scbwr wrote:
I appreciate the responses. I've pretty much decided to buy a tongue weight scale sometime over the winter and then I can get an accurate reading with whatever I put on the rack. I'll get a baseline reading by measuring the tongue weight with just added weight of the hitch being welded to the trailer frame. Then I can see how it changes with the empty rack added, and then with cargo added to the carrier. If I have any problems, I'll take the trailer back to the CAT scales and get an updated weight of the trailer alone, so I'd really know exactly what the tongue weight is as a percentage of total weigth.
Using a TW scale or using a CAT scale will provide an estimate of TW changes.
However, don't be fooled into thinking that you can measure TW changes with an accuracy of 1# or even 10#.
To get an estimate of change in TW, you'll need to subtract two readings -- each of which might have an error of +/- 25# if using a Sherline or +/- 20# if using CAT scales.
You'll be lucky if the difference is within 20# of actual and shouldn't be surprised in it's off by 40# or more.
Given the information you've provided and assuming your TT has an axle spread of 5', I believe it's reasonable to expect a TW reduction equal to about 55% of the weight of cargo carrier and its cargo.
Ron
