Tongue Weight Rating

Ron Gratz wrote:

LarryJM wrote:
---I realize in my view this wt. added behind the rear axle doesn't count lb for lb as additional TW, but the equilivant wt. at the point of the ball that would result in the same off loading of the front axle of the TV is what in my view should be considered "additional" tongue wt and this "additional" tongue wt. only shows up in a WDH configuration because the spring bars must redistribute this wt. plus the tongue wt. just from the trailer so that the TV returns to its pre "additional" wt. behind the rear axle wt or height and that after that behind the rear axle cargo (including the wt. of the WDH/Sway system) is added.

Larry, I think the basic source of our difference of opinion is your belief that "---the spring bars must redistribute this wt. plus the tongue wt.---".

If you put a 200# load 18" behind the rear axle, it'll cause about 25# to be removed from the front axle.
Now, if you have a 200# driver and nothing else ahead of the rear axle, that 200# driver will cause at least 100# to be added to the front axle.

From a realistic point of view, the 200# behind the rear axle simply is acting to counter a small portion of the load which driver, passengers, and other cargo will add to the front axle.
The load behind the rear axle is not going to raise the front end above the height at which it would be if the TV were unloaded.

As far as I am concerned, any TV cargo behind the rear axle does not need to be redistributed because it should have been in/on the TV when the unhitched height/load was measured.

Ron

No argument from me on the amount ... I concede the amount might be small and that was never my point and I didn't mean to imply that it ever was and for me I would estimate that I at times put around 250lbs in the last 2' of my Van as shown in my prior pics. If you go back and read my prior posts carefully I tried to indicate that this additional what I call "tongue wt" from cargo behind the rear axle is the downward force it causes at the ball and it wasn't about quantifying it, but the fact that again in my minority opinion DOES COUNT as tongue wt. however small it might be. For me when I load up the back of my Van and I include the wt. of my Equal-i-zer I allow for an extra 150 to 200lbs of "constructive" tongue wt at the ball location that I add to what I measure as my "dead wt. tongue wt" from my trailer on my Sherline Scale. This is what I personallhy account for in both the tongue wt. rating of both my Receiver and my Equal-i-zer.

Larry