Water weight distribution debate question

morphrider wrote:
Old biscuit has it pretty close. I weighed truck on scale, disconnected trailer. Then went 2 blocks to my house and filled it with water, went straight back to the scale. It weighed 80lbs less than before. Truck weighed the same (6040lbs) both times.

S.W.A.G. (Scientific Wild Azz Guess) :B

Didn't know how far back tank was from axles.
Simple lever fulcrum equation

Old biscuit has it pretty close. I weighed truck on scale, disconnected trailer. Then went 2 blocks to my house and filled it with water, went straight back to the scale. It weighed 80lbs less than before. Truck weighed the same (6040lbs) both times.

Thats kind of what my theory was concerning the weight movement. My brother sides with just plain ballast weight. I know when I have 2 quads on deck, 2 full propane tanks, and 2 batteries I am right at 1280lbs. Thats with no water. I dont think I will load up everything for this test. I will go down to the scale, weigh the tongue then go the 2 blocks to my house and fill up with water. Then with that difference I can do the math and know how much will be removed from the tongue weight when loaded.

Tandem or single axle makes no difference (assuming they are not torque flex axles and the frame remains level) it's a simple lever equation. If the 415 pounds of water is the same distance from the center of the two axles it will take that amount of weight off of the tongue. You could even change both weights to foot-pounds by multiplying the distance from the center of the axles for a more accurate answeer. If torque flex axles then the distance is measured from the axle closest to the weight.

In order to move a long building on a short trailer I added two 55 gallon barrels of water to the tongue so I would have enough tongue weight.

50 gallons of water........415#

Added behind rear axle on tandem axle trailer might lower tongue weight by 50#

Adding weight behind the axles will remove some tongue weight.