Lightening tongue weight
It has occurred to us that if we just camp alone, with nothing in the TV but ourselves and a bag of potato chips, we're good with the tongue weight. But after subtracting it from our payload, we don'...
Forum Discussion
carringb wrote:
Higher tongue weights are more stable for the trailer, provided the tow vehicle can manage the tongue weight (i.e. not overladed, no front axle off-loading). As tongue weight (as a percentage) goes down, the speed where the trailer becomes unstable also goes down. Other factors include the moment of inertia (where the most is in relation to the trailer's axles) and center of gravity, as well as trailer wheelbase and suspension, axle, and tire stiffness.
In short.... there's a lot of variables when it comes to trailer vehicle dynamics. Reducing tongue weight, or having an insufficient vehicle doesn't guarantee a problem will happen, but it certainly increases the probability.
If you were moving a trailer occasionally across town, you can often fudge the ratings quite a but since speeds will be lower, and other factors like traffic, fatigue, and weather are easier to accommodate for. But to be shopping for a new truck being used for regular RVing, I think it would be nuts not to just buy something that meets all your specifications.
Agree with the above. I will add if one additional passenger or the weight of Kayak's causes instability than the combo is poorly matched or poorly set up.
On a bright clear sunny day being within the ratings and having a well matched combo may not matter.
But when the unforeseen happens and the weather goes south. Or the traffic is bad and the road is steep and curvy being within your ratings can make all the difference.
