LA88 wrote:
I read somewhere that the tongue weight should be a minimum of 10% of the trailer weight. So if the loaded Minnie is 5000lbs and my tongue weight should be 500 lbs? As you pointed out, even if I reduce my cargo to 400 lbs from 500, I'm still right at the border to the max?
Also, what is the best way to bring two electric bikes when you have a travel trailer? or if that's even an option?
10% tongue weight is considered by many to be an absolute minimum, 15% is a better number and closer to what most trailers will have. On the other hand to make the towing number look good tow vehicle mfg assume 10%...... See the potential problem!!! And reducing tongue weight is usually VERY hard, weight distribution to the tongue is determined by trailer geometry and where stuff is normally loaded.
As for the bikes. Two options, you could mount one on the front of the trailer above the propane tanks. That's what my brother does on his micro mini, Now, that means lifting an ebike pretty high in the air. His is a "regular" lightweight bike and he says he has no desire to try to lift an ebike that high. There is a bike rack made specifically for that. Or put the bikes in the trailer. Course the weight of the bike and carrier is going to add almost 100% to the tongue weight because of where the rack is located.
If you had a larger trailer with a heavy tongue AND the ability to build a frame mounted hitch, then ebikes on the back with an appropriate carrier may work. That's what I did on our outback and I carry 2 REI ebikes, minus batteries (50lbs w/o batteries) on a Hollywood racks ebike rack. Now they claim don't use this on a TT, only a MH or 5th wheel. But it is a very stout (and expensive) rack. Swagman also makes an ebike rack suitable for TT, again, stout and expensive. But you ABSOLUTELY NEED an approriate hitch mount for it and the trailer bumper is NOT sufficient.
