Tongue weight vs ball weight

[Bahcml]

Confusion reigns! We bought an equalizer hitch for our trailer. Supposedly it is a hitch that has a tongue weight of 750 to 1000 lbs. However, the instructions that came with the hitch says 1000 lbs max weight distributing tongue weight and 500 lbs max weight carrying ball mount. Our trailer's hitch weight is 615 lbs. Are we over weight for the hitch we received?

[valhalla360]

Both are the weight on the ball.

The ball isn't going to snap off the hitch at the higher weight. The issue is if there are 4 bolts (2 front and 2 back):
- Without the WDH, the rear 2 bolts must support the entire weight and the front 2 bolts act as a pivot point (though there should never be pivoting) because the ball is further from the pviot point compared to the rear bolts, the rear bolts must support more than the actual ball weight.
- The WDH, creates an opposing moment arm, so the front bolts carry some of the ball weight significantly reducing the force on the rear bolts and allowing a much higher ball weight.

[Bahcml]

Thank you very much!!

[Old-Biscuit]

Bahcml wrote:
It is the published weight.

That is a DRY weight based on DRY trailer weight based on a 'empty' trailer.


WET tongue weight will probably be closer to 800# PLUS

Your WDH is good to go

[Bahcml]

It is the published weight.

[Lwiddis]

"hitch says 1000 lbs max weight distributing tongue weight and 500 lbs max weight carrying ball mount."

This is pretty standard from manufacturers for light duty truck receivers too. My Tahoe is 1000/600.

[Old-Biscuit]

1000# rating is when using WDH
500# rating is w/o WDH bars connected....just on the ball

Is the 615# weight ACTUAL weight or a published/brochure weight (DRY weight)?