Tongue weight

[Ralph vaughn]

can someone educate me on tongue weight. I am buying av2004 sea ray 280 that has an empty weight of 8500 pounds that comes with a trailer. How would I find out the tongue weight b

 

[paulswagelock]

If set up correctly, tongue weight is 10% so 850 pounds.

 

[MonacoMike]

can someone educate me on tongue weight. I am buying av2004 sea ray 280 that has an empty weight of 8500 pounds that comes with a trailer. How would I find out the tongue weight b

Empty weight, did you mean dry weight? Since you said 2004 280 the archive only shows a 280 DA, so I believe that is what you meant. Dry weight is without gas, oil, batteries and the like so you need to ad for that. It also is the smallest engine and no options, so you need to account for that. Then what does the trailer weigh?

I used to tow my 270 DA with a 6200 dry weight. But with all the fluids, options, (Bigger engine, AC, generator etc.) and some personal crap it was over 9000, on a trailer that weighed 3000. You get the idea. Once you know all that then you can figure your 10% tongue weight.

MM

 

[Lazy Daze]

Your loaded weight will be much more than 8,500lbs. By the time you add options such as the twin engines and anything else... along with gas, water, head, batteries, gear, trailer, etc, etc... you're more likely in the 12K to 13K range. Most boat trailer manufacturers recommend somewhere in the 5% to 7% for tongue weight.

Edit... BUT, the best way to know for sure is to just go and weigh it. Look in your area for certified CAT scale.

 

[SrtThis]

i always just use a tongue scale...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Put a bathroom scale under the tongue jack if it can read up to 800 Lbs or do this

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yup - can definitely do that. Math works! BUT... the guy did part of it wrong. He didn't get his real tongue weight - you need to balance the coupler on a short section of 4x4 and that 4x4 then rests on the horizontal wood. The 4x4 length needs to be such that it allows the trailer frame to be level.