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Andrewmart's avatar
Andrewmart
Explorer
Mar 11, 2021

Heavy tongue weight - change from PP 3P?

I have a 2020 SPORTSMEN® SE 301BHKSE that I tow w/ a 2015 F250 gas engine. I use a Propride 3P hitch. I went to the Cat scales today and found a hitch weight of 1220 lbs (did all 3 weight measurements). TT is 7000 lbs, so that puts me at 17.4%. I can provide the data if needed.
Should I consider changing to a lighter WDH to reduce tongue weight and get closer to 15%? Or is being over 2-3% not a big deal? Does being over weight w/ a 3P sort of offset the overage?

Considering changing because, while I love the 3P, hooking up is a chore. We've had the 3P for about 8 months and taken about 10-12 trips with it, and I still struggle with hooking up. Before the 3P we had an equalizer and I attached to the ball easily.

I only towed with the equalizer twice (on a 1/2 ton vehicle), so not sure how much of a difference switching WDH will affect the driving. We got the 3P because we had a 1/2 ton vehicle, but we ended up upgrading to the F250 after one trip. Had we gotten the F250 from the start, I doubt we would have even gotten the 3P.
  • Your not "over" tongue weight. 15% is just an average or rule of thumb or whatever so that the trailer tows well. Within reason more tongue weight is better then less. I wouldn't try to reduce it if your truck can handle it and an F250 should be just fine with 1,220 pounds on the hitch. 20% probably wouldn't be bad with that set up.
    Most people who are worried about having to much tongue weight really need to buy a bigger vehicle but are trying to just get by with the minimum they can.
  • I agree with the above. Your tongue weigh is fine. Hooking up will become easier as you get used to the hitch. I assume you have a rear view camera on your truck. If not, get a mirror that you can mount on your tailgate door and you will be able to hook up very easily. I used to hook up to mine with getting out to look only once and that was to double check the height.

    Another little hint. Paint the top of the stinger and the front of the hitch opening white so you can see everything better. That alone can make hitching up easier especially if you use a rear camera view or a hitch mirror.
    Hitching mirror

    Here is another one. You could probably get a couple of large suction cups and mount this to the tailgate, or it could be permanently mounted to the tongue jack post with a couple of U bolts.
    Another possibility
    Barney
  • Your tongue weight is fine, no need to change anything. You’ll get use to hooking up the PP. It’s not as hard as people make it out to be, just need to learn the tricks.

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