tongue weight

Remember tongue weight is at static,(not moving,)conditions at fully loaded on level pavement. The weight of the trailer is to be with proper distribution 60 % in front of the axle,(so the tail does not wag),with the hitch hight no more than 4 inches off level, vehicle to trailer. So after that set up is done, the tongue weight can be made to be what ever you need by lifting the vehicle suspension up or down but not beyond the 4 inch up or down limit. The design limits can not be violated, and the tire load and inflation have to be correct for load too for both vehicle and trailer. So set it up with all aboard and weigh it if you want the exact figure blocking all the wheels then jacking the tongue of the trailer on a scale until it just starts to lift off ball. Adjusting the vehicle suspension up or down to get the desired tongue weight. That may require a lower ball as you can only drop to minimum air in air lift suspension. If no air lift suspension is present, ball hight must do all the adjustment. In dynamic,( driving down the road), the tongue weight constantly changes and even lifts the vehicle, so if vehicle has weak suspension the ride will be bad. All design weights stated on trailer and vehicle are for new, (or within original factory design), specifications and do not apply to worn below design suspension and or tires. Remember to relock the trailer to ball.

andrew_the_newbe wrote:
We recently bought a 28' tt ( private party )and we are towing it with a chevy Silverado 1500. I'm trying to decide which wdh to buy to tow my trailer and everyone I look at is asking me what the tongue weight is and I have no accurate info on this matter. From what I have been reading the tongue weight is 10-15% of the trailer weight. The trailer weighs about 7600 lbs weighed down and about 5600 lbs empty (ball park). Can I just get a equalizer wdh rated for 1000/10,000 or if I oversize will it not fit/ not work correctly? Please help.

If you use the max GTWR number you listed (7600) then max tongue weight would be 1140 lbs @ 15%. Better check the sticker on the hitch reciever to be safe, but I wonder if it's rated for that much. we're only spitballin' until we have hard numbers, but at 13% you're looking at 988 lbs. which is close to the max numbers you listed. Granted, some of this is a guess until we get hard numbers but I'd say your 1000 hitch is pushing optimum if the 1000 lb number is tongue weight. Truth be told, I doubt most of us carry 2000 lbs of goodies in the trailer, but it could happen. What your final tongue weight is depends on how you load it and layout of the trailer. If you load 1500 lbs and use 13% you're at 923 lbs tongue and 1000 lb hitch rating will work, but anyway you slice it, it looks close to me. Personally, I'd go bigger to be safe. What other weight ratings do they offer?