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BobsYourUncle's avatar
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Jun 19, 2013

Extra 140 pounds battery weight on tongue?

I just bought 2 new 6V batteries for my TT in sig and I want to buy 2 more.

I am concerned about adding an extra 140 pounds of weight to the tongue area.

I have room on the hitch for 4 batteries behind the propane bottles but I am unsure about increasing the tongue weight that much.

There is no other place to put them unless I come up with a way to somehow mount them under the frame by the axles or something like that. The only outside storage bay I have is on the front, behind the hitch. And I don't like the idea of putting a pair of batteries in the storage compartment right below the bedroom, because of gassing. Even if I did, the weight is still near the front.

About the only thing I can think of to get the weight back behind the axles is to convert an inside floor compartment to an exterior battery compartment, completely sealed and shielded from the inside, and having a vented compartment door of some kind installed on the outside.

And if I put them on the hitch the frame brackets for the WD hitch have to go. (I don't use them anyways, but was considering using them)

Any thoughts on the extra weight on the hitch?

10 Replies

  • BobsYourUncle's avatar
    BobsYourUncle
    Nomad
    Jun 20, 2013
    Kiwi_too wrote:
    Can you move something to the rear? Rearrange cargo holds? Doesn't take much to counter balance.


    I have thought of that but there isn't much storage in the rear. Bunks are in the back with a small compartment at the bottom, as the HWT and water pump reside under the bottom bunk.
    Then the bathroom is in the back and there is only limited space under the sink - thats it. No overheads anywhere in the back.
  • AllegroD's avatar
    AllegroD
    Nomad
    Jun 19, 2013
    Can you move something to the rear? Rearrange cargo holds? Doesn't take much to counter balance.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Jun 19, 2013
    140 extra will not be the tipping point for the hitch.
    If you want bulletproof then aftermarket class V is calling. But that would require new 2.5" hitch components.
  • BobsYourUncle's avatar
    BobsYourUncle
    Nomad
    Jun 19, 2013
    Bearhawk,
    Thanks for that info. And the picture.

    Yes I can see the difference. I wasn't too concerned about the squat on it as I could always adjust my hitch to ensure a level ride.

    Your F350 likely has about the same rear suspension as my 3500 does. And mine runs loaded with the rack and toolboxes 100% of the time too so an extra 140 pounds won't be a big deal for the truck itself.

    Now as for the factory GM hitch..... hmmmmm..
  • Bearhawk's avatar
    Bearhawk
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2013
    I have a similar setup. The "squat" was more pronounced after I added the batteries and I had to adjust the head of the WD hitch as the ears on the bars were digging into the head. I added air bags this year and it really levelled it out nicely. I have 3 group 31 12v's across the A-Frame in a rack welded to the top of the frame.

    Water in the back really did not seem to make a difference to my setup.



    Before Airbags added, but batteries on the frame can be seen. If you compare to the signature photo (before batteries) you can see the difference they made.
  • BobsYourUncle's avatar
    BobsYourUncle
    Nomad
    Jun 19, 2013
    mlts22 wrote:
    I'm assuming your TV is the 3500? I would be pretty sure that it would handle the added tongue weight without issue. As for front/rear balance, I'll defer to someone who is better versed in it, but I wouldn't hesitate on adding the two batteries, and I have far less beefy a TV than what the OP has.


    Yes, TV is the 3500. No concern for the truck handling the weight, just the extra tongue weight in general - handling, stress on the GM factory hitch...
  • HiTech's avatar
    HiTech
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2013
    if you have the extra cargo carrying capacity you can offset the weight to get to the tongue weight you want by loading cargo behind the axle. I use the amount of water in my tanks (behind the axle) to adjust tongue weight.

    Jim
  • mlts22's avatar
    mlts22
    Explorer II
    Jun 19, 2013
    I'm assuming your TV is the 3500? I would be pretty sure that it would handle the added tongue weight without issue. As for front/rear balance, I'll defer to someone who is better versed in it, but I wouldn't hesitate on adding the two batteries, and I have far less beefy a TV than what the OP has.

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