to the wheels (fulcrum), forward or rearward, and the type and location of the majority of the boat weight, usually the engine and fuel tank(s).

 

[vote4me4pres]

Re: Swing Away and Tongue Weight

If you add material the mass(g) will go up. Weight is not a measure or mass though it is of force. The force(lbs) will be less at the new coupler position. The force at the old coupler position and at your jack's position will be higher.

The % change is dependant on your current tongue's length and weight. If your trailer is short adding 2' will be a significant change. If its already 25' long it won't do much.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Swing Away and Tongue Weight

My gosh folks -- there is a very simple solution to this discussion. Fold the tongue. Place a scale under the hinge point and weight the darned thing (tongue weight). No swing the tongue into position and repeat the test at the coupler. Tongue weight will decrease. It is simple physics. The load is farther back from the point at which the measurement was taken. The overall load remains the same -- you didn't add weight nor did you remove any. You simply repositioned it. Ever notice that the rear wheels on semi trailers are adjustable. Wonder why that is??? It is so the loaded trailer can impart more or less weight on the fifth wheel on the tractor. Ever notice a semi pulled over with a swarm of officers positioning portable scales? They are measuring "axle weight". While 80,000 pounds is the max GVW on our highways, the distribution of that weight on the various axles is limited by the trailer and tractor design. Go over those limits even though the rig is not overweight and you have a ticket. Usually a big one.