H2ONUT
Well-Known Member
What is the easiest way to figure / measure the tongue weight? I have a new to me trailer that I rebuilt and I want to make sure the load is correct.
Tongue Weight
- Thread starter H2ONUT
- Start date
Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
Get a little scale that will fit in your mouth.....
A couple of ways, One is to weigh it with a bathroom scale. If the tongue weight exceeds the weight of the scale you can estimate by using a lever which will reduce the weight proportionately depending on where the tongue sits on the lever. Also, raise the scale/lever up so that it's at the relative height of your vehicle trailer hitch when you weigh it.
The other method is to weigh your vehicle unloaded at a truck scale. Then weigh your truck again with the trailer attached, but no trailer wheels on the scale. Some scales will give you weights by axle depending on where you go. You may need to pull the trailer on, unhitch and weigh it to make sure you've got the right percentage of trailer weight on the hitch.
I don't know what your boat or trailer weigh, but figure it's probably 5,500 (fully loaded?)plus 1,200 or so for the trailer? So you probably need between 335 to 670 on your hitch. Usually they recommend 5% to 10% as a rule of thumb.
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