Tongue Weight Question

[Danny in CO]

I have a 19' Mach I boat with a 5.0L OMC engine on a single axle Shorelandr trailer. Acording to NADA, the boat should weigh about 2700#s. I don't know the trailer weight. Currently the tongue weight is more than I can lift by hand and I'm a big guy. When I hook the trailer to my 3/4 ton van, the rear of the van drops a lot. However, it pulls straight. How much tongue should there be on this boat/trailer? Can I move the axle forward to lighten the tongue weight?

Thanks!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tongue Weight Question

Boat weights are generally listed dry (no gas, no batteries, no gear, etc). The trailer will be in the 500 - 600 pound range so full of fuel and gear I suspect you are close to 4000 pounds or more. Tongue weight is much discussed and you will get differing opinions depending on the source. The simplest answer is "whatever results in the best towability". Trailer manuacturers generally recommend around 7%. GM recommends 10%. Since the trailer manufacturers tend to be on the light side since they want to sell trailers to folks with marginal tow vehicles, and GM builds tow vehicles, I tend to feel the 10 - 15% range for a single axle trailer is the best target. So at 10% you would need to heft about 400 pounds which is why, even though you are big guy, you can't lift the tongue. Unless you are having a handling problem, tongue weight is probably fairly close. Even at 7% you would be in the 300# category.

 

[gstanton]

Re: Tongue Weight Question

Travel trailers are recommended to have a hitch weight of 12%. I would think that the same laws of physics would apply to boat trailers. It would be a good idea to take the boat and trailer (loaded) to a scale and then you'll know what you're dealing with. I did just that and moved up to 15" wheels and tires to get load range D tires. Kept having blowouts and found that my setup was right at capacity, on 14" rims and tires.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Tongue Weight Question

10 to 15 percent tongue weight of the gross weight of the boat fully loaded.
that prevents the trailer from swaying in tow.
There's no way you should be able to pick up the tongue of a trailer with a 19 ft boat on the trailer. My trailer weighs 875 lbs empty. That's the Title weight
of the trailer. I can';t pick up the tongue even with the trailer empty.

 

[steam_mill]

Re: Tongue Weight Question

The rule in North America is that the tongue weight should be 10% of the trailer weight.

This is different than i Europe. European guidelines are 5%. In Europe you will see similar cars to those in North America towing larger rigs.

For example, I own a Subaru Outback. Tow capacity is 2000 lbs in North America with a max 200 lbs tongue weight. In Europe, the recommended tow capacity is 4000 lbs. with the same 200 lbs. tongue weight.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Tongue Weight Question

i also believe you are close if not overweight for a single axle trailer.

 

[KETELS]

Re: Tongue Weight Question

BOAT-TO-TRAILER MEASURING GUIDE
STEP #1 STEP #2 STEP #3 STEP #4 STEP #5 STEP #5 (cont.)




STEP #3: Figuring Tongue Weight... is important because too little will cause
trailer sway and too much will cause uncontrolled "pushing" of the tow vehicle.


A. Transom should be flush with the end of the bunks/rollers to make sure that tongue weight calculation is correct.


B. To determine proper tongue weight, total the package weight (boat with fuel/battery, motor with maximum horsepower, and trailer) and multiply it by 6% on single axles and 5% on tandem axle trailers. ShoreLand'r suggests that tongue weight may be acceptable in a 5-7% range.
Example:

Boat with fuel and battery 2,000 lbs.
Motor 500 lbs.
Trailer 900 lbs.

Total Weight 3,400 lbs.
Single Axle Figure x 6%

Tongue Weight 204 lbs.



C. Using appropriate scale, weigh trailer at coupler, making sure the trailer is at towing height...


If tongue weight is within the 5-7% range, move to Step #4.
If tongue weight is too heavy, move axle forward an avg. of 10 - 15 lbs. per inch for which the tongue weight is over.
If tongue weight is too light, move axle back an avg. of 10 - 15 lbs. per inch for which the tongue weight is under.
After readjustment, check tongue weight again; proceed as necessary depending on results.




< previous step next step >