Downside to tongue weight over 15%?
Tongue weight should be between 10 & 15%. It usually is. There is a potential serious safety issue if it's below 10% and that's well documented everywhere. But what is the downside of being over 15...
Forum Discussion
myredracer wrote:
.... That is, assuming that you are not overloading the TV on payload capacity.... what happens if it is around 20%. I looked all over the internet and couldn't find anything. Is there any safety concern with being over 15% or is it simply a concern of payload capacity and maybe WDH rating?
The recommendation of 10 - 15% trailer weight on the tongue is an effort to reduce the tendency of a trailer to sway. I suspect that this range is a minimum that is likely based on experience as opposed to scientific experiment.
That said and as you stated, assuming that all loads are within rated capacity of hitch, tow vehicle, etc., exceeding the 15% would not be a problem since the towed weight aft the fulcrum (hitch ball) is being reduced so the mass that contributes to the towing instability (sway) is being also reduced.
l have routinely had my tongue weight on my previous RV over 15% and it always towed beautifully.
