Payload Rating vs Tongue Weight

kb1234 wrote:
Thanks everyone for answering. I guess I still don't have a clear answer to may real question.

Is there some reason that manufactures very often specify a tongue weight capacity of 10% the max towing capacity regardless of GVWR, GAWRFR, or GAWRR? I was even looking a a hitch component manufacturer the other day and on their website and they said to determine the tongue weight by calculating 10% GTWR.

This conflicts with a 10-15% ideal weight on the hitch, and is basically forces the towing capacity to be lower than specified.

In addition in the forums I keep seeing allowed tongue weight determined by taking GAWRR and subtracting the rear axle weight from a CAT scale. When people ask questions about tongue weight the answer seems to often neglect any reference to the tongue weight capacity specified by the manufacturer.

Ideal/specific tongue weight will vary by application; however, generally speaking tongue weight should be 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer (bumper-pull).

If your vehicle has a 5,000 tow capacity rating and 500 lb. tongue weight rating, you may find yourself unable to safely tow some 5,000 lb. trailers *if* they end up requiring 15% tongue weight (750 lbs.) to handle well. Every towing situation is unique.

If your manufacturer recommends no more than 500 lbs. of tongue weight, then there are probably mechanical limitations (frame, suspension, driveline, receiver, etc.) that trump any axle capacity you may have based on the RAWR (rear axle weight rating). For instance, a Ram 3500 dually may have 6,000 lbs. of rear axle capacity (RAWR minus empty rear axle weight); however, the Ram OEM CAT V receiver is only rated for 1,700 lbs. so the maximum tongue weight this truck can support is 1,700 lbs.