I know this has been discussed as nauseum, but my long term memory isn't what it should be and neither are my search skills...When you hear that tongue weight should be 10-15% of overall weight, does that just mean tongue weight unhitched (or hitched without WDH), or does it need to be 10-15% after accounting for the weight the WDH shifts back to the trailer axle?We're headed out tomorrow for our second ever trip. With the wife's pregnancy weight gain, my (sympathy) weight gain, and the kids' natural growth, we might be pushing limits. However, last time, the main concern was that the tongue weight was only about 10% when I weighed with the WDH on. I did two weights: total with WDH and just the vehicle. If I remember correctly, I should do three...just vehicle, WDH on, and WDH off. Correct?

Also...is payload capacity the be-all end-all or will we be safe as long as the weight doesn't exceed the GVWR regardless of payload. The curb weight + payload capacity for our Sequoia doesn't add up to the GVWR.

oyarsa wrote:I know this has been discussed as nauseum, but my long term memory isn't what it should be and neither are my search skills...When you hear that tongue weight should be 10-15% of overall weight, does that just mean tongue weight unhitched (or hitched without WDH), or does it need to be 10-15% after accounting for the weight the WDH shifts back to the trailer axle?We're headed out tomorrow for our second ever trip. With the wife's pregnancy weight gain, my (sympathy) weight gain, and the kids' natural growth, we might be pushing limits. However, last time, the main concern was that the tongue weight was only about 10% when I weighed with the WDH on. I did two weights: total with WDH and just the vehicle. If I remember correctly, I should do three...just vehicle, WDH on, and WDH off. Correct?WDH does NOT repeat NOT change tongue weight. it just shifts some of the weight to to the TV front axle and trailer axle.Tongue weight should be in the 10-15% range of the total trailer weight when unhitched.

ktmrfs wrote:oyarsa wrote:I know this has been discussed as nauseum, but my long term memory isn't what it should be and neither are my search skills...When you hear that tongue weight should be 10-15% of overall weight, does that just mean tongue weight unhitched (or hitched without WDH), or does it need to be 10-15% after accounting for the weight the WDH shifts back to the trailer axle?We're headed out tomorrow for our second ever trip. With the wife's pregnancy weight gain, my (sympathy) weight gain, and the kids' natural growth, we might be pushing limits. However, last time, the main concern was that the tongue weight was only about 10% when I weighed with the WDH on. I did two weights: total with WDH and just the vehicle. If I remember correctly, I should do three...just vehicle, WDH on, and WDH off. Correct?WDH does NOT repeat NOT change tongue weight. it just shifts some of the weight to to the TV front axle and trailer axle.Tongue weight should be in the 10-15% range of the total trailer weight when unhitched.X2

As others have said - TW is TW, has nothing to do with a WDH. It should be 10-15% of the trailer weight.As for payload, I'm a little confused by the question, but the true payload of a vehicle is the GVWR-empty weight. Don't know why those two numbers don't add up for you, but they should. Perhaps the payload quoted is making accounts for driver, or more likely you are looking at curb weight in a brochure (which is not the same as what your vehicle really weighs) or something else is at odds with the real numbers. To know your true capacity, take your truck with full fluids to a scale and weight it. Subtract that number from your GVWR and you have the total weight of EVERYTHING you can load on the truck including people, pets, gear, bikes, tools, hitch, tongue weight, etc...

oyarsa wrote:Also...is payload capacity the be-all end-all or will we be safe as long as the weight doesn't exceed the GVWR regardless of payload. The curb weight + payload capacity for our Sequoia doesn't add up to the GVWR.I wouldn't stress over a 100 lbs one way or the other with regards to payload limit. It's not ideal to be 100 lbs over, but it's not the end of the world either. You can expect some slight decrease in overall braking performance.

Tongue Weight % w/w out WDH | Good Sam Community

troubledwaters
Explorer III
Mar 28, 2018
oyarsa wrote:
Also...is payload capacity the be-all end-all or will we be safe as long as the weight doesn't exceed the GVWR regardless of payload. The curb weight + payload capacity for our Sequoia doesn't add up to the GVWR.
I wouldn't stress over a 100 lbs one way or the other with regards to payload limit. It's not ideal to be 100 lbs over, but it's not the end of the world either. You can expect some slight decrease in overall braking performance.
Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Mar 28, 2018
As others have said - TW is TW, has nothing to do with a WDH. It should be 10-15% of the trailer weight.

As for payload, I'm a little confused by the question, but the true payload of a vehicle is the GVWR-empty weight. Don't know why those two numbers don't add up for you, but they should. Perhaps the payload quoted is making accounts for driver, or more likely you are looking at curb weight in a brochure (which is not the same as what your vehicle really weighs) or something else is at odds with the real numbers. To know your true capacity, take your truck with full fluids to a scale and weight it. Subtract that number from your GVWR and you have the total weight of EVERYTHING you can load on the truck including people, pets, gear, bikes, tools, hitch, tongue weight, etc...
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Mar 28, 2018
ktmrfs wrote:
oyarsa wrote:
I know this has been discussed as nauseum, but my long term memory isn't what it should be and neither are my search skills...

When you hear that tongue weight should be 10-15% of overall weight, does that just mean tongue weight unhitched (or hitched without WDH), or does it need to be 10-15% after accounting for the weight the WDH shifts back to the trailer axle?

We're headed out tomorrow for our second ever trip. With the wife's pregnancy weight gain, my (sympathy) weight gain, and the kids' natural growth, we might be pushing limits. However, last time, the main concern was that the tongue weight was only about 10% when I weighed with the WDH on. I did two weights: total with WDH and just the vehicle. If I remember correctly, I should do three...just vehicle, WDH on, and WDH off. Correct?

WDH does NOT repeat NOT change tongue weight. it just shifts some of the weight to to the TV front axle and trailer axle.

Tongue weight should be in the 10-15% range of the total trailer weight when unhitched.

X2
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2018
oyarsa wrote:
I know this has been discussed as nauseum, but my long term memory isn't what it should be and neither are my search skills...

When you hear that tongue weight should be 10-15% of overall weight, does that just mean tongue weight unhitched (or hitched without WDH), or does it need to be 10-15% after accounting for the weight the WDH shifts back to the trailer axle?

We're headed out tomorrow for our second ever trip. With the wife's pregnancy weight gain, my (sympathy) weight gain, and the kids' natural growth, we might be pushing limits. However, last time, the main concern was that the tongue weight was only about 10% when I weighed with the WDH on. I did two weights: total with WDH and just the vehicle. If I remember correctly, I should do three...just vehicle, WDH on, and WDH off. Correct?

WDH does NOT repeat NOT change tongue weight. it just shifts some of the weight to to the TV front axle and trailer axle.

Tongue weight should be in the 10-15% range of the total trailer weight when unhitched.
oyarsa
Explorer
Mar 28, 2018
Also...is payload capacity the be-all end-all or will we be safe as long as the weight doesn't exceed the GVWR regardless of payload. The curb weight + payload capacity for our Sequoia doesn't add up to the GVWR.

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