Tongue Weight

[FreeBeeTony]

How much tongue weight is correct? Is it a percentage of the total weight?

[Irv964]

How much tongue weight is correct? Is it a percentage of the total weight?

For proper balance on a trailer is where it is important, every different size of a boat will have a different tongue weight.
You also need to be aware of the tongue weight rating on your receiver/towing hitch on the vehicle that is hauling it. There are ways to increase that rating safely but overloading the rated tongue weight on any given vehicle is hazardous!.........Irv964

[rockyrude]

The proper tongue weight IS based on the weight of your rig. It should be between 5% and 10% of your total rig weight, boat motor trailer full fuel tanks full water tank (if you have it) and everything else you need for a day on the water.

[LX Kid]

Hey FreeBeeTony! I also have to address the issues of tongue weight on my24' GW. The trailer is not correct for my boat and will have to get it into the water so I can work on the trailer. The bunks need spacing outward and boat needs shifting aft about 36". When I bought the boat two weeks ago I had to use a jack to lift the tongue to hitch it up. My son and I figure that it's about 400 lbs tongue weight. Going to need about $500 in parts to do the trailer repairs. Ron

[Dunaruna]

10% to 12% is ideal. Under 10% can make the rig squirelly.

[Andy in NY]

what about towing a non boat trailer? I have a 4x6 utility trailer for hauling firewood... is tongue weight important in this case?

[Dunaruna]

what about towing a non boat trailer? I have a 4x6 utility trailer for hauling firewood... is tongue weight important in this case?

Yep, ANY trailer with a central axle set (not a dog trailer) requires weight on the tongue for stability at speed.

[Andy in NY]

So what should be the proper procedure when it comes to towing with a utility trailer? MAke sure the load is spead even throughout?

Boat trailers are easy, because once they are set up, they are good to go. But with my utility trailer the load is always changing...

[cdnfthree2]

what about towing a non boat trailer? I have a 4x6 utility trailer for hauling firewood... is tongue weight important in this case?

Abosolutely, but with the payload of a 4 x6, you probably woudn't ever know the difference pulling firewood. Mst trailers have a rating that in my experience has been around 60/40-front to back but that is based on the assumtion that your axle is near center and even then, isn't awalys the case. The tandem axles on my boat trailerare directly in the back (where the weight is). My 16 ft. tandem axle utilitly pulls 3 tons the best when all heavy weight sits right on top of the axles. I've nearly been thrown from the freeway by improper loading before. It was scary (too much weight in rear i believe). Braking only make it worse at that point! And you have to have brakes!?

[marquette]

assuming that you are well within the weight rating of the hitch and the capabilities of the tow vehicle does any body know if there is a problem with too high of a percentage of tongue weight?

[KM2]

My experience with a 5x8 trailer is, it will tow fine as long as it has tongue weight. I try to load it 60/40. 60% of the weight of the load if front of the axles.

[kenmyfam]

5% to 10% is a good guideline. With experience you will find what is right for your particular outfit.

[VaGent]

I just bought a 21ft Easy Loader trailer to convert into a pontoon boat trailer. The previous owner used it to carry a 19ft heavy boat until he bought a new trailer. This trailer is heavy duty so I know it will carry my 20ft pontoon boat with ease. My question is, will I have to change the axle location in order to get the correct balance & tongue weight or should I leave it where it is now since it was set up this way at the factory?

My pontoon is fairly light as it doesn't have much furniture on it nor do I plan to have a lot either & the engine is a Johnson 70hp with T/T. I "guesstimate" the weight with the engine, batteries (2) & 12 gallons of gas to be somewhere around 1600-1800 lbs at most. The galvanized trialer I am converting is rated for a 3600 GVR boat so I know it will handle the 'toon OK. I'm trying to figure out how to set up the balance point to start with if I can so I won't have problems with it the first time. It also has 15" tires & wheels which I intend to change to 10" wide profile as I hear they are much better to use towing a pontoon boat. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[rockyrude]

Pontoons have their weight more evenly distributed than regular boats, you need to get your boat on the trailer and get everything weighed. you need to add the trailer weight in also. since you can't really move a pontoon to change the balance , you will most likely need to move the axle. measure good to keep it square under the trailer.

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

5% to 10% is a good guideline. With experience you will find what is right for your particular outfit.

I'm sorry to disagree, but 5% is not enough weight on the tongue. Ideal is 10-15%. Under 10% you will have sway issues, over 15% and you may take too much weight off of your tow vehicle's front end effecting both steering and braking.

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

I just bought a 21ft Easy Loader trailer to convert into a pontoon boat trailer. The previous owner used it to carry a 19ft heavy boat until he bought a new trailer. This trailer is heavy duty so I know it will carry my 20ft pontoon boat with ease. My question is, will I have to change the axle location in order to get the correct balance & tongue weight or should I leave it where it is now since it was set up this way at the factory?

My pontoon is fairly light as it doesn't have much furniture on it nor do I plan to have a lot either & the engine is a Johnson 70hp with T/T. I "guesstimate" the weight with the engine, batteries (2) & 12 gallons of gas to be somewhere around 1600-1800 lbs at most. The galvanized trialer I am converting is rated for a 3600 GVR boat so I know it will handle the 'toon OK. I'm trying to figure out how to set up the balance point to start with if I can so I won't have problems with it the first time. It also has 15" tires & wheels which I intend to change to 10" wide profile as I hear they are much better to use towing a pontoon boat. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

If your gas tanks are moveable, I would suggest moving them forward for the trailer trips. I believe a gallon of gas weighs 6 pounds or so X 12 = 72 pounds per tank. If you are light on the tongue, move one or both forward to achieve your ideal tongue weight.

[Silvertip]

Most utility trailers are built with the axle set behind the center of the trailer to ensure you do obtain the proper tongue weight. However, if a utility trailer is loaded with a variety of stuff ranging from heavy to light, you had best put the heavy stuff up front as improper loading (heavy stuff behind the center line) will cause two things to happen. 1) The trailer will fish-tail like crazy, and 2) The tongue will hit you in the chin if you uncouple the trailer when its loaded.

[cribber]

If you go with 10 - 15% tongue weight of what your rig is rated to carry, you should not have any problems. Also know your ramps if you're trailering and go with what's comfortable and familiar.

[Silvertip]

The last time I checked GM's trailering guide they too recommended 10-15%. Trailer manufacturers vary in their recommendations. Tandems and tri-axles can get by with less than 10% but I too consider 10% the minimum.

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

Thanks for the validation Silvertip. I love forums but sometimes it is hard for the original posters to parse through information that sometimes is not correct. If I don't have an answer that I can back up with reasonable proof or, more importantly knowledge, I will not answer.

Please, IRV964 (original poster)- check out manufacturer's websites, and places like etrailer, etc before towing to validate your forum answers.

[Irv964]

Thanks for the validation Silvertip. I love forums but sometimes it is hard for the original posters to parse through information that sometimes is not correct. If I don't have an answer that I can back up with reasonable proof or, more importantly knowledge, I will not answer.

Please, IRV964 (original poster)- check out manufacturer's websites, and places like etrailer, etc before towing to validate your forum answers.

Original poster? Please tell me exactly where my answer is wrong? I think I answered it pretty correctly although not as detailed as some of the replies?
In the "original posters question, he was asking for a "percentage", I figured he already knew something about tongue weight or he wouldn't have asked? All I told him was to have a proper balance on his trailer which means exactly that and I also warned him about having too much tongue weight so please tell me where my reply was so "Hazardous"?!!
Next time I see a question about trailers and anything associated with them I will be sure to tell everyone to ask Scorpion the trailer god, he is the only one who has all the answers and the only one I would trust on here!!

[Dunaruna]

He didn't say you were wrong, he also did not say 'hazardous'. He was simple suggesting that thread originator check with the trailer manufacturer in regard to tongue weight, a fair call in my opinion.

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

Original poster? Please tell me exactly where my answer is wrong? I think I answered it pretty correctly although not as detailed as some of the replies?
In the "original posters question, he was asking for a "percentage", I figured he already knew something about tongue weight or he wouldn't have asked? All I told him was to have a proper balance on his trailer which means exactly that and I also warned him about having too much tongue weight so please tell me where my reply was so "Hazardous"?!!
Next time I see a question about trailers and anything associated with them I will be sure to tell everyone to ask Scorpion the trailer god, he is the only one who has all the answers and the only one I would trust on here!!

IRV, I scrolled down quickly and thought you were the OP- sorry for the confusion! Really! Your answer was right on. The OP is the person who posted- FreebieTony, my bad.

As for my qualifications, I have held a Class A CDL for almost 20 years and have towed heavy loads a few miles in that period. I don't consider myself a towing god but when it comes to safety (braking, sway, etc) I will chime in vehemently because unsafe actions effect not only the trailer operator but the rest of us sharing the road with them.

So Again Irv, I apologize.

[Irv964]

IRV, I scrolled down quickly and thought you were the OP- sorry for the confusion! Really! Your answer was right on. The OP is the person who posted- FreebieTony, my bad.

As for my qualifications, I have held a Class A CDL for almost 20 years and have towed heavy loads a few miles in that period. I don't consider myself a towing god but when it comes to safety (braking, sway, etc) I will chime in vehemently because unsafe actions effect not only the trailer operator but the rest of us sharing the road with them.

So Again Irv, I apologize.

No problem Scorpion, appology accepted. I just couldn't figure out what exactly you meant? At the same time what I wrote about you being a trailer god was rather immature on my part and for that I too appologize!
Take care and keep up the good work!........Irv964

[Scorpion 210 LTD]

No problem Scorpion, appology accepted. I just couldn't figure out what exactly you meant? At the same time what I wrote about you being a trailer god was rather immature on my part and for that I too appologize!
Take care and keep up the good work!........Irv964

Thanks- no worries!

I really love forums and just want to contribute on those subjects I have some expertise with (which means on most topics I remain silent!). Unfortunately most of the things I post about were learned through (bad) experiences. My tongue weight lesson came when I was hauling an Elgin Pelican street sweeper. I was hauling with my 86 Mack R model and a 20 ton tilt deck trailer. I normally put the sweeper on forward but that day it was raining and coming onto the deck was impossible with the tires spinning. So I backed it on, with a full hopper of sand (about 7K, which is in the front of the sweeper). I got on the road and that trailer swayed and nearly put me off the road- and I had almost 20K of sand in the dump body of the truck. Lesson learned, and quickly.

Safe towing, all!