Can you have too much tongue weight?

[bdog]

We all know on a GN you are supposed to have 20-25% on the tongue and 10-15% on the tongue on a tag. If the tongue is too light the trailer will sway like crazy.

What are the consequences of having the tongue too heavy provided you are not overloading the hitch or the tow vehicle? Any adverse towing affects?

I am wanting to load my backhoe as far forward as possible on a pintle hitch trailer to help reduce the load on the trailer tires. The pintle hitch is rated for 15k vertical load and it is on a Kenworth.

Tongue weight I am aiming for would be around 5,000 lbs I am guessing. Loaded more towards the back of the trailer I went across the scales and the tongue weight was 3,040 lb and I had 20,920 lb on the trailer. The trailer axles are rated for 21k. It fell right in the 10-15% range but I was thinking if if I moved the machine forward 18-24" I could take a couple thousand pounds of the trailer axles and not have them right at the max and hopefully make them and the tires last longer.

 

[davesl708]

I would not exceed 10% of the rate for the hitch.

 

[tractchores]

Downside is the rating on the hitch, and the tow vehicle axle. In some setups you can take weight off the front wheels leading to problems stopping or steering, but it doesn't sound like that is an issue in your case? It may also contribute to bouncing if you hit a big expansion joint or bump (this could be dangerous).

 

[CCWKen]

Too much weight on the hitch could break the rear springs on the tow vehicle, cause you to loose steering capabilities and/or loss of braking force. People always worry about having enough drivetrain power to pull a trailer. Too often forgotten is braking power.

I pulled a 20' HD trailer loaded with my JD 420C and a 72" flail mower from an auction about 120 miles away. In the bed of the stock '81 C10 pickup was about another 300 lbs. of welding tanks, chains, tools and a full 5-gallon gas can. I had no problem pulling the load but decided that around 30mph was my safe stopping speed. I tested the brakes several times. Anything over 30 and the truck was just along for the ride. I white-knuckled it home for about 4 1/2 hours. I'll never do that again.

 

[bdog]

I would not exceed 10% of the rate for the hitch.

10% of the rate of the hitch for what? My hitch is rated for 15k tongue weight and 60k tow load.

If I have 5k tongue weight I am under 10% of the tow load rating. I assume you don't mean 10% of the tongue weight rating? If so a lot of pickup hitches are rated for 1000lb tongue weight and I am sure nearly all trailers have over 100lbs tongue weight.

 

[bdog]

Downside is the rating on the hitch, and the tow vehicle axle. In some setups you can take weight off the front wheels leading to problems stopping or steering, but it doesn't sound like that is an issue in your case? It may also contribute to bouncing if you hit a big expansion joint or bump (this could be dangerous).

My rear axles are rated for 40k. It can handle the 5k tongue load no problem.

 

[tcartwri]

Don't think you have to move it that much to get the result you want.

 

[TomSeller]

It is all about balance, the main thing I do not want is the trailer putting upward forces on the tow vehicle hitch when it bounces around. The weight needs to stay significantly downward during the entire tow.

 

[triptester]

10% of the rate of the hitch for what? My hitch is rated for 15k tongue weight and 60k tow load.

If I have 5k tongue weight I am under 10% of the tow load rating. I assume you don't mean 10% of the tongue weight rating? If so a lot of pickup hitches are rated for 1000lb tongue weight and I am sure nearly all trailers have over 100lbs tongue weight.

This truck should have no trouble with the tongue weight but is the trailer tongue designed the handle the extra weight.

 

[CJONE]

I always put as much weight on the tongue as possible. I rarely if ever moved something back on a trailer to lighten the tongue, with the exception of towing with my 1/2 ton. I will balance that so as not to overload the rear tires. As far as a tractor with a pintle hitch tag I put as much as I could to the front. Any HD trailer that is designed to be pulled by a Tractor will have no problem with tongue weight. CJ