tongue weight questions

[dnhx]

We just purchased our first trailer. I bought a Sherline tongue weight scale. The scale is showing about 500 lbs at the head. I have an Equalizer hitch, the receiver head weighs about 55 lbs and each bar was about 18 lbs.
Question:
Do I include the weight of the hitch and bars as part of the tongue weight as far as determining if I exceed the limits of my vehicle?
I plan on weighing the whole rig at the scales once we have it all loaded (its about 30% loaded now).

Second question:
When I do the third weighing with just the TV, do I leave the Equalizer receiver in the TV and the bars in it, or do I take all of that off?

Thank you

Don

[tonymull]

You are measuring the weight at the hitch ball. So everything from the ball to the trailer is part of the trailer. It is basically part of the tongue when in use.

[morphrider]

BarneyS, thanks for the clarification. I have been thinking this process wrong.

[BarneyS]

Hi Don,
The hitch head, shank, and WD bars are a part of the load carried by the truck and should be counted against the GVWR of the truck.

When you weigh the truck, because of the above, leave the whole hitch in the trucks receiver, WD bars and all. You can take the WD bars out of the hitch head and put them in the back of the truck if you wish but they should be weighed along with the truck and not the trailer.
Barney

[morphrider]

I would add the WD hitch in the whole equation of tongue weight myself.

[3oaks]

The hitch head and bars should be considered part of the cargo weight in/on your truck. Leave it on when you weigh your truck or being you know the weight of the hitch assembly, leave it off the truck and just add that weight to the total weight of your truck.