How to Measure Tongue Weight

Опубликовал Admin
30-10-2016, 11:42
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Gross trailer weight is the cargo weight that is going to be towed plus the trailer weight. This weight is very important to ensure not only correct towing capacity but safety on the road. The tongue weight is a measurement of the force applied downward on the hitching ball by the fully loaded trailer. The tongue weight should never exceed or go lower than about 9 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight. Simple cargo adjustments to the front or back of the trailer will adjust the tongue weight to the correct percentage. You can measure the tongue weight of your trailer assembly with just a few simple tools.

Steps

  1. Determine the gross weight of your trailer (you may need to go to the vehicle weighing scales for this).
  2. Ensure that the wheels of your trailer are securely blocked to prevent movement.
  3. Place a bathroom scale at the level of the hitch ball.
  4. Use cinder or wooden blocks to adjust the levels of both.
  5. Position the trailer tongue onto the scale.
  6. Read the scale's measured weight; this is your tongue weight.
  7. Divide the tongue weight by the weight of the trailer (you will get a decimal number).
  8. Multiply the decimal number by 100 to get the percentage of tongue weight to gross weight of the trailer.
  9. Adjust the cargo inside your trailer by moving it forward or backward if the tongue weight is more than 9 to 15 percent of the gross weight of the trailer.
  10. Repeat the process and reweigh until you reach the desired percentage.

Large Trailer

  1. Ensure that the wheels of your trailer are securely blocked to prevent movement.
  2. Cut a 5- to 6-foot (1.5 to 1.8 m)-long section of 2 by 4.
  3. Lay a pipe across the bathroom scale.
  4. Lay a second pipe across a brick.
  5. Set both of these 3 feet (0.91 m) apart.
  6. Lay the 2 by 4 across the 2 pipes.
  7. Ensure that the trailer tongue is the same height as the hitching ball.
  8. Lay the trailer tongue on top of the 2 by 4 precisely 2 feet (0.61 m) from the scale and 1 foot (0.30 m) from the brick.
  9. Read the scale's measured weight.
  10. Multiply the weight by 3 (to adjust for the fact that the entire weight of the trailer tongue is not actually on the scale); this is your tongue weight.
  11. Divide the tongue weight by the gross weight of the trailer to get a decimal number.
  12. Multiply the decimal by 100 to get the percentage tongue weight to gross weight of the trailer.
  13. Adjust the cargo inside your trailer by moving it forward or backward if the tongue weight is more than 9 to 15 percent of the gross weight of the trailer.
  14. Repeat the process and reweigh until you reach the desired percentage.

Tips

  • It is a good idea, especially when hauling large trailers, to install sway controls for extra safety on the road. These controls reduce the frictional resistance on the trailer tongue to help evenly distribute the weight of the trailer, making it much safer.

Warnings

  • Remember that you are working with heavy equipment. Take the necessary safety precautions to protect yourself, such as wearing close-toed shoes and gloves. Also take care when doing any lifting so as to not injure yourself.
  • Always connect safety chains to your assembly for additional security.
  • The 2 weights discussed are extremely important when hauling a trailer. Too much weight in the front of your trailer can result in too much downward pressure on your hitching ball and affect your steering capacity; too little weight can cause your trailer to sway.

Things You'll Need

  • Trailer with cargo
  • Vehicle scale to weigh the fully loaded trailer
  • Bathroom scale
  • 5- to 6-foot (1.5 to 1.8 m) length of 2 by 4
  • 2 pipes
  • Cinder blocks or bricks
  • Tape measure
  • Close-toed shoes, gloves
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