Forum Discussion

tealboy's avatar
tealboy
Explorer
Aug 26, 2022

What is this cat scale telling me?

I tried to provide you with a picture but it was asking for a url and I didn’t know how to do that so here are the figures from the cat scale this morning. I think I understand but the tongue weight is most confusing to me, too heavy if 420 lbs but then there is a difference of 100 in the steer axle that I don’t know how to account for.

With trailer attached to med sized suv

Steer axle 2600
Drive, 2360
Trailer axle 2440
Gross 7400

Suv only with 2 (all cat wt includes 2 occupants at 300lbs total and min cargo)

Steer 2700
Drive 1940
Trailer 0
Gross 4640

Vehicle specs from door label

Gvwr 5665
Front axle rating 3000
Rear axle rating 3105
Payload 1444
Curb wt 4222 lbs
Tow Vehicles
  • phillyg's avatar
    phillyg
    Explorer II
    Aug 26, 2022
    When hooked up, trailer tongue weight unloads the front axle 100lbs.
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Aug 26, 2022
    4960 (font + rear with trailer hitched) - 4640 = 420

    You don't "account for" the 100lbs that comes off the front axle. It's still there, just on the rear axle now.

    420 is correct. What makes you think it's "too heavy?" It's 14.6%, right in the wheelhouse.
  • tealboy's avatar
    tealboy
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2022
    So my rig weighs 2760 gross with 11.59% tongue weight at 320lbs or 11.59%, right?

    From an unbraked trailer standpoint, I am 1765lbs over the gvwr. The vehicle is rated for 1000lbs unbraked and 3500 braked. Recognizing there is a decent amount of cushion in the unbraked manufacture recommendation, I am probably still too heavy, even though I’ve towed like this several times without issue. It is the emergency braking where I could have an issue I suppose, though the braking does feel pretty good even when a hit them fairly hard.

    Agree?
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Aug 26, 2022
    You appear to be within your axle ratings and GVWR.

    The hitch weight is 320lb and is removing 100lb from your front axle (hence the 420lb increase in rear axle).

    If your curb weight is accurate (iffy), you have 418lb of cargo/people in the SUV.

    It sounds OK but....

    Without a tow rating provided, I have no idea if you are exceeding your tow rating.

    So how does is look and drive?
    - Are the headlights pointing to the sky?
    - Does the steering feel light?
    - What is the hitch weight rating?
  • rjstractor's avatar
    rjstractor
    Nomad
    Aug 26, 2022
    tealboy wrote:
    So my rig weighs 2760 gross with 11.59% tongue weight at 320lbs or 11.59%, right?

    From an unbraked trailer standpoint, I am 1765lbs over the gvwr. The vehicle is rated for 1000lbs unbraked and 3500 braked. Recognizing there is a decent amount of cushion in the unbraked manufacture recommendation, I am probably still too heavy, even though I’ve towed like this several times without issue. It is the emergency braking where I could have an issue I suppose, though the braking does feel pretty good even when a hit them fairly hard.

    Agree?


    No. Your tongue weight is 420 lbs. You have to account for the 100 lbs transferred from the front to the rear axle.

    On the braking issue, your best move would be to add electric brakes to the trailer.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Aug 26, 2022
    The cat scale is telling you that you have a nice lightweight little trailer behind your suv and you're well within any "rating" that I can think of save for the brakes/no brakes, which is different than towing weight and how the vehicle is rated for and tows the load.

    After a couple different threads now about your setup, what is your concern?
    Because there is no issue with it.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Aug 26, 2022
    mkirsch wrote:
    4960 (font + rear with trailer hitched) - 4640 = 420

    You don't "account for" the 100lbs that comes off the front axle. It's still there, just on the rear axle now.

    420 is correct. What makes you think it's "too heavy?" It's 14.6%, right in the wheelhouse.



    GW with trailer is 7400 lbs right?

    GW without trailer is 4640.


    Grade school arithmetic tells me the trailer weighs 2760.
    Going back to scale ticket I see only 2440 is riding on the trailer axle.

    Little more arithmetic tells me 320 lbs of the weight of the trailer is riding on the ball, or tongue weight.

    Another way to figure is add steer and drive on the first weigh, and subtract the gross of the 2nd. Same 320 lbs

    I assume that 420 number comes from drive axle weights. You fail to see the increase when pulling the trailer also includes the 100 the front axle is reduced.
  • tealboy's avatar
    tealboy
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2022
    I land in the same place as JRscooby, seems to be 320 on the tongue and 2440 on the axle and 2760 all in TW. Unless someone can prove otherwise, I don’t see how it can be 420 but open to those who are convinced otherwise.

    As far as handling, I just drove it in a 5 hour trip and it did great. Everything felt good and the squat seemed to be less than 2”. The vehicle is a Lexus rx350 with tow pkg.
  • blt2ski's avatar
    blt2ski
    Moderator
    Aug 26, 2022
    Your trailer hitch added 320 lbs to RA, plus it took 100 lbs OFF the FA, for an increase of 420 lbs to RA.
    Hitch tongue etc is 320 lbs.
    As noted, you and maybe some others are no taking into account the 100 off the FA.
    If had a dual axle, and trailer was not level, ie nose down, it's possible the HW would be less than 320, as some wt from trailer axles was taken off, added to RA.
    Reality, your ser set up fine.

    I do have to admit, I usually prefer 15-17%HW with single axle trailers, 12-14% with dual axle trailers, assuming a bumper/ball/pintle hitch setup.

    Marty

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