Help needed with CAT scale numbers

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!

I would like to know the following so I can proceed with purchasing the correct WD hitch and truck receiver hitch.

My current Equalizer hitch is a 1200#/12000#
My trucks receiver is factory WD 1250#/12500#

1. Trailer tongue weight (so I can purchase correct WD hitch and truck receiver hitch

2. Trailer weight

Thanks!

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First Thread from 11-21-17:

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!

I would like to know the following so I can proceed with purchasing the correct WD hitch and truck receiver hitch.

My current Equalizer hitch is a 1200#/12000#
My trucks receiver is factory WD 1250#/12500#

1. Trailer tongue weight (so I can purchase correct WD hitch and truck receiver hitch

2. Trailer weight

Thanks!

eHoefler
Explorer II
Nov 22, 2017
The size of the bars are how much weight they can transfer, not the capacity of the tongue weight. You are well within your limits, you need to put more tension on the bars to transfer more weight, or adjust the head for more tilt. You are very close nad only need an adjustment to be dead on.
Baja_Man
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
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?
handye9
Explorer II
Nov 22, 2017
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
RCMAN46
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
I calculate your tongue weight percentage at 12.7 percent.

I would not consider that too much and I suspect your F 350 should have no trouble with that.

I do agree you need more WD.
Baja_Man
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
owenssailor wrote:
I think you have the weights for the truck only reversed. They make no sense to me the way they are listed. Can you double check them and let us know?

Double-checked....they are correct
owenssailor
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
I think you have the weights for the truck only reversed. They make no sense to me the way they are listed. Can you double check them and let us know?
jim1521
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
You've got to start out with the basics:
1. Measure the height of your front axle wheel wells with nothing attached. Measure from the ground to the top of your wheel well (i.e. 39 1/4"). Call this Measurement 1.
2. Measure the height of your rear axle wheel wells with nothing attached. Measure same as above. Call this Measurement 2.
3. Level your trailer while NOT attached to anything. Put a bubble level gauge on the frame, and adjust front height of trailer until it is level. Now measure from the ground to the inside of the ball hitch. Call this Measurement 3.
4. Adjust the height of the top of the ball of the WDS on the back of the truck to equal that of Measurement 3.
5. Install the WDS onto the truck and trailer.
6. Take another measurement of #1 & #2. Call these Measurements 4 & 5.
7. Now, adjust the WDS so that Measurements 1 & 4 are equal to each other, and Measurements 2 & 5 are equal. See the instructions for the WDS on how to make this adjustment.

Check out the numerous YouTube videos on how to do this.

You've got to start by making sure the trailer is level when hitched to the truck.
Baja_Man
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
I know that my hitch shank is too short, as truck ball is NOT level to coupler before hooking up (trailer level). This causes my trailer to sit bow down. Would this have anything to do with the WD system and not transferring of weight as you suggested?
jim1521
Explorer
Nov 21, 2017
Your WDS is not doing anything.

The steer axle on the empty truck was 3,740 lbs. When you connected the trailer up, you lost nearly 400 lbs off of the front, and gained over 1,500 lbs on the rear axle. The WDS should balance that out. You are WAY too tongue heavy.

You need to measure the height of the wheel wells on both axles while the truck is empty, then measure them again with the WDS properly installed. They should not change - the WDS is supposed to offload some of that 1,500 lbs up to the steer axle, so that the two (steer axle and drive axle) are closer together. With all that weight on the back, it is causing the butt of the truck to drop down, and the nose of the truck to rise up - decreasing your steering ability.

I'd take it to someone who knows how to install/adjust that WDS. You're way off right now.

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