Tongue weight scale

[flusher]

I'm thinking about getting one of these

Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scales

for use with the 10K GN trailer that I plan to buy in a few months.
Anyone have any experience with one of these scales?
Are there better or cheaper alternatives?

 

[ToadHill]

It depends how much tongue weight you want. I've used a bathroom scale set on blocks at the same hight as the hitch. Scale I used will go up to 350lbs and I've not needed any more tongue weight than that.

 

[flusher]

It depends how much tongue weight you want. I've used a bathroom scale set on blocks at the same hight as the hitch. Scale I used will go up to 350lbs and I've not needed any more tongue weight than that.

As I understand the setup used for GN trailers, pin weigh should be 15-25% of the towed load. So with a fully loaded 10K GN, the pin weight could be as high as 2500 lb. Can't handle that with my bathroom scale.

 

[Willl]

I've used this method before.

 

[Raw Dodge]

I usually guess at it,after years of towing,you can get a pretty good idea of where your at,and where you need to be at.I have taken my camper to the cert scales just because im travelling far,and i wanted to make sure my axles weights were all ok.I have the biggest issues with my dump trailer,I end up with 1500-2000lbs tongue weight pretty easily,and i dont want to hook up the W/D bars for the 3 mile trip home.My 3/4 t HD trucks like 900-1200lbs tongue weight on all my larger trailers(33ft sunnybrook,14K dump,and 9900 flatbed).My 7k enclosed you can run as light as 700 and be ok,but it handles better at 8-900.
The tow vehicle will tell you if your too tongue light or heavy,either way will result in poor handling.IMO tongue light is very dangerous,as the tail wags the dog easily here.I always run a little tongue heavy if im not sure,and readjust the load back after a short drive if its too far forward.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I'm thinking about getting one of these

Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scales

for use with the 10K GN trailer that I plan to buy in a few months.
Anyone have any experience with one of these scales?
Are there better or cheaper alternatives?

I have that same model scale and it works fine...

 

[streamin]

I'm thinking about getting one of these

Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scales

for use with the 10K GN trailer that I plan to buy in a few months.
Anyone have any experience with one of these scales?
Are there better or cheaper alternatives?

I bought that same scale 2+ years ago and have been very happy with it.When I move the tractor just a little you can see the difference easily. I try to run between 900-1200lbs.
I would highly recommend it.

 

[flusher]

I've used this method before.

Good suggestion. Thanks.

 

[FlaDon]

....My 7k enclosed you can run as light as 700 and be ok,but it handles better at 8-900.
The tow vehicle will tell you if your too tongue light or heavy,either way will result in poor handling.IMO tongue light is very dangerous,as the tail wags the dog easily here.I always run a little tongue heavy if im not sure,and readjust the load back after a short drive if its too far forward.

With the WD bars on our 7K trailer 750 to 1000 works fine. I tend to run nose heavy also. With the coupler locked and nose heavy, you're not going to come off the ball. Tail heavy and you could. And as you said, tail heavy can get squirrelly.

 

[GE222]

Interesting device the little tongue scale. I have successfully used the bath scale and the board for weights exceeding the scales limits.

 

[jlrsn]

I've used the Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale for years and it takes all doubt out of your loaded trailer's tongue weight in minutes. I've been towing trailers since the 1940s as a kid on my dad's farm and lately have been amazed at tongue weights of some trailers. I went to pull a Weekend Warrior Toy Hauler for a friend that wound up with a tongue weight of over 2,500 lbs with all the front water tanks full and no load in the cargo bay! Needless to say I didn't tow it until I emptied the water tanks.

I've pulled my fully loaded 12,000 lb flatbed cargo trailer over 45,000 miles in the last 3 years crossing the Sierras and Rockies on each trip from my home in CA to my home up at 8,000' in the Rockies with my Ford F250 Super Duty Lariat Supercab, 4x4 Off-Road Option, 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel, ZF 6-Speed Manual Transmission and with a GCWR of 20,000 Lbs. I upgraded my stock tow hitch to a Reese P/N 45008 Class-V Tow Beast Receiver Hitch with a 2½" Square Receiver Tube Opening. The Tow Beast Receiver has a 12,000 lbs.(GTW) Weight-Carrying Tow Capacity or a 14,000 lbs. (GTW) Weight-Distributing Tow Capacity.

The Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale is small enough to fit in your glove box and gives you peace of mind. I don't use it with every load but I always have it when in doubt.
Good luck,
Jim

 

[Duffster]

Keep in mind that the weight on the jack does not equal the weight on the ball.

 

[archerm3]

I've used this method before.

that's what i use.

 

[jlrsn]

When I use the Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale it is inserted into the the Hitch Ball Socket, not further back. The weight shown on the scale "IS" the actual weight on the ball.
Jim

 

[Hematite]

When I use the Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale it is inserted into the the Hitch Ball Socket, not further back. The weight shown on the scale "IS" the actual weight on the ball.
Jim

Correct! That IS one of the advantages of the Sherline scale, you CAN measure at the ball socket in the coupler.