Tongue Weight

bid_time wrote:
In the world of physics in order to answer the question you would have to know the center of gravity of the trailer vs. the center of the axle(s) vs. the center of gravity of the tank vs. how much water is in the tank.---

I don't know about your world -- but, in my world of physics, the answer to the original question does not depend on either the location of the center of gravity of the trailer or how much water is in the tank.

The question already has been answered correctly --
If the tank is ahead of the axles' center, adding water will increase tongue weight.
If the tank is behind the axles' center, adding water will decrease tongue weight.
If the tank is directly above the axles' center (approximately the OP's configuration), adding water will not change tongue weight.

Ron

In the world of physics in order to answer the question you would have to know the center of gravity of the trailer vs. the center of the axle(s) vs. the center of gravity of the tank vs. how much water is in the tank. In reality, just try it and see how it tows. If it tows ok fine, if not don't fill the tank. I would bet the manufacturer already considered that you will be towing with water in the tank. A hundred pds. here or there ain't going to really make or break you and you probably won't even notice it.

I have a TH,28', all of the tanks are located in front of the dual axles, 96+gal for the fresh, right in front of the axles, 47gal/grey and 50+gal/blk closet to the tongue.

I can have a tongue weight of 1700lbs, with full tanks, by loading the Honda Rubicon ATV back as far as possible,(750+lbs), I can change the tongue weight to 1500lbs.

For every 3 lbs added at the back ramp, I can change the tongue weight by 1 lb.

Tia,
Don

A travel trailer is supported at three points of more accurate if a duel axle 5 points. 4 points are the tires and the 5th is the tongue.

Tongue weight is the force that is exerted by the tongue when the trailer is in the same attitude as it would be when in tow (that is if it is nose down level or nose high). This would be with no WD system active.

The weights of these 5 points are important to know. All five gives the total weight of the trailer. The tongue weight divided by the total weight gives you the tongue weight percentage. The greater this number is, provided you do not exceed the TV capacities, the better the trailer will tow.

The tire weights are important to make sure the tires and axles are within their ratings.

Thus tongue weight has nothing to do with a WD system.

That is correct about not decreasing the tongue weight. However a WDH will leverage some that weight back to the trailer thus reducing the effective amount on the tow vehicle. This will reduce his GVW while still being at the same GCW.

Bedlam wrote:
If it is a trailer, you can increase the tension on the WDH to reduce tongue weight. Some of that weight gets transferred back to the trailer as you apply more weight distribution leverage.

That does not decrease TW, just TW effect on the TV axles.

If it is a trailer, you can increase the tension on the WDH to reduce tongue weight. Some of that weight gets transferred back to the trailer as you apply more weight distribution leverage.

I am really close on my GVWR. I am going to move my storage items to the back of the trailer and weigh my rig.

The additional fresh water weight may not directly effect the loaded tongue weight in many cases..., but in these same cases if the prior loaded tongue weight was at/or below 10% of the TT's loaded weight before adding the water, it will now be below the 10% to 15% manufactures loaded tongue weight recommendation. The level of effect (if any) on TV handling will have a lot to do with the specific TV/TT combination.

Just food for thought.

Bob

I don't think it matters where the axles are placed. If the weight is placed DIRECTLY above the axles there should be no change in the tongue weight. All of the weight would be carried by the axles and the balance of the trailer would remain the same, no matter if the axles were in the middle or rear of the trailer. Of course, this is probably not really possible, but just for discussion purposes.
Barney