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HOW MUCH TONGUE WEIGHT SHOULD I HAVE ON MY TRAILER?
Over all classes of trailers, manufacturers suggest that you will find your
optimal towing tongue weight somewhere between 7-15% of the Gross Trailer
Weight (GTW). GTW is the weight of the trailer and the load that it is
carrying. For example, if your trailer and the load that you put on it
weighed 5,000 lbs., Your optimum tongue weight would fall between 350 and
750 lbs. However, that still is a 400 lb. Gap!
WHAT IS "OPTIMUM TONGUE WEIGHT"?
The optimum tongue weight is established when the trailer and towing vehicle
are level and the trailer will pull behind the towing vehicle with minimal
resistance in a balanced & stable manner in all driving conditions.
Acceleration, braking, turning and lane changing. The optimum tongue weight
is not the same for all towing vehicles, since different vehicle models have
different characteristics. Weight, wheelbase, suspension, frame dimension
and loading all impact the optimum tongue weight for the towing vehicle.
Adding two adults to a towing vehicle will change the optimum tongue weight
for that vehicle to tow with. You should take your trailer out under
controlled conditions and by executing a variety of controlled maneuvers,
determine what is the "Optimum Tongue Load" for your set up.
Too much tongue weight creates excessive wear on your tow vehicle's
suspension, transmission and brakes. In addition, the excessive weight on
the rear lifts to front end and reduces traction on your steering. This is
greatly magnified while braking or going over bumps. You have an unstable
trailer condition. Fuel economy is reduced.
Too little tongue weight creates trailer sway, excessive brake-wear and
under braking conditions, lifts the rear of the towing vehicle contributing
to trailer "jackknifes". Trailers can also separate from the ball when going
over bumps in the road. Fuel economy is also reduced
Momentum = Mass x Velocity. A 5,000 lb trailer traveling at just 55 MPH has
275,000 lbs of momentum! When accelerating, cruising maneuvering or braking,
you do not want to get that momentum out of alignment. You want even
controlled pressures on all your brakes, transmission and tires when
stopping and accelerating or maneuvering.
DOESN'T THE TRAILER'S MANUFACTURER SET THIS UP?
Well for box or flatbed trailers the answer is of course no! They are
selling or renting you an empty trailer. They do not know how you intend to
load your trailer, nor do they know what type of vehicle you will use to tow
it. You have an empty trailer with a certain fixed tongue weight, but after
that.
For Boat Trailers you have a similar issue. The manufacturer does not know
what you are towing with (what type suspension etc.), nor how much gear and
equipment you may carry in your boat or towing vehicle. That is why boat
trailers are adjustable.
HOW DO I MEASURE TONGUE WEIGHT?
Up to now experts suggest that you take your trailer to a commercial truck
scale, pay the fee, wait your turn and unload your trailer onto the scale.
Of course you have to tow your trailer to the scale, which is usually
located on a busy interstate, and they tend to frown on you making any
adjustments to your trailer while truckers are waiting in line. On the other
hand. there is SenZBar!
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www.SenZbar.com
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