Different "Ideal" Tongue Weights for Different Models of Trailers

[Ottawasteve]

I have read through the many postings on ideal tongue weights of between 12 - 15%, but have noticed that many of the dry weights on the Jayco trailers are outside of these ideal weights. For example after one person posted a question about towing a 29BHDS, the dry weight is listed as 6840 lbs with a tongue weight of 405 lbs which is 100% less than the 890lbs which would be 13% of the 6840 lbs. The dry weight for my 28BHBE is listed as 6605 with a tongue weight of 630 lbs which is almost 10%. The Eagle 306RKDS weighs 7095 lbs with a tongue weight of 1025lbs which works out to about 14.5% dry and it has the same front pass through storage as the other two so any weight in the front storage would push you over the 15% mark.

I realize the delivered weights may be slightly different as well as packed for camping weights, but are posted dry weight ratios an indicator of whether a particular model of trailer should have more or less tongue weight when loaded ?

 

[DocBrown-JAY]

Correction, tongue weight should be between 10% and 15%. Use 13% for planning purposes but it's always best to weigh the rig.

Never, ever go by dry weight and dry tongue weight. You will never tow the rig at that weight. Options, such as awning and AC, are not included in the listed dry weight. Shipped weight (on the yellow sticker on the starboard side of the trailer) is closer to reality. But the real number is what it weighs when loaded for a trip.

Your trailer for example has a 2,645 cargo capacity. If in fact you loaded it full, you could potentially have a 1202# tongue weight (at 13%). In other words, those light tongue weights are listed because it's built to have a lot more weight up front.

 

[clubhouse]

All manufactures, Jayco included, play games with their published weights. The yellow sticker ship weight is mandated by law and is much more accurate, it even includes full propane weight, but not battery(ies)

I presume the brochure or website weight doesn't include propane and certainly not batteries.

The the unit you reference, once 100# of batteries and another 50-80lbs of propane added you can see how the tongue weight adds up quickly. Then you load your gear, a lot will be in the front pass through and voila you have ~13% TW.