Tongue Weight

[Irv964]

Re: Tongue Weight

Thanks for the validation Silvertip. I love forums but sometimes it is hard for the original posters to parse through information that sometimes is not correct. If I don't have an answer that I can back up with reasonable proof or, more importantly knowledge, I will not answer.

Please, IRV964 (original poster)- check out manufacturer's websites, and places like etrailer, etc before towing to validate your forum answers.

Original poster? Please tell me exactly where my answer is wrong? I think I answered it pretty correctly although not as detailed as some of the replies?
In the "original posters question, he was asking for a "percentage", I figured he already knew something about tongue weight or he wouldn't have asked? All I told him was to have a proper balance on his trailer which means exactly that and I also warned him about having too much tongue weight so please tell me where my reply was so "Hazardous"?!!
Next time I see a question about trailers and anything associated with them I will be sure to tell everyone to ask Scorpion the trailer god, he is the only one who has all the answers and the only one I would trust on here!!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Tongue Weight

He didn't say you were wrong, he also did not say 'hazardous'. He was simple suggesting that thread originator check with the trailer manufacturer in regard to tongue weight, a fair call in my opinion.

 

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

Re: Tongue Weight

Original poster? Please tell me exactly where my answer is wrong? I think I answered it pretty correctly although not as detailed as some of the replies?
In the "original posters question, he was asking for a "percentage", I figured he already knew something about tongue weight or he wouldn't have asked? All I told him was to have a proper balance on his trailer which means exactly that and I also warned him about having too much tongue weight so please tell me where my reply was so "Hazardous"?!!
Next time I see a question about trailers and anything associated with them I will be sure to tell everyone to ask Scorpion the trailer god, he is the only one who has all the answers and the only one I would trust on here!!

IRV, I scrolled down quickly and thought you were the OP- sorry for the confusion! Really! Your answer was right on. The OP is the person who posted- FreebieTony, my bad.

As for my qualifications, I have held a Class A CDL for almost 20 years and have towed heavy loads a few miles in that period. I don't consider myself a towing god but when it comes to safety (braking, sway, etc) I will chime in vehemently because unsafe actions effect not only the trailer operator but the rest of us sharing the road with them.

So Again Irv, I apologize.

 

[Irv964]

Re: Tongue Weight

IRV, I scrolled down quickly and thought you were the OP- sorry for the confusion! Really! Your answer was right on. The OP is the person who posted- FreebieTony, my bad.

As for my qualifications, I have held a Class A CDL for almost 20 years and have towed heavy loads a few miles in that period. I don't consider myself a towing god but when it comes to safety (braking, sway, etc) I will chime in vehemently because unsafe actions effect not only the trailer operator but the rest of us sharing the road with them.

So Again Irv, I apologize.

No problem Scorpion, appology accepted. I just couldn't figure out what exactly you meant? At the same time what I wrote about you being a trailer god was rather immature on my part and for that I too appologize!
Take care and keep up the good work!........Irv964

 

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

Re: Tongue Weight

No problem Scorpion, appology accepted. I just couldn't figure out what exactly you meant? At the same time what I wrote about you being a trailer god was rather immature on my part and for that I too appologize!
Take care and keep up the good work!........Irv964

Thanks- no worries!

I really love forums and just want to contribute on those subjects I have some expertise with (which means on most topics I remain silent!). Unfortunately most of the things I post about were learned through (bad) experiences. My tongue weight lesson came when I was hauling an Elgin Pelican street sweeper. I was hauling with my 86 Mack R model and a 20 ton tilt deck trailer. I normally put the sweeper on forward but that day it was raining and coming onto the deck was impossible with the tires spinning. So I backed it on, with a full hopper of sand (about 7K, which is in the front of the sweeper). I got on the road and that trailer swayed and nearly put me off the road- and I had almost 20K of sand in the dump body of the truck. Lesson learned, and quickly.

Safe towing, all!

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Tongue Weight

I'm sorry to disagree, but 5% is not enough weight on the tongue. Ideal is 10-15%. Under 10% you will have sway issues, over 15% and you may take too much weight off of your tow vehicle's front end effecting both steering and braking.

I am not questioning your qualifications to make this statement, however I would have to think that these 4 boat trailer manufacturers combined have more experience than yourself. They all recommend either 5-7% or 5-10%. My boat is about 6% and I have no sway issues at all. I personally thought the 6% on mine was on the low side until I researched these trailer manufactures websites.

Here are the links to trailer manufacturers recommendations;

http://www.loadrite.com/Support/Main...t_Trailers/76/
http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/forum/f_trstep3.html
http://www.karavantrailers.com/faq.cfm#q9
http://www.ezloadercustoms.com/parts...r.htm#fishtail
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[Scorpion 210 LTD]

Re: Tongue Weight

I am not questioning your qualifications to make this statement, however I would have to think that these 4 boat trailer manufacturers combined have more experience than yourself. They all recommend either 5-7% or 5-10%. My boat is about 6% and I have no sway issues at all.

Here are the links to trailer manufacturers recommendations;

http://www.loadrite.com/Support/Main...t_Trailers/76/
http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/forum/f_trstep3.html
http://www.karavantrailers.com/faq.cfm#q9
http://www.ezloadercustoms.com/parts...r.htm#fishtail
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Good research- all trailers are different and some longer boat trailers skew the generally accepted rules of towing because the axles are so far back (which is why you rarely see even an improperly loaded tractor trailer swaying with those rear wheels way back). I guess the only answer is to start with the TV manufacturer's (Ford, GM, Dodge, Toyota, etc)guidelines and adjust as needed based on your outcome (nose on TV too high, sway etc). Unfortunately, these are all guidelines and there are so many variables.

If your setup is working, that is great- if not adjust until it does. I have no doubt that those manufacturers have more experience than I, though I do feel that at times manufacurers and dealers are overly optimistic about what can be towed and by what.

The bottom line is that most of us want to tow safely and that is really counts. Again, safe towing!

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Tongue Weight

I just did some research on vehicle manufactures websites and now I am really confused

This is what Ford recommends;
? For trailers up to 2,000 lbs., not to exceed 200 lbs.
? For trailers over 2,000 lbs., 10 - 15% of trailer weight.
? For fifth-wheel trailers, approximately 25% of trailer weight.

GM recommends 10-15%

Dodge recommends 10-15%

Who do we listen to the boat trailer manufactures or the vehicle manufactures????????

Honestly my 6% is only a guess since I do not know the actual weight of the trailer, I have calculated based on a full tank of fuel and all the extras I have added. I have been meaning to take it to a scale somewhere and have it weighed. I know most of my boats weight is on the back of the trailer and this is why I am concerned about the tongue weight, to me it seems on the light side, however adjusting the axles would not be an easy task, everything is welded in place including the fenders. I would have to add weight to the front somehow.

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Tongue Weight

I do feel that at times manufacurers and dealers are overly optimistic about what can be towed and by what.

Funny you mention this, my Dad just bought a new Toyota Matrix and it is rated to tow 2000lbs. My boat and trailer fully loaded weighs around 2000lbs and there is no way I would feel comfortable towing it with his car. I am sure it could tow the load but stopping could be scary.

 

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

Re: Tongue Weight

I hate to say it, but sometimes it is all about the sale. In this case I point to dealers more than manufacturers- "sure you can tow that 10K travel trailer with a Toyota Prius, just leave plenty of braking room"

That is why we are in such a financial mess here in the US- corporate and personal greed (sorry off topic rant!)