Tongue Weight

[sailor55330]

So, do y'all know what your tongue weight is? Advice for boat trailers is all over the place---everything from no more to 5% all the way to at least 15%. I know the ultimate check is trailer sway. My trailer manufacturer is about as vague as can be, stating, "no less than 5%". Knowing that these are big heavy boats we are yanking around, just curious what everyone is seeing----or did you even bother to weigh?

I've tried to weigh using the cat scales, but they aren't too keen on unhooking the trailer. I thought about one of the trailer tongue weight scales (Sherline), but reports seem to be all over the place on their accuracy, with some fluctuating as much as 10-15% in multiple weigh-ins on the same trailer. I've thought about doing the bathroom scale/pipe/board method, but seems like a lot of work. I guess I'm getting to the point that $100 for an easier method is a deal.


So with that all being said---what'cha puttin on the ball and how did you determine it?

Only 63 more days till storage is over----but maybe not ice out!

[Big Block Power]

no idea it pulls good at 80. we will what kind of diff the new tires will make.i think im around 10%

[AsLan7]

Pot the...

We are at 10% with no sway for a 6000 pound pull.

[Big Block Power]

Pot the...

We are at 10% with no sway for a 6000 pound pull.

Na I just forgot the word see.

[AsLan7]

Pot the...

We are at 10% with no sway for a 6000 pound pull.

Na I just forgot the word see.

You’re kidding correct?
.

no idea it pulls good at 80. we will what kind of diff the new tires will make.i think im around 10

Translated with words, punctuation, & structure ( preferably in a British accent )

“We have no idea about our trailer tongue weight. Our vehicle pulls it well at 80 mph. We shall see what kind of difference the new tires will make.

I believe my trailer tongue weight is around 10% of gross. “


....and would you pass the Grey Poupon please.

.


.

[Big Block Power]

Pot the...

We are at 10% with no sway for a 6000 pound pull.

Na I just forgot the word see.

You’re kidding correct?
.

no idea it pulls good at 80. we will what kind of diff the new tires will make.i think im around 10

Translated with words, punctuation, & structure ( preferably in a British accent )

“We have no idea about our trailer tongue weight. Our vehicle pulls it well at 80 mph. We shall see what kind of difference the new tires will make.

I believe my trailer tongue weight is around 10% of gross. “


....and would you pass the Gray Poupon please.

.


.

Na that's too much gibberish. My thumb would get sore. I like my short bb version.lol I'm not at school or work so it's all good.

[AsLan7]

Loce you brutha!

[NautiGirl]

I want to weigh ours this spring, will most likely use the 2x4 and bathroom scale method. I had looked at a sherline, if we were towing a travel trailer where the tongue weight could change depending on how we had it loaded from trip to trip I would most likely make the investment. Since the majority of the boat weight is on the trailer axles there really isnt going to be much fluctuation on the tongue weight. Ill save the $130.

I am curious where we are at. I feel like a lot of people look only at the tow rating of their truck/suv and assume they are within limits when in reality the payload capacity is the number they will most likely exceed first. Take my F150 for example, its rated to tow something stupid like 13k. The payload is 1575. The only way I could get close to the 13k number is if I was towing something like a hay wagon with a front axle and no weight on the tongue.

Want to work out a deal on a Sherline scale? I could buy one then sell it to you after I use it once?

[Big Block Power]

Loce you brutha!

Back at ya.
We have a guy at the CLC that brings his scale and anyone that wants to find out there tongue weight can.

[thunder550]

I think 5-10% is pretty normal with a boat. Seems to be generally accepted that boat trailers will have less tongue weight than a traditional travel or cargo trailer, which are usually recommended to be 10-15% There are still some people who say those numbers should apply to a boat as well, but that's overkill IMO for something with the majority of the weight at the far back end.

[sailor55330]

A deal on a used Sherline---????

Well, here's a stupid thought---A time share

Get 10 people who are interested.

First guy buys it, weighs, sells it to the second guy for $10 less than he paid, then sends it to the next guy.
Next guy weights, sells to the third guy for $10 less than he paid, then sends it to the next guy....and so on

Get 12 people in and everyone pays $10

Yes, I have too much time on my hands

[NautiGirl]

A deal on a used Sherline---????

Well, here's a stupid thought---A time share

Well I got bored at work and did some shopping - got a really good deal on a 1000lb Sherline scale on Ebay, it should be here early next week. We will get ours weighed up and then offer it for a bit less than I paid - the line to purchase forms to the right lol.

The time share idea is interesting, I think I will just offer it up for sale, whatever happens to it after I have the money is up to the person that purchases it.

[AsLan7]

A deal on a used Sherline---????

Well, here's a stupid thought---A time share

Well I got bored at work and did some shopping - got a really good deal on a 1000lb Sherline scale on Ebay, it should be here early next week. We will get ours weighed up and then offer it for a bit less than I paid - the line to purchase forms to the right lol.

The time share idea is interesting, I think I will just offer it up for sale, whatever happens to it after I have the money is up to the person that purchases it.

.
Cool idea!

[sailor55330]

Well I got bored at work and did some shopping - got a really good deal on a 1000lb Sherline scale on Ebay, it should be here early next week.

Please be sure to report back on how accurate you think it is.....as I mentioned, I've read everything from dead on to 40% variance in mulitple weigh attempts!

[NautiGirl]

Well I got bored at work and did some shopping - got a really good deal on a 1000lb Sherline scale on Ebay, it should be here early next week.

Please be sure to report back on how accurate you think it is.....as I mentioned, I've read everything from dead on to 40% variance in mulitple weigh attempts!

Cool, from what I have read 2-3% accuracy as long as the trailer coupler is set level on the scale. Most of the error is introduced when the coupler is pushing sideways instead of straight down on the scale.

Don't worry I will give you first right of refusal on the scale after we are done with it.