checking tongue weight with Sherline Scale

I want to know what the empty tongue weight is with the options on the trailer. The published tongue weight is without any options, which is kind of a worthless number. I know about what a battery and propane tanks will weigh. Since my TV does not have infinite capability, I would rather know the starting point of a trailer before I buy it.

I'm having trouble understanding why you would want to go to a dealer and measure tongue weights. They will change (75 to 150 lbs) with dealer added options, adding a battery (or two), and filling propane bottles, but, those things normally don't happen until the unit is sold. Thus, a somewhat accurate tongue weight, is already printed on the sticker.

The time to check with a scale would be after loading up for camping.

For ball park correction -- multiply tongue jack reading by 0.95.

The actual correction is the ratio of

distance from tongue jack to midpoint between axles

divided by

distance from coupler to midpoint between axles.

On Edit: Had a bit of brain lapse on the first version of this post.
The load measured under the tongue jack will be greater than the load measured under the ball coupler.
Therefore the actual tongue weight will be about 5% less than the load measured under the tongue jack.

Ron

I think I remember that info in the owners manual.

I think it would be easier to do it via the ball coupler. You'll need a little "kit" consisting of a jack, some blocks and the Sherline. Get the trailer nearly level then just lift the tongue slightly with the Sherline.

This measurement will only provide a minimum value for you though. Once you add propane, battery(s), front storage items and possibly waste/clean water all things could change.

I think our trailer had a sticker that put the tongue weight in the mid 700's, but when ready to go it's more like 1,000.

Also, you may need to jump on the tongue a bit to make the scale settle, otherwise the reading on the Sherline can be off a bit. Be careful how you do it at a dealer's lot though.

It's easier to just put the scales under the tongue and then you'll know. Take a block set the jack on it and just lift the jack off the ground.