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10-07-2014, 06:53 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 79
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Weighed my tongue
Before buying my first travel trailer I was concerned with tongue weight because i have a half ton truck. While shopping my first question was, "What is the tongue weight?" Of course all the salesman would quote was the dry weight listed in the brochures. I asked if they ever weighed the tongue before installing a WDH. Most said they did not. The other day I decided to find out the real tongue weight on my new Jayco. I bought an inexpensive bathroom scale at Target. I weighed myself and was convinced it was fairly accurate. I set up a 3 foot plank and measured off the distances. I weighed myself again using the set up and was convinced it too was working. Mt trailer has an advertised dry tongue weight of 425 lbs. My trailer is only packed with the routine camping gear and basic supplies, probably less than 300 ilbs. it has a battery and 2 full propane bottles on the tongue and I added 20 gallons of water. The tongue weight came in at 620 lbs. This is not a concern but I thought it was interesting. I also tried something else. While weighing the tongue I made sure it was sitting at the same height as it would while being towed. However I did experiment with changing the height up and down several inches and found it had big affect on the weight.
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10-07-2014, 06:59 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,093
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This is why we tell folks those published weights can be way off real world weights, and that should be taken into account when considering a tow vehicle. I weighed mine and came up with a TW in excess of 900 lbs.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
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10-07-2014, 07:00 PM
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#3
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Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Woodstock
Posts: 1,128
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my X17a has a posted dry weight of 260 and I haven't measured mine but it is likely close to 550. Only way I can keep the weight ok on the trailer axle...My Rav4 handles it perfectly though so I am happy
there is another post on here about weights. guy has an advertised TW of 220 and a cat weight of 620
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10-07-2014, 07:58 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Athens Ohio
Posts: 238
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crabman
This is why we tell folks those published weights can be way off real world weights, and that should be taken into account when considering a tow vehicle. I weighed mine and came up with a TW in excess of 900 lbs.
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At least you are still fine with the truck you are using to pull with
__________________
2013 Jayco 28BHS :campfire:
2004.5 Dodge Cummins running a Hypertech Tuner
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10-07-2014, 09:51 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Morris
Posts: 250
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Here's an article at etrailer on how to use a bathroom scale.
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-d...ue-weight.aspx
__________________
Retired and loving it.
Got a new 2014 Grayhawk 31DS
Hoping to get away from the IL winters
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10-07-2014, 11:01 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 79
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As I was finishing my initial post company arrived for dinner and I did not reread my typing prior to posting. I meant to say in the last sentence that raising or lowering the tongue height had no real affect on the tongue weight as measured with the scale setup. I had read on other forums the opposite was true. I just wanted to forward my observations. Also i am glad I didn't spend a lot of money on a tongue scale since the cheap one worked fine.
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12-31-2014, 08:57 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lachute
Posts: 936
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Let me ask you a stupid question, what did you use between the scale and the other support ? a 2 x 4 ? IM asking since I always wonder if the 2 x 4 is bending a lot almost to the point of cracking under the weight ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Popcycle
As I was finishing my initial post company arrived for dinner and I did not reread my typing prior to posting. I meant to say in the last sentence that raising or lowering the tongue height had no real affect on the tongue weight as measured with the scale setup. I had read on other forums the opposite was true. I just wanted to forward my observations. Also i am glad I didn't spend a lot of money on a tongue scale since the cheap one worked fine.
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12-31-2014, 09:53 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 79
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I used a 2 X 6 laid flat because that is what I had handy. I think a 2 X 4 wil be ok because most of the tongue weight will be concentrated on the short end of the board near the support. I did not observe any flexing with the board I used.
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12-31-2014, 10:45 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Morris
Posts: 250
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Quote:
Originally Posted by homer1959
Let me ask you a stupid question, what did you use between the scale and the other support ? a 2 x 4 ? IM asking since I always wonder if the 2 x 4 is bending a lot almost to the point of cracking under the weight ...
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I used a nice straight grained, no knots, 2x4 it barely sagged at all and came no where near near to breaking.
__________________
Retired and loving it.
Got a new 2014 Grayhawk 31DS
Hoping to get away from the IL winters
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12-31-2014, 11:01 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lachute
Posts: 936
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What a place, the answer are coming at the speed that even the taxman cant reach ...thanks to all :-)
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12-31-2014, 12:32 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Hartford
Posts: 2,619
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Gotta chime in here...Where does tongue weight end up with a wdh?
I observed back of tv dropping way down if I just drop tt on to hitch = full tongue wt.
Use of wdh levels out tv and also transfers weight ..Right? therefore you are not putting all of actual tongue wt on tv.
Or am I missing something here?
__________________
2015 Fi50 3.5 Ecoboost w/tow max
2018 Flagstaff Super Lite 29RKWS
2011 Jayco 28BHS
2005 F150 Platinum/Roush Package
WHERE EVER YOU GO....THERE YOU ARE
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12-31-2014, 01:44 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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The WDH actually transfers weight that is located over the TV'a rear axle ..., the weight will be transferred to the TV's front suspension and some weight to the TT axles. Ideally, one wants to return the same weight (via WDH) that was removed from the TV's front suspension when the TT tongue weight was initially placed on the TV's hitch ball. The nominal weight transferred to the TT's axles is just a by-product of the WDH meeting the TV's front suspension requirements.
The effect of the TT tongue weight being placed on the hitch ball adds weight to the TV's rear axle and at the same time removes weight from the TV's front suspension. The TT's actual tongue weight on the hitch ball for the most part remains a constant.
A visit to a CAT scale is a good place to see first hand how a WDH can distribute weight, where, and how much.
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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12-31-2014, 02:08 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis b
...Where does tongue weight end up with a wdh?
... Use of wdh levels out tv and also transfers weight ... therefore you are not putting all of actual tongue wt on tv...
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Yes, the tongue weight is on the TV. My way of visualizing it:
Imagine the TT frame welded directly to the TV frame. All of the weight forward of the TT axle(s) - the tongue weight - would be on the TV frame. Without a ball, there would little rear end sag of the TV because of the lack of a pivot point and the TT would be level.
Now imagine there is a hitch ball, but no WD bars. The rear of the TV wants to drop down due to the tongue weight, but when you see that, you put a steel bar between the TV tailgate and the propane tanks (No, please do not try it!). Now the TV and TT stay level.
WD bars pivot from side-to-side to allow cornering and allow the TV and TT to go over vertical changes in the road, but perform much the same weight transfer that a solid bar would.
In some forum (maybe not in JOF), there is at least one very detailed force analysis of the weight transfer using a WD hitch.
(I see there are new posts on this topic, but I'm going to post this before I read them.)
__________________
Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
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12-31-2014, 02:49 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lachute
Posts: 936
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Can't be clearer good job thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle
The WDH actually transfers weight that is located over the TV'a rear axle ..., the weight will be transferred to the TV's front suspension and some weight to the TT axles. Ideally, one wants to return the same weight (via WDH) that was removed from the TV's front suspension when the TT tongue weight was initially placed on the TV's hitch ball. The nominal weight transferred to the TT's axles is just a by-product of the WDH meeting the TV's front suspension requirements.
The effect of the TT tongue weight being placed on the hitch ball adds weight to the TV's rear axle and at the same time removes weight from the TV's front suspension. The TT's actual tongue weight on the hitch ball for the most part remains a constant.
A visit to a CAT scale is a good place to see first hand how a WDH can distribute weight, where, and how much.
Bob
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12-31-2014, 03:12 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Hartford
Posts: 2,619
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After giving further thought to my post (oh no thinking again lol) I more or less came to same conclusion.
Then you guys really nailed it!
Thanks
__________________
2015 Fi50 3.5 Ecoboost w/tow max
2018 Flagstaff Super Lite 29RKWS
2011 Jayco 28BHS
2005 F150 Platinum/Roush Package
WHERE EVER YOU GO....THERE YOU ARE
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