Help needed with CAT scale numbers

handye9 wrote:

Baja Man wrote:
After discussing in a previous thread about my Equalizer hitch 1200/12000 model and if is appropriate for my truck / trailer, I believe it would best to get real CAT weights.

Below are my CAT scale weights today. The weights / procedures were
found here on RVnet as recommended for finding trailer tongue weight, trailer weight, WD weights, tow vehicle weight, etc

Tow vehicle - (with one 285# occupant):
FULL fuel tank
Approx. 100# in bed

Trailer -

Ready to travel...
FULL propane
FULL water
Full gear in forward storage (table, chairs, BBQ, etc)
Clothes, dishes, pots/pans, books, linen, tools, etc.



Weight #1 - (trailer connected to tow vehicle and WD hitch hooked up) front TV axle on scale 1, rear TV axle on scale 2, and trailer axles on scale 3

Axle 1 (TV front axle): 3360#
Axle 2 (TV vehicle rear axle): 4680#
Trailer axles: 8120#
Total axles: 16,160#

Weight #2 - Same set up as above except WD hitch NOT hooked up and WD trunion bars placed in back up pick up bed

Axle 1: 3240#
Axle 2: 4840#
Trailer axle: 8060#
Total axles: 16,140#


Weight #3 - Truck ONLY (all above apply...occupant, fuel, bed weight)

Steer axle: 3740#
Drive axle: 3160#
Total axles: 6900#


So, please help me understand what all of these numbers mean!

Thanks!

Gross trailer weight 9240

Tongue weight 1180 (12.8 percent). Since tongue weights go up and down during every trip. It's very possible your's could exceed the 1200 lb rating on your bars.

Tongue weight is removing 500 lbs from front (steering) axle, weight distribution is restoring 120 (39%) of those lbs. Some tow vehicle manufacturers recommend as little as 50 percent restoration on front axle. Many recommend restoring as close to 100 percent, as you can get. Your hitch is not transferring enough weight. Possibly under rated, possibly not set up properly.

Owners manual for my F250 recommends 50% restoration. Your F350 may have the same recommendation.

Here's a link to a weight calculator

Thanks for that very useful link! Just entered my number and whoolaa!

So, perhaps my current 1200#/12000# Equalizer hitch is adequate. I just need a longer shank to get trailer coupler and truck hitch ball level before setting everything up.

Thoughts?