tongue weight

G

glust

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
141
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....
 
M

MarkSee

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
1,172
Re: tongue weight

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

MH Hawker

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
5,516
Re: tongue weight

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.
 
H

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,201
Re: tongue weight

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.
 
G

glust

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
141
Re: tongue weight

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!
 
H

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
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Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,201
Re: tongue weight

glust said:
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!
Click to expand...


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.)
 
G

glust

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
141
Re: tongue weight

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...
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,549
Re: tongue weight

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

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

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