Tongue Weight

[malibu3105]

No Title

Here is the front. I'm just thinking I don't need to go quite so far forward on it.
But I am open to any opinions on this......

 

[bruceb58]

That's fine. I wouldn't move it one bit.

Not sure you have a choice to move it back even if you wanted to without some major modifications.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Get the boat and trailer weighed so you know how much tongue weight you want.

 

[malibu3105]

I was thinking that. Do you think I can roll into one of those truck weight stations on the freeway? Would they give me the total weight? Maybe I can put just the trailer on the scale to get that weight. Of course it would be minus tongue weight... But I would have an idea.

 

[WIMUSKY]

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.

Basically, I was saying I wasn't worried about having a little too much tongue weight. I'd rather have too much than not enough.....

 

[jbcurt00]

I was thinking that. Do you think I can roll into one of those truck weight stations on the freeway? Would they give me the total weight? Maybe I can put just the trailer on the scale to get that weight. Of course it would be minus tongue weight... But I would have an idea.

The recycler closest to me will let me pull across the scale, drop the trailer off the hitch and pull off the scale, at no charge, IF theres no line.

I can also go by w just the trailer to get its solo weight.

 

[malibu3105]

I will have to check around me. Would be nice to get the weight... Thanks, good ideas.

 

[Indigo Flats]

Very interesting conversation but isn't the length of the wheel base of the towing vehicle also important?

 

[tpenfield]

Very interesting conversation but isn't the length of the wheel base of the towing vehicle also important?

Welcome to iBoats. I do not see how the wheelbase of the tow vehicle would really matter, but I would be interested to know your thoughts. Keep in mind that this is a small bowrider, so not a complicated thing to tow.

 

[oldjeep]

Very interesting conversation but isn't the length of the wheel base of the towing vehicle also important?

Wheel base makes it harder for the tail to wag the dog if things do start going wrong.

 

[malibu3105]

So, I did not get pictures, but... I did tow it with a UHaul pickup, and then our Expedition. I paid attention this time So... brakes are working for sure. If feels like there is another driver behind me, when using brakes in the tow vehicle, the boat does all its braking. As long as I apply more then just a touch of pressure. I tried applying moderate brakes a couple times, and easy to slow and stop. Also, when towing the boat, it tracks perfect. No wagging. Nice and perfect. My Mechanic says the trailer is about 700lbs and with boat I should be about 3,500lbs or less. I may still get the axles service this summer and brakes inspected, but they are definitely working good.