Tongue weight

hardee · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:50 am Post subject:

I have pulled a few trailers, over a few miles, and I would be pretty uncomfortable with a tongue weight of only 5-6% with a trailer weight equal to a 22 load. Single or tandem, I would think that is on the light side, and you could be setting yourself up for some serious swinging. 10% is good, and likely to stay straight behind you. If the trailer sits level, 15% is OK if your tow rig is qualified for the weight.

Over the road, a tandem will pull straighter and hobby horse less, (rock up and down at the tongue), but for backing and tight maneuvering, a single axel will be easier, and wear less on the tires, probably ride higher with more axel ground clearance.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Chester · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:04 am Post subject:

Securing a strap between the bow eye and the trailer eliminated the slam we would get after going over a bump. Big improvment.

Will-C · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:07 am Post subject: Tongue Weight

If you are pulling a tandem axle trailer getting your trailer tongue level with the boat and truck loaded as you normally would can't be over emphasized. It effects tire wear braking and handling. If you are weighing on a truck scale which have three different segments for weighing front axle drive wheels and trailer tandem axles on large trucks. You have make sure the truck and trailer are on different segments of the scale. Note the trucks individual weight on the slip. Then remove the trailer and just weight the truck on the same segment of the scale. The weight difference in the trucks weight is the tongue weight. If you have a half ton pickup with 500 pounds of gear in the bed you don't want 1000 pounds of tongue weight. Excess weight on your rear axle takes weight off the steering axle. When it gets wet or slippery you want the weight distributed somewhat evenly for all reasons. Steering, braking, tire wear. I always have checked how trailers pull by towing at a range of speeds up to 80 mph for a short time to make sure the rig stays rock steady. If not you need to make adjustments. I have always run radials tires once the may pops that boat trailers are supplied with wear out. They ride softer wear better and don't transmit the effects of hitting bumps quite as much to the truck. Having tires spin balanced is not a bad idea either.Balancing is a must if you are towing for any real distance. I would also do some swerving while no one is around to make sure you have a stable rig because sooner or later you will need to make an evasive manuver no sense getting any surprises later on in your trailering career.
D.D.