CAT Scale Questions

[WVCamper]

Went to the scales today to get the true numbers of my rig. Need some help figuring out what adjustments I can make. The TT is level when hooked up, I use an Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution (WD) and anti sway set-up. The shank is currently bolted in at the lowest position on the hitch, need to add some more weight to the tongue but don't know how. Truck and TT were fully loaded including full fresh water tank.

Any feedback from some of you much more experienced than I is greatly appreciated!
Results below are as follows for truck & TT in my signature:
#1 Truck, TT, W/ WD bars engaged
#2 Truck, TT without WD bars engaged
#3 Truck only

[milw156]

I don't see anything wrong with the current setup. There's a lot of folks that would tow a 23' without weight distribution - that fact that you're doing it with a 1 Ton TV is that much safer. After distribution is set up it looks like all the weight has returned (plus more) to the steer axle. We have a Reese Dual Cam setup and with those results I would even drop a link to put less stress on the trailer frame.

If your equalizer is at it's lowest setting then it may be tough to adjust further.

[eldermike]

Where is the fresh water tank on this trailer? Your setup looks fine to me. The question is, how does it tow?

[Grumpy]

As milw 156 said I'd drop one link on the bars to get a little more weight on the rear axle. Or is the ball & bar angle adjustable, tilt the ball toward the truck.

[WVCamper]

Originally Posted by eldermike

Where is the fresh water tank on this trailer? Your setup looks fine to me. The question is, how does it tow?

Not sure about the location eldermike, underbelly is covered. I would assume over the axles towards the rear based on the freshwater filler neck. Our previous TT had about 1200 lbs on the hitch and it drove smoother than the smaller 23B. I probably need to re-post a thread on how to fine tune the Equal-i-zer hitch.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by WVCamper

snip.....Our previous TT had about 1200 lbs on the hitch and it drove smoother than the smaller 23B. I probably need to re-post a thread on how to fine tune the Equal-i-zer hitch.

WVCamper,

IMO your prior TT with a 1,200lb tongue weight and being a heavier TT most likely helped with the normally stiff 1 ton suspension, and as you are now experiencing a 600lb loaded tongue weight and a lighter X23B isn't contributing. Also, based on your CAT results your Equal-i-zer is tuned in just fine, I don't see a need for any further adjustments.

Your X23B loaded weight is 5,020lbs (including tongue weight), so the recommended 10% to 15% tongue weight range would be 502lbs to 753lbs...., so your 600lbs is good.

If your goal is to add some more tongue weight to help with the TV ride, I don't think another 153lbs is going to make a difference (753lbs - 600lbs = 153lbs).

I guess one could throw more campfire wood in the TV box.

Just food for thought.

Bob

[eldermike]

If the water tank is behind or slightly behind the axles it will affect the tongue weight by lowering it. I have pulled campers that were very sensitive to how they are loaded. Moving as much weight ahead of axles ,as possible, is a good idea. Also if you can get the TT front slightly down that will help.

[WVCamper]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

WVCamper,

IMO your prior TT with a 1,200lb tongue weight and being a heavier TT most likely helped with the normally stiff 1 ton suspension, and as you are now experiencing a 600lb loaded tongue weight and a lighter X23B isn't contributing. Also, based on your CAT results your Equal-i-zer is tuned in just fine, I don't see a need for any further adjustments.

Your X23B loaded weight is 5,020lbs (including tongue weight), so the recommended 10% to 15% tongue weight range would be 502lbs to 753lbs...., so your 600lbs is good.

If your goal is to add some more tongue weight to help with the TV ride, I don't think another 153lbs is going to make a difference (753lbs - 600lbs = 153lbs).

I guess one could throw more campfire wood in the TV box.

Just food for thought.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I was waiting for you to chime in, you appear to be the resident expert on all things weight distribution!
So excuse my ignorance for a moment, but I was under the impression that the hitch weight was calculated with WD engaged which by my calculations would only be 480# or 9.6%, without WD engaged is 600# or 12%. I'm much more satisfied with the latter of 600# than the former.
Are my calculations correct?

I do feel I'm spending a bit too much time over analyzing a 5000# TT with a 1 ton Diesel!

[WVCamper]

Originally Posted by eldermike

If the water tank is behind or slightly behind the axles it will affect the tongue weight by lowering it. I have pulled campers that were very sensitive to how they are loaded. Moving as much weight ahead of axles ,as possible, is a good idea. Also if you can get the TT front slightly down that will help.

I agree eldermike the water would make a huge difference, unfortunately most of the places we camp don't have full hook-ups.
I'm already as far as down as I can go with the bars. I think I'll put the dutch oven and other cast iron cook ware in the front storage area rather than inside the trailer, that should be a net gain of 100# or so.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by WVCamper

snip..... but I was under the impression that the hitch weight was calculated with WD engaged which by my calculations would only be 480# or 9.6%, without WD engaged is 600# or 12%.....snip

To determine the actual loaded tongue weight one utilizes the TV axle weights when the WD is not engaged...., the tongue weight remains almost a constant on the hitch ball even when the WD is engaged.

The WDH when engaged is not removing weight off the hitch ball, it's removing weight off the TV's rear axle from the "effect" of the tongue weight placed on the hitch ball. So the WDH returns the weight removed from the TV's front axle, and do to the inherent physics of the WDH there is also some weight transferred to the HTT axles.

Loaded tongue weight per your CAT weights: (TV axles 4,700lbs + 5,100lbs) WD not engaged - (TV axles 4,920lbs + 4,280lbs) TV only = 600lbs

Hope this clarifies things a little.

Bob

CAT scale weigh-in: http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3871

[WVCamper]

Thanks greatly! I fell comfortable with 12%, concerns put to rest.

[Rustic Eagle]

My BIL had an earlier model 23B, and as I recall his loaded tongue weight was 650lbs, didn't travel with any fluids, but had his front pass thru full of "stuff".

Bob