Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[4570Man]

I’m one of those that say measuring the tongue weight isn’t necessary. I tend to load front heavy. I’d like to see you weigh the tongue with any degree of accuracy with a bathroom scale.

 

[aczlan]

I’m one of those that say measuring the tongue weight isn’t necessary. I tend to load front heavy. I’d like to see you weigh the tongue with any degree of accuracy with a bathroom scale.

If done properly, you can accurately weight up to 1200# of tongue weight with a 300# rated bathroom scale.


Aaron Z

 

[lostcreekranch]

My big loads, Tractors, etc., are hauled with gooseneck trailers. I load front heavy and as I move Tractor forward on trailer, I can watch how much squat I get on back end of my F350. I can leave Ranch and drive about 4 miles to nearest major road. That gives me plenty of time to see how trailer pulls. I’ve only had to adjust once. When I was hauling my small tractor, an LS XR415HC, I loaded it about 2’ back from the sweet spot. I loosened the rear chain, pulled forward and redid front and rear tie down chains. It then pulled great.

I’ve ever even tried to measure “tongue weight”.

I haul my JD Zero turn and Polaris Ranger on a 6’ x 12’ BP Trailer. From past experience I know exactly how far forward both need to be on trailer to pull well.

 

[aeblank]

X2. No weighing for me.

 

[goeduck]

I look at the truck squat and judge by that. Then position just a little more forward for good measure.

 

[4570Man]

If done properly, you can accurately weight up to 1200# of tongue weight with a 300# rated bathroom scale.


Aaron Z

The jack weight and hitch weight isn’t the same. The problem gets worse with a lever over the scale. Unless you’re using steel pivot pins the lever arrangement isn’t even very accurate.

 

[goeduck]

The tongue weight is going to go up and down as the trailer bounces/rocks forward to backward. All the more reason to load heavy on the tongue, to more than offset the bouncing upward forces.

 

[Code54]

Same here - I know how much the truck squats when carrying various loads so I just watch it squat and make sure I'm a bit front heavy. Never had any problems except about 25 years ago when I pulled a trailer for the first time.
Went and bought a trailer to haul atv's, well trailers really don't come with directions and I was never around people towing (dad had a truck but don't recall him ever towing a trailer) so I had no idea how to load it. Read the little book from the trailer company and it told me all about tire pressure and max load but not about tongue weight or towing. First trip the trailer was wagging all over the place and my little Toyota was not liking it. Pulled over and a older fellow stopped and told me to move the ATVs towards the front and that my "weight was wrong." Did what he told me and all was well and started to learn about trailers and towing. A lot of us never had any one tell us a thing about trailers and had to learn as we go. Years ago there was no internet to look it up and learn from, just had to wing it and hope someone would help you out and teach you.

 

[fried1765]

I知 one of those that say measuring the tongue weight isn稚 necessary. I tend to load front heavy. I壇 like to see you weigh the tongue with any degree of accuracy with a bathroom scale.

You are welcome to come watch me do it...anytime.
I'll bet I can achieve accuracy within 50 lbs.
It is actually quite simple, and a whole lot better than the guessing method.
Recommend Summertime.

 

[fried1765]

The jack weight and hitch weight isn’t the same. The problem gets worse with a lever over the scale. Unless you’re using steel pivot pins the lever arrangement isn’t even very accurate.

Steel pivot pins ARE used.
Jack weight would never be the equivalent of tongue weight.