Trying to understand normal tow handling

skripo wrote:
While we are all here around the fire, can someone confirm the correct weighing procedure?

I assumed that a 3 panel scale would tell me everything I needed to know. I paid particular attention to the axle weight difference on the TV to adjust my hitch. Is that incorrect? Is the goal to distribute the axle load evenly or in proportion to the posted axle capacities? Here is my sticker:



Finally, is the best way to measure tongue weight accurately is to weigh the vehicle hitched and hitched then assume the difference is the true tongue weight?

Thanks.

The best way to get your weights at the scales is as follows:

You want the weight by axle sets. Front truck axle, rear truck axle, trailer axles together. So you will have 3 numbers for each pass through the scales. There are sections to the scales if you are at a CAT scales, or even some other scales. You want all axles weight information with each pass through the scales.

Weigh the entire rig 3 times. Once with just the truck, loaded for camping (all people and all gear). 2nd time with the trailer hooked up but no weight distribution, the 3rd time with the trailer hooked up but with your weight distribution also functioning, just like you would normally travel. With these measurements, you can calculate your axle loads, tongue weight, trailer weight, vehicle weight, and proper set-up of your weight distribution system.

You will want to consult your owners manual for hitch set-up. The goal generally is to put enough tension on the weight dist. bars to add weight back to your front axle on the tow vehicle so it weighs the same as it did when you did not have the trailer hooked up.

For example, your front axle has a rating of 3080 lbs. I quickly went back and looked and don't see that you posted what it was loaded to by axle so I'll just use an example. Say it weighs when fully loaded but no trailer hooked up, 2800 lbs on the front axle. When you hook up the trailer with no w/d, it will lighten up, say to 2600 lbs. You would then want to add enough tension on the w/d bars to get the front axle weight back to 2800 lbs. As I said, check your manual. Some newer Ford trucks only want you to return 50% of the weight, if that is true, then you only want to adjust the hitch to get back to 2700 lbs.

You presented your weight data in the form of a calculation sheet, which is nice for estimating (such as for the Durango you do not posses) but not necessary once you have all the weights in real life for the current situation. I didn't see you weights by axle unless I missed it. Do you have the weights by axle you could share for each of the 3 passes, it sounds like that is what you did. That would help.