Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[duramaxsky]

I really like my new Weigh-Safe hitch with the built-in scale, it takes the guesswork out of positioning on the trailer. I try for 10 to 15% of Gross Trailer Weight on the tongue. This trailer gross was around 13,000 lbs.
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That's what I use as well. I have 2 of them. One for each truck.
Note that the weight changes when you move the vehicle a little most of the time. So I move ahead a few feet and recheck. It normally increases but not always.

 

[sixdogs]

160 miles, in 105 degree weather! Redding to home. Open freeway, no trafffic. Then next day, the additional 100 miles home to ranch. Rolling along with the slowest trucks went smoothly.

Then a few years later I finally found what I had searched for for years. Another YM186D (low enough to get under my orchard trees), this one with loader and the rare Power Steering option. And only 20 miles away. That tow was just over rated weight, but was slow and on back roads with no other cars.

Don't you need a chain on the bucket?

 

[Fallon]

I really like my new Weigh-Safe hitch with the built-in scale, it takes the guesswork out of positioning on the trailer. I try for 10 to 15% of Gross Trailer Weight on the tongue. This trailer gross was around 13,000 lbs.
View attachment 823820

100% I love mine. Right tongue weight every time. At least if I bother to look at the scale.

 

[California]

Don't you need a chain on the bucket?

It's not quick-detach, so as a practical matter it's not going to fall off. Per the Vehicle Code, probably.

 

[Renze]

Your tongue weight should be dialed in to roughly 10% - 15% of gross trailer weight. So, if trailer + payload happens to be 5k lb on a given trip, you should adjust the load to achieve 500 - 750 lb. on the tongue. Of course, most aren't going to have a way to measure trailer weight and tongue weight handy, so it becomes a bit of a SWAG.

Here in Europe the rule of thumb is 5%.
Though the 3500kg (7750lb) approved ball hitches have an approved vertical load of 250kg or 550 lb which is 7%

In stability, height of the center of gravity is also very important, a high center of gravity at speed can create negative tongue weight.

 

[Grumpycat]

Here in Europe the rule of thumb is 5%.
Though the 3500kg (7750lb) approved ball hitches have an approved vertical load of 250kg or 550 lb which is 7%

In stability, height of the center of gravity is also very important, a high center of gravity at speed can create negative tongue weight.

In the USA we "know" the bigger the number the better!

So you say 5%, we up the bid to 10%! Must have 10% on the tongue!

And now we have gotten tired of that and can do better, 15%!

Tune in again in 5 years and it will be 20%.

As I originally said, the tendency in the USA is to put too much on the tongue. That when getting above 2/3rds the rating of my Subaru too much tongue weight makes the rig porpoise.

 

[WinterDeere]

Here in Europe the rule of thumb is 5%.
Though the 3500kg (7750lb) approved ball hitches have an approved vertical load of 250kg or 550 lb which is 7%

In stability, height of the center of gravity is also very important, a high center of gravity at speed can create negative tongue weight.

This allows for the European tradition of towing larger trailers with smaller cars, than you'll see common in USA. But you already pointed out the problem with 5%, potential for negative tongue weight when cresting hills or bumps. I suppose some European countries (Germany) have better highways than us, with less hills and bumps, but others (Italy) are even worse than many of ours. Is this 5% guidance universal across the entire EU?

What's interesting is that, here in the USA, you'll notice most of our tow ratings are actually based on 10% tongue weight. You will sometimes find 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton (or 3/4 vs. 1-ton) pickup trucks from the same manufacturer can have identical brakes and drivetrain, but receive vastly different tow ratings, with the lighter of the two based purely on its limited tongue weight capacity.

 

[jjeff]

I'll say it again. I'll tow tongue heavy with tow vehicle suspension enhancements. No porpoising and levels vehicle. Of course I'll change my opinion if and when I split my box framed duramax in half.

 

[Renze]

I'll say it again. I'll tow tongue heavy with tow vehicle suspension enhancements. No porpoising and levels vehicle. Of course I'll change my opinion if and when I split my box framed duramax in half.

No problems so far with my Volvo V70 diesel. Towed 10k, no problem.

 

[Renze]

As I originally said, the tendency in the USA is to put too much on the tongue. That when getting above 2/3rds the rating of my Subaru too much tongue weight makes the rig porpoise.

I like that. Adjustable headlight height will compensate for tongue weight. Porpoising ? Then you might consider HD shocks.