What's Your "Scaled" Tongue/Pin Weight?

[RDTC]

I think the pin is about 3,150. The truck weight did not include 40 gallons of auxiliary tank fuel and the hitch was out.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by RDTC

I think the pin is about 3,150. The truck weight did not include 40 gallons of auxiliary tank fuel and the hitch was out.

Appreciate the correction

I assumed the statement.... "When weighed, truck had full factory tank and 40 gallons in bed aux tank" applied to both 'TV only' and 'TV/FW' weigh-in conditions, and also w/hitch. I deleted my post.

Bob

[gkalmond]

After seeing several posts about the advisability of weighing your rig, I did find a CAT scale and did so. Note: if you’ve never done this, pull all the way forward on the scale. It’s divided into sections that weigh each axle. Try to center the axles in the middle of the section. There’s a call button near the front of the scale – press the button firmly and the staff will respond.
Here are my results:

TV only –
Front 4,800
Rear 3,580
Total 8,380.

TV and trailer:
Front 4,320
Rear 5,460
Trailer 7,200
Total 16,980

If my math is correct, it appears the trailer weighs 8,600 pounds. The GVWR for the trailer is 8,500 pounds.

The tongue weight of the trailer would appear to be 1,400 pounds, or 16% of the total trailer weight.

The weight on the front end of the truck decreases by 480 pounds when the trailer is attached.

My conclusions:
The trailer needs to go on a diet. The trailer was loaded normally for a travel day, but the extensive interior renovations we did added material extra weight. We’ll take what we can from storing in the trailer and move it to the truck bed.

The weight distribution hitch (Equal-i-zer) requires adjustment. I’ll raise the L brackets by one hole and reweigh. I assume the goal is to achieve the same front axle weight with and without the trailer.

Any further recommendations and suggestions welcome!

[DonBr]

Generally, the goal with the WDH is to not have the front end lifting. If you had the normal weight on the front, but more on the back, it can still lift. So, do it by measuring height from ground to bumper or top of wheel well. Ideally, when done, everything is in a straight line, trailer is the same height at front of frame as back of frame. Ideal can be hard to achieve, but worth attempting for handling purposes as well as weight distribution.

[AKRUEBBE]

Originally Posted by gkalmond

The weight on the front end of the truck decreases by 480 pounds when the trailer is attached.

480 pounds is a huge difference. Your steering must feel real lucy goosey! My 5er has a tongue weight of 3,800# and my front on the TV only drops 80# when connected. I have factory airbags which lifts the rear end and does with an equalizer hitch should do. I would definitely make some adjustments.