I was looking at getting a light weight toy hauler to make into a camper. But I am shocked by the tongue weight on most of them. Why is the tongue weight so much higher on a toyhauler? Is it because of the generator? Or can I offset that tongue weight with putting stuff in the back of the TH? Any ideas?

Having a generator up front is part of the reason but the idea is that toys in the back will offset the heavy tongue weight when loaded. When empty, you really have nothing but empty space behind the axles.

sheripoms wrote:....Or can I offset that tongue weight with putting stuff in the back of the TH?Yep. Plus "normally", the fresh water, grey water, and black water tanks are all forward of the axles, so "stuff" can be put inside in the back.

Yeah, they have to be tongue heavy so they don't become tongue-light when the garage is loaded. A heavy tongue requires more tow-vehicle capacity, but light-tongue can be a dangerous catastrophe on the highway. Even if it tows okay initially, one unsettling event (gust of wind, emergency lane change, etc) can induce uncontrollable sway.So... if you can load the trailer to be towable with your rig (and not go below 12% tongue weight), will you be able to maintain that loading scenario all the time? If not, it might be time to go truck shopping....

Axles are further back to handle the heavy toys in the back.

And its not just the tongue weight. Toyhaulers are heavier in general compared to a similar size TT. They need the added frame strength and heavier axles to handle the additional weigh when loaded.

Why is the tongue weight so much more on toyhaulers?

13 Replies

deltabravo
Nomad
Mar 14, 2014
FrankoToo wrote:
Having a generator up front is part of the reason but the idea is that toys in the back will offset the heavy tongue weight when loaded. When empty, you really have nothing but empty space behind the axles.

YEP.

My 21SW Desert Fox had the fuel tank at the back, the very back.

I was never in the ideal situation for reducing tongue weight when i loaded up for a trip, because I only hauled one motorcycle in the back.
MxDad567
Explorer
Mar 14, 2014
Very Clever way,of saying " Shes Not Fat"....

She is a 100lbs wet. LOL
bfast54
Explorer
Mar 14, 2014
MxDad567 wrote:
My wife doesn't think they are heavy enough. She fears its gonna end up over the hill if she walks in garage

Very Clever way,of saying " Shes Not Fat"....:W
big_buford
Explorer
Mar 14, 2014
MxDad567 wrote:
My wife doesn't think they are heavy enough. She fears its gonna end up over the hill if she walks in garage

Great place to put the ramp out on cables ! Comfy chair, music and a drink :C
kwlincoln
Explorer
Mar 14, 2014
joebedford wrote:
Axles are further back to handle the heavy toys in the back.

dead right.
Strabo
Explorer
Mar 14, 2014
Sin cal, your hauler looks alot like our 32' 5vr.
sin_cal_hd
Explorer
Mar 14, 2014
A simple answer is that most of the cabinets, tanks, bedroom slides are in front of axle like previously stated. Toys go in the rear and are supposed to be the counter weight.

Ive never heard of the 12% rule. But its almost impossible to evenly distribute the weight. All I know is to put (if you can) the heavier toys up front or over axles and load the lighter stuff towards the rear. Like I said if you can
MxDad567
Explorer
Mar 13, 2014
My wife doesn't think they are heavy enough. She fears its gonna end up over the hill if she walks in garage

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N-Trouble
Explorer
Mar 13, 2014
And its not just the tongue weight. Toyhaulers are heavier in general compared to a similar size TT. They need the added frame strength and heavier axles to handle the additional weigh when loaded.
joebedford
Nomad II
Mar 13, 2014
Axles are further back to handle the heavy toys in the back.