Hey everyone, not new to forum, but new to posting. Usually lurk in background and soak up knowledge. I tried a search but didnt find anything, but i would like to increase my tongue weight. According to cat scale numbers i`m right at 10%. Would like to bump up to 12-13%. Feel like it would ride better. I've moved everything i can to front of camper, water tank is at rear of camper, do adding water is out. I have a rear slide on camper, so i have extra weight back there. Is there a direct corelation between adding weight and increasing tongue weight? Ie adding one hundred pounds to front of camper increases tongue weight by 100 lbs? Or is it more of a percentage? Or dependent on weight location? Anyway, what are some feasable ways of adding some weight? Thanks

Teeter-totter knowledge comes in handy. If you add 100#'s 1 foot forward of the axles, you might increase the tongue weight 10 pounds. If you put that same 100#'s at the front of the trailer, you might add 60-70#'s to the tongue weight.

If your trailer is not experiencing any issues with sway then I'd just leave it alone....tow level or slightly nose down which would give a seesaw increase in tounge weight. If you set on more tounge you could always add a cooler up front or add to front storage. 12 - 15 % seems to be standard but you'd have to show me an issue with towing before I'd delve into the numbers.

Consider adding a couple more batteries in a box on the tongue. Box and batteries will total 140 more pounds pretty far forward. Carry your bicycle on top of the box.

Add an extra battery and install a carrier for a generator or storage box on the tongue.https://i.pinimg.com/474x/66/ce/17/66ce17318c27313d9600f8aa1da97cf1.jpg

Not really having any real issues towing, just feel (in my head) that a little more tongue weight would make a better tow. Trailer tows level. I have front bunks and their loaded with gear, and my front storage is loaded. Have thought about getting an a frame bike rack just to add some weight. I would have to add 110lbs to tongue weight to get up to 12%, which sounds like im gonna have to add approx 200lbs to achieve that. Planning on getting new trailer next year, so this may be all a moot point, thanks everybody for the replies.

increasing tongue weight | Good Sam Community

Jebby14
Explorer
Aug 25, 2020
more batteries, more propane, bike rack on the nose, tool box on the nose..... lots of options. what tickles your fancy
LITEPHIL
Explorer
Aug 25, 2020
GM recommends 15%. I'm at 10% and it's a little squirly at times. I know adding 200 lbs up front would be much better.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Aug 24, 2020
op wrote:
Planning on getting new trailer next year, so this may be all a moot point, thanks everybody for the replies.

Yeah I would leave it alone if the rig doesn't have a tail waggin' the dog issues.
Good hunting for the new trailer :B
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2020
naturist wrote:
Ain't nothing magical about 10% vs 12%-13%. Depends on the design of the trailer. In Europe, trailers are generally designed to carry 8% or so on the tongue.

So I say, if it tow's straight, nobody cares what the tongue weight is. Leave it alone. Don't fix what ain't broke.

Physics isn`t magical...... but it is real!
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2020
Basically you want to add 2% more to the tongue. just for a round number lets say you are 600 right now 2% more would be 120 lbs. that should give you an idea of what needs to be moved around. just adding a 2nd battery alone would be approx. 60lbs.
Huntindog
Explorer
Aug 24, 2020
naturist wrote:
Ain't nothing magical about 10% vs 12%-13%. Depends on the design of the trailer. In Europe, trailers are generally designed to carry 8% or so on the tongue.

So I say, if it tow's straight, nobody cares what the tongue weight is. Leave it alone. Don't fix what ain't broke.

I will wager that you have never experienced sway caused by low TW.

I have. It is not an experience I wish to repeat, or one that I think anyone else should.

I was very lucky.
naturist
Nomad
Aug 23, 2020
Ain't nothing magical about 10% vs 12%-13%. Depends on the design of the trailer. In Europe, trailers are generally designed to carry 8% or so on the tongue.

So I say, if it tow's straight, nobody cares what the tongue weight is. Leave it alone. Don't fix what ain't broke.
Huntindog
Explorer
Aug 23, 2020
nasars wrote:
Hey everyone, not new to forum, but new to posting. Usually lurk in background and soak up knowledge. I tried a search but didnt find anything, but i would like to increase my tongue weight. According to cat scale numbers i`m right at 10%. Would like to bump up to 12-13%. Feel like it would ride better. I've moved everything i can to front of camper, water tank is at rear of camper, do adding water is out. I have a rear slide on camper, so i have extra weight back there. Is there a direct corelation between adding weight and increasing tongue weight? Ie adding one hundred pounds to front of camper increases tongue weight by 100 lbs? Or is it more of a percentage? Or dependent on weight location? Anyway, what are some feasable ways of adding some weight? Thanks

I too would want more than the minimum TW. My reasoning is simple, yet many miss this: A TT is different than most other trailers.
The weight distribution is constantly changing in the course of a trip.Things get consumed/used and either disappear (propane) or move (food, water, waste, etc. Being right at the minimum depending on YOUR usage and YOUR TTs layout could have YOUR TT end up with a lighter TW at some point... Possibly too light.
nasars
Explorer
Aug 23, 2020
My rear slide is intragrated into bumper, so nothing extra there, dont want to mess up the slide. Appreciate the suggestions. will probably leave as is since its towing ok. Not sure how to drop front anymore, ball is in lowest position on shank. Thanks.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 23, 2020
“Planning on getting new trailer next year, so this may be all a moot point, thanks everybody for the replies.“

Leave it alone then.