Difficulty Reducing Tongue Weight
Hello! I joined today because I have been unable to solve my towing issues and would like to see if anyone can give me ideas to help. Tow rig: 2018 F150 Lariat Crew 4x4, 3.5L max tow Camper: 200...
Forum Discussion
I have experience towing a trailer with heavy tongue weight with a 1/2 ton. I can't fell transports coming up from behind let alone get any push. Heavy gusty winds I can fell some. I have towed this trailer about 70 000 miles over the lastst 7 years fro cost to coast to coast.
The trailer is 28 ft cabin 31 ft overall with scaled weight of 6800 lb. Tongue is 1300lb. Tires are endurance inflated to 60 PSI Hitch is Equal-i-er 1400/14000. The trailer sits 1 inch down at the front.
The current truck is a 2017 Silverado 1500 5.3 3:42 8 spd with 1960 lb payload. The tires are P-metric with rears inflated to max of 44 PSI and fronts at 40. Hooked up the front fenders are back to empty height.
I had earlier towed that trailer with a 2012 Silverado with same setting. I didn't have the same payload but the towing experience on the road was the same.
Based on my experience I suggest:
inflate rear truck tires to max with fronts a few PSI less
inflate trailer tires to at least 60PSI
Get a 1400/14000 hitch. You can get some money back by selling your current on Ebay
Double check that the trailer is not nose high
I would not try to reduce tongue weight by putting a bunch of weight at the rear of the trailer. That can give you bad polar moments if any sway event were to occur. Actually tongue weight is your friend. A lightly loaded tongue is very bad news. I have towed a couple of flat deck trailers with very light tongues. extremely unstable
I hope this helps
Good luck
The trailer is 28 ft cabin 31 ft overall with scaled weight of 6800 lb. Tongue is 1300lb. Tires are endurance inflated to 60 PSI Hitch is Equal-i-er 1400/14000. The trailer sits 1 inch down at the front.
The current truck is a 2017 Silverado 1500 5.3 3:42 8 spd with 1960 lb payload. The tires are P-metric with rears inflated to max of 44 PSI and fronts at 40. Hooked up the front fenders are back to empty height.
I had earlier towed that trailer with a 2012 Silverado with same setting. I didn't have the same payload but the towing experience on the road was the same.
Based on my experience I suggest:
inflate rear truck tires to max with fronts a few PSI less
inflate trailer tires to at least 60PSI
Get a 1400/14000 hitch. You can get some money back by selling your current on Ebay
Double check that the trailer is not nose high
I would not try to reduce tongue weight by putting a bunch of weight at the rear of the trailer. That can give you bad polar moments if any sway event were to occur. Actually tongue weight is your friend. A lightly loaded tongue is very bad news. I have towed a couple of flat deck trailers with very light tongues. extremely unstable
I hope this helps
Good luck
