Tongue weight question

[Slick87SS]

So unfortunately my TT was totaled by a fallen tree 2 weeks ago. I went to a RV show and I am interested in a Jayco Jayflight 28bhbe. It is slightly heavier than my last trailer but has a lighter tongue weight. How does that work? Is that a going to be better for towing. My last trailer was dry weight of 6435 and tongue weight of 825. The new one I am looking at is 6700# with a 650 tongue weight. Any info would be helpful? Thanks

[myredracer]

Forget about any dry weights from a manufacturer as they are more for marketing purposes and can get you into real trouble.

I would google the Jayflight 28BHBE and see what owners have found for actual tongue weight. Here are a 3 excerpts I found on a google search from the first thread I came across (Jayco forum):

"I have a 2015 28BHBE. Our last trip we were loaded for 7 days boondocking so we were full fresh water tanks (700lbs)ish. Total trailer weight was 8800lbs, 1200lbs on tongue."

"Last time I weighed my trailer (2014 28BHBE), I got a tongue weight of about 960. That's full propane, battery, and our generally loaded weight."

"My 28BHBE was 1,100lb last time I hit the scales. No fluids. Full propane. I was very surprised how heavy it was."

Jayco lists the GVWR at 9250 lbs. If you ended up with 1200 lbs on the tongue like one of the above, that would be 13 percent of the GVWR which is around normal. Some tongue wts. can be closer to 15 percent (like ours). You need to consider whether or not your TV can handle 1200 lbs (or even a bit more, who knows until you are fully loaded). Some options can add wt. that will affect the tongue wt. too. If you have a 1/2T now, it may not be enough.

Jayco also has the Whitehawk 28DSBH which has what looks like the same floor plan and is considerably lighter at 7500 GVWR. Perhaps that might be a solution if weight is an issue. I believe the Whitehawk line has BAL frames which is a bonus. (Not sure what the Jay Flight has, but the pics look like a BAL frame too.)

You might ask about this on the Jayco forum as it looks like there's lots of info. there. After typing a reply I see that Need-a-Vacation posted links to the Jayco forum which also indicate tongue wts on the higher side.

[LarryJM]

Slick87SS wrote:
Looked at another Jayco 28bhbe. Dry weight of 6860# includes the weight of propane tanks and options. I am figuring a loaded weight of 7600-8000#. Like I stated earlier in the thread I use the Equal-Izmir 4 point WD with sway control and brake controller. I believe I will be in the specs for my TV. Although I figure at the top end of my payload and about 85 of my tow cap. I don't have the option of going to a CAT scale because A) I don't own the TT as of yet and B) I own a small business and the time to do that is just not in the cards right. I guess I am just looking for real world experience from you all. A more capable TV is at least 2 years away but we are really impressed with the 28bhbe and have not found another TT that we love and is in our $$ range. I realize I am beating this issue to death! Lol

Did you not read those two threads NeedAVacation linked to or are you just wishful thinking or choosing to ignore very sage and creditable advice.

Larry

[Slick87SS]

Looked at another Jayco 28bhbe. Dry weight of 6860# includes the weight of propane tanks and options. I am figuring a loaded weight of 7600-8000#. Like I stated earlier in the thread I use the Equal-Izmir 4 point WD with sway control and brake controller. I believe I will be in the specs for my TV. Although I figure at the top end of my payload and about 85% of my tow cap. I don't have the option of going to a CAT scale because A) I don't own the TT as of yet and B) I own a small business and the time to do that is just not in the cards right. I guess I am just looking for real world experience from you all. A more capable TV is at least 2 years away but we are really impressed with the 28bhbe and have not found another TT that we love and is in our $$ range. I realize I am beating this issue to death! Lol

[Need-A-Vacation]

Here is a 28 BHBE thread and another 28 BHBE specific to CAT Scale results.

Good luck!!!

[Need-A-Vacation]

If I recall correctly, some have posted that their tw is anywhere from 1klbs- 1200lbs loaded, ready for a trip on that model over on the Jayco Owners Forum... I think it was the 28 BHBE anyway.... Will try to find the thread.

As mentioned, do not believe the "brochure" weights!!! The 650lbs does not include the ~160lbs for the 2- 30lb propane tanks or a battery. So now you're up to 810lbs before you even load the trailer!!! Load heavy in the pass through, and I bet you are close to 1100-1200lbs depending on what all you have in there... Our "brochure" dry tw of 910lbs is about 1400lbs loaded (scaled, but changed a few things since and haven't re-weighed yet).

From what I have read a 1500/150 can be ok with that trailer, but watch what you load in the truck besides passengers.... firewood, coolers, etc.....

Good luck!!!

[rbpru]

Depending on how much stuff I take, the tongue weight can vary two or three hundred pounds.

My storage is in the front storage hold and under the front bed; so the weight is mostly transferred to the tongue.

As mentioned earlier the dry weight means little once the trailer is loaded for a trip.

[Boon_Docker]

If your equalizer hitch is set up properly you should not notice any difference in towing.

[Old-Biscuit]

It also depends on location of axles......distance from tongue to axle

[TKW]

Slick87SS wrote:
The brochure has it listed as 6540# but the dealer has it as 6700# after the battery propane and TV. I will be pulling with a 2015 Silverado 1500 double cab. the numbers are not that far off from my last trailer. its also listed as about a foot longer and less capacity in the holding tanks. I just didn't understand how a heavier trailer could be "lighter" at the tongue!

It all depends on where the extra weight is located. The tongue weight will be lighter if the extra weight is behind the axle.

[WNYBob]

It all depends where they put the tanks (black, gray, and fresh) and how big they are. Another factor is how far the axels are from the tongue. They also can change the balance with the layout, different location of the kitchen/hot water tank.

[Slick87SS]

The brochure has it listed as 6540# but the dealer has it as 6700# after the battery propane and TV. I will be pulling with a 2015 Silverado 1500 double cab. the numbers are not that far off from my last trailer. its also listed as about a foot longer and less capacity in the holding tanks. I just didn't understand how a heavier trailer could be "lighter" at the tongue!

[handye9]

Dry weights are pretty much useless in determining how the trailer will tow.

Before that trailer leaves the dealer lot, it will gain weight (battery and propane) on the tongue.

You want the tongue weight to be at least 10 percent of the trailer weight, average is 12 - 13 percent, and some trailers are 15 plus percent. Not enough weight on the tongue can cause sway issues. Dry weights on that trailer, show a slightly less than 10 percent on the tongue, but, adding a battery and propane would put it slightly over.

Whether it tows better or worse than your last trailer, depends more on your tow vehicle, aerodynamics of the new trailer, and how you load it.

[Lynnmor]

The way it works is you don't believe the figures. My 565lb tongue weight is 860 ready to go. The fact that they advertise less than 10 per cent, on the trailer you have in mind, tells me they are trying to push this model on the unsuspecting SUV folks. You need 10 to 15 per cent to prevent sway.

[downtheroad]

You are probably looking at dry weights.
I would estimate that your new trailer is going to have approx. 850-900 lbs of tongue weight - loaded and trip ready (wet). I am using the standard 13% of the GVWR for the new trailer you are considering.

But, there are lots of factors and the only way to know for sure is:
1. don't trust the brochure numbers.
2. actually weigh the trailer.

Good luck with choosing a new rig.