Tongue weight

Is there any formula regarding tongue weight? I am redoing my boat trailer, and it seems a little heavy on the tongue. I can shift the axle, but just wanted to know if there is any standard to apply as a rule of thumb.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B
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"Steve B" fired this volley in news:jsqocq$cmv$ snipped-for-privacy@speranza.aioe.org:

IIRC, about 10% of the total gross weight should bear on the hitch, with the maximum being about 15%.

Less than 10% can begin to induce "tail wagging", which can amplify until it sweeps the tow vehicle off the road (or at least out of its lane).

LLoyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

10 to 15 % trailer weight on the tongue. On a 1500 lb class trailer, 150 lb on the hitch. MY rule of thumb is no less than 75 lb on the tongue, regardless how light the trailer.
Reply to
clare

Goota remember, particularly with boats, that the static tongue weight and the running tongue weight are not always the same. A boat can lift significantly at speed, particularly if the hitch is higher than it should be.

Reply to
clare

Ten percent of gross trailer weight on tongue is the standard.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus29868

snipped-for-privacy@snyder.on.ca fired this volley in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

So long as it is hitched level, it shouldn't lift if the bottom is curved, and the top is (semi) flat. It should add tongue weight as speed increases.

But level is the trick. If it's sloped uphill, all bets are off.

LLoyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

...but a drop hitch adapter isn't expensive. So it's just stooopid to run the tongue higher than it should be on anything you own. Crap you just bought or are moving a short distance for a friend, OK, perhaps, but any trailer/tow vehicle combination you actually own should have the right drop adapter in the bag.... Heck, I even was able to find a USA made one for a reasonable price (not at Walmart, of course.)

Reply to
Ecnerwal

Ecnerwal fired this volley in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org:

yup. L

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

If you can JUST lift it on then it's about right is my simple rule.

Reply to
John G

7500 pounds on my trailer. 750 to 1125 pounds tongue weight.
Reply to
Richard

It better be level for a two axle trailer, like for my bay boat. Got to replace all the tires 2/3 of the way through a 1500 mile tow because of that. One of the nuts spun, too. That's fun on the road. Nut was too soft for nut splitter, resorted to cold chisel and big hammer. Replaced the studs. This was in Lake Charles, LA.

On the curve, the manufacturer warned me on a light canoe trailer to always tow with the canoe upright if highway speeds. Otherwise, he said you could be pulling a kite.

Luckily, I moved to Texas, so most tows under 50 miles, except for 200 for the little trailer with kayaks aboard, or occasionally the same with the jon boat. I really like the wheel bearings running in oil on that trailer. When I replace the axles on the big trailer, that's what I'll be shopping for.

Pete Keillor

Reply to
Pete Keillor

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