tongue weight

[glust]

Checked the previous posts and did not find my answer so.... Here I am. If there is a thread, I apologize, please re-direct me.

I have a 1994 Suntracker Party Hut 30 ft. It has the swim platform and the small third too/transom in the rear. I have seen weight specs online from 2300 lb to 4700 lb?? anyway, the trailer I purchased to boat with was a dangerous piece of junk so I purchased a new Wolverine Triple Axle trailer that is plenty of trailer for my boat. Just switched over to the new trailer last week. I have noticed a great deal of tongue weight compared to the old trailer. (had tongue on cinder block on the tongue in the driveway and it broke it. I could lift the old tongue with the boat on it (working pretty hard though). I can not even budge the new one myself. The Wolverine Rep told me that I could move the axles forward or back if needed. I can go to a truck stop and weigh the boat and then just the tongue. My question is, "Is there a formula or percentage that I should be shooting for? When walking across the deck of the boat it bounces up and down. I did not notice any undue porpoising as I was pulling the rig. I don't want to be applying undo torque on the trailer. "It isn't paid for yet" Thanks in advance....

[MarkSee]

Typically for boats, you want 10% of the total (boat and trailer) weight to be the tongue weight.
Mark

[MH Hawker]

It would be a good idea to have it weighed that takes a lot of the guess work out of things and 10 % is the magic number.

[Skiya]

Have your trailer/boat weighted at a public scale or truck stop. You then can use a bathroom scale to determine your tongue weight.


Heres how
http://www.handymanclub.com/diy-proj...itical-balance

[smokingcrater]

for a multi-axle, especially a triple, you can get by with less than 10%. Some manufacturers will recommend as low as 5% as the minimum.

[glust]

Awesome! Thanks so much for the quick responses. I'm off to the truck stop. When the trailer rep told me the axles could be moved I didn't think much about it at the time, but now I am glad they can be moved. Good day all!

[lncoop]

Have your trailer/boat weighted at a public scale or truck stop. You then can use a bathroom scale to determine your tongue weight.


Heres how
http://www.handymanclub.com/diy-proj...itical-balance

This isn't necessary. A CAT certified truck scale will give you enough data to tease out the tongue weight (at least it did for me).

[smokingcrater]

Awesome! Thanks so much for the quick responses. I'm off to the truck stop. When the trailer rep told me the axles could be moved I didn't think much about it at the time, but now I am glad they can be moved. Good day all!

Post a pic of your setup. Its usually far easier to move the boat on the trailer. Axle moves, especially on a triple, are no fun. Most of the time, you can move the winch post backwards a little bit to lose tongue weight. (doesn't take much, even an inch can do A LOT.)

[glust]

That makes perfect sense. I checked last night and I have almost a foot of bunk on the back of the trailer that is not being used. The axles might be where they need to be. I may just have the boat too "front loaded"? By moving the winch toward the rear I lose tongue weight? Is this making sense. I will try to take pics this afternoon. Thanks so much fellas...

[Bond-o]

I may just have the boat too "front loaded"? By moving the winch toward the rear I lose tongue weight? Is this making sense.

Ayuh,.... Perfect sense,.... I like 10% to 15% on the tongue,.... 7% Minimum....

Any less, 'n the tail tends to wag the dog....

[Skiya]

Here's a good article I just saw yesterday

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/ma...ngueWeight.asp

[glust]

Here's a good article I just saw yesterday

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/ma...ngueWeight.asp

Great article! Thanks. It certainly is great to know that moving the boat on the trailer should fix my problem. (Not to mention a whole lot easier than moving axles...) Thanks again All! A+ for all of you.