What is this cat scale telling me?

[tealboy]

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

[Grit_dog]

dodge guy wrote:

tealboy wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
To know for sure weigh the tongue with the bathroom scale method.

You would be hard pressed to convince me a bathroom scale/beam set up will read within the 20 lbs the cat rounds things. He is far enough from the hitch limit we know not over, so not too heavy. He has not mentioned any handling issues, so not too light.

For fun, I brought home a 400lb big game scale from the hunt ranch. I’m going to weigh it since I can but not bc I have any doubt about the actual weight of the tongue.

Edit: just weighted using game scale and came up with 285. Used bathroom scale which maxes at 300 and I got 295. Cat scale indicated 320.

More variances than I would prefer since I like to be precise but bottom line is, no matter what scale I use, I’m under tongue rating.

There is an old saying…… a guy with a tire pressure gauge knows what his pressures are, a guy with 2 gauges is never sure!

I would call the weight 300 and be done!

Lol!
That should be the motto for this forum!

I can actually picture some of the members here, although I have no idea what they look like, getting out of the drivers seat, full on plaid short sleeve button down shirt, grampa slip on Skechers and a pocket protector with 3 different tire gauges and a pen and mechanical pencil. The pen and pencil are the primary and backup plan for making tick marks on the dash mounted notebook pad while counting RVs with no tow mirrors…..and recording tire pressures 3x/day to compare with the tpms!

[dodge_guy]

tealboy wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
To know for sure weigh the tongue with the bathroom scale method.

You would be hard pressed to convince me a bathroom scale/beam set up will read within the 20 lbs the cat rounds things. He is far enough from the hitch limit we know not over, so not too heavy. He has not mentioned any handling issues, so not too light.

For fun, I brought home a 400lb big game scale from the hunt ranch. I’m going to weigh it since I can but not bc I have any doubt about the actual weight of the tongue.

Edit: just weighted using game scale and came up with 285. Used bathroom scale which maxes at 300 and I got 295. Cat scale indicated 320.

More variances than I would prefer since I like to be precise but bottom line is, no matter what scale I use, I’m under tongue rating.

There is an old saying…… a guy with a tire pressure gauge knows what his pressures are, a guy with 2 gauges is never sure!

I would call the weight 300 and be done!

[JRscooby]

Me Again wrote:


My hitch weight scale:

That could tell the story. Is it hooked right to coupler, or hanging by safety chains? Moving back on the tongue will make it read light. Is the coupler same height as when hooked to TV? Raising the tongue will make it read lighter.

[Me_Again]

tealboy wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
To know for sure weigh the tongue with the bathroom scale method.

You would be hard pressed to convince me a bathroom scale/beam set up will read within the 20 lbs the cat rounds things. He is far enough from the hitch limit we know not over, so not too heavy. He has not mentioned any handling issues, so not too light.

For fun, I brought home a 400lb big game scale from the hunt ranch. I’m going to weigh it since I can but not bc I have any doubt about the actual weight of the tongue.

Edit: just weighted using game scale and came up with 285. Used bathroom scale which maxes at 300 and I got 295. Cat scale indicated 320.

More variances than I would prefer since I like to be precise but bottom line is, no matter what scale I use, I’m under tongue rating.

My hitch weight scale:

[Me_Again]

valhalla360 wrote:
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?

I believe 150 pound driver is included in the curb weight number.

[JRscooby]

tealboy wrote:


For fun, I brought home a 400lb big game scale from the hunt ranch. I’m going to weigh it since I can but not bc I have any doubt about the actual weight of the tongue.

Edit: just weighted using game scale and came up with 285. Used bathroom scale which maxes at 300 and I got 295. Cat scale indicated 320.

More variances than I would prefer since I like to be precise but bottom line is, no matter what scale I use, I’m under tongue rating.

Cat rounds to 20 lbs. And if you set the coupler on the scale higher than when hooked to TV, the scale will read light

[tealboy]

JRscooby wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
To know for sure weigh the tongue with the bathroom scale method.

You would be hard pressed to convince me a bathroom scale/beam set up will read within the 20 lbs the cat rounds things. He is far enough from the hitch limit we know not over, so not too heavy. He has not mentioned any handling issues, so not too light.

For fun, I brought home a 400lb big game scale from the hunt ranch. I’m going to weigh it since I can but not bc I have any doubt about the actual weight of the tongue.

Edit: just weighted using game scale and came up with 285. Used bathroom scale which maxes at 300 and I got 295. Cat scale indicated 320.

More variances than I would prefer since I like to be precise but bottom line is, no matter what scale I use, I’m under tongue rating.

[Grit_dog]

I’m sure some of you, maybe?, realize that computing tongue weight by simply calling the rear axle weight addition the tongue weight is only a good approximation.
If you neglect things like rotational friction and stiffness of members (lol) you can do a moment diagram based on the lengths to each point (axles and hitch) and weights observed at each axle and get pretty close.
But it’s NOT 320+100= 420. Nor is it exactly 320.
But if one is really thst concerned then google and 8th grade math will get you a very close number without actually weighing the tongue. (Which technically would have to be AT the ball and not at the jack if you’re handwringing for that answer that is not just 98% correct but 100%.
And then let’s not get into dynamic forces and how much of that was designed into the static weight rating and if one could exceed that in the right conditions or never reach that in different conditions.
FFS, it’s a little trailer behind a truck that is capable and rated for it. And the OP has done his due diligence to see that he’s in the ballpark.
Next caller please…

[JRscooby]

dodge guy wrote:
To know for sure weigh the tongue with the bathroom scale method.

You would be hard pressed to convince me a bathroom scale/beam set up will read within the 20 lbs the cat rounds things. He is far enough from the hitch limit we know not over, so not too heavy. He has not mentioned any handling issues, so not too light.

[dodge_guy]

To know for sure weigh the tongue with the bathroom scale method.

[tealboy]

Great, thank you Marty and scooby, I didn’t see your latest posts earlier. Some of the others spooked me, thinking I had 420. I didn’t think so but I’m still learning. Your input is appreciated.

[JRscooby]

tealboy wrote:
Seriously, the tongue is 420? I hope that’s not right I was coming up with 320. The suv is rated for 350 tongue and 3500 trailer. The tongue feels very heavy to me but I never dreamed it was 420.

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 only be 2”. The vehicle is a Lexus rx350 with tow pkg.

NO! THERE IS NO WAY TO FIGURE AND GET A TW OF 420! Your TW is 320. It would get little heavier if you lowered the tongue in relation to axle, but unless you re-arrange things you are unlikely to get over the 350.

[blt2ski]

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

[tealboy]

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.