Tongue weight of toy haulers

[Formulaone]

I'm always a stickler for being within tongue weight limits of my TV, a Silverado half ton with max towing package (11,700# with shortbed/crewcab). Max tongue weight for my TV is 1,250 # and I tow a Jayco Octane T26Y Toy Hauler. When I'm loaded up (1/2 to 2/3 tank water and either dirt bikes or son's racing karts and tools in the back) it comes out to around 1,100 #, well within the limits. I checked what happens when my tools and toys are unloaded and the tongue weight is 1,350 #, over my TV rating for the tongue weight. I"m already planning to get a new 2020 F250 this winter to replace it for this reason alone (besides the towing capability of the Powerstroke Diesel), but my question is...is this typical? And does this mean I have to do some interesting loading if I ever want to use my TT strictly as a TT without any toys in it because of the tongue weight (at least until I get the F250 which will have probably 1,800 # tongue weight capacity.

 

[bankr63]

Yes, normal. If you unload all the weight from the back (toys and tools) the tongue weight will go up. Think of it like a teeter-totter where the heavy guy just hopped off one side. The other side suddenly gets MUCH heavier.

 

[Formulaone]

Sure I understand the principle of it...so it seems to me that a Toy Hauler is by design not really meant to be hauled without toys in it at least with your typical half ton truck?

 

[Subaru297]

Yes that is typical as they are designed to have a lot of weight added behind the axles a toy hauler will have a heavier tongue weight when empty.

 

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

This is typical of a tow behind TH. The living quarters/kitchen is all up front. A 5th is basically the same, but the kitchen, bath can be located much further back, making it a great tow when empty.