Tongue Weight Measurement Methods Compared

[Yoshi1]

Hi,

I have a tear drop trailer and have been doing tongue weight measurements.

I have always used the bathroom scale method. I borrowed a friend's tongue weight scale and get a significant difference in results.

Does my bathroom scale method look set up correctly? It is 1 foot to the left from the jack and 2 feet to the right. I multiply the weight on the scale by 3. The board is level.

Or is it more likely the tongue weight scale is off.

The camper is level left and right.

Using tongue weight scale 275 lbs.
Using bathroom scale 360 and 340 using two different scales.

TY

 

[Kirk]

Without knowing a lot more about the equipment used, the best I could do is to guess but I would tend to think that the tongue scale is much closer. The tongue weight of most RVs will be between 10% and 15% of the total weight of the trailer. Since most teardrop trailers are in the range of 1000 to 1500 pounds. So at 15% the 1500 pound trailer should have a tongue weight or 225 pounds.

Have you ever weighed the trailer?

 

[Yoshi1]

Without knowing a lot more about the equipment used, the best I could do is to guess but I would tend to think that the tongue scale is much closer. The tongue weight of most RVs will be between 10% and 15% of the total weight of the trailer. Since most teardrop trailers are in the range of 1000 to 1500 pounds. So at 15% the 1500 pound trailer should have a tongue weight or 225 pounds.

Have you ever weighed the trailer?

Hi,

Yes, I've weighed it twice on CAT scales. Once empty after we picked it up and it matched man'f dry weight spec sheet and then filled. Dry weight was 3060 lbs (matched man'f spec sheet) and then filled during a trip 3460 lbs. (with front tub filled with gear, filled propane tank , filled fresh water (15 gallon tank) bikes on bike rack (80 lbs).

For those who have used the bathroom scale method..does the set up look right?

 

[Domo]

The bathroom scale is at the wrong location to measure the tongue weight. Your picture shows the tongue scale at the ball location (correct), whereas the bathroom scale assembly is further back at the jack stand... different point different weight.

How high does you bathroom scale go? Many go up to 400 pounds so you might be able to read it directly... at the worst it will simply bottom out but you have to put it under where the ball goes to measure the tongue weight.

 

[Rene T]

you are using the scale method correctly. The thing is, you are weighing the beam set up before you even place the trailer jack on it. I use to use just a 2’ beam and just multiply the reading by 2. And just use one 2 x 4 on edge

 

[tlmgcamp1]

Note that the weight at the jack will always be less than at the ball because the jack is closer to the weight of the trailer due to leverage. Picture moving a full wheelbarrow with your hands all the way forward on the handles instead of at the handle ends. It won't be much but now I 'm curious and might do the math

 

[RayIN]

Yup, you did it right. This is from etrailer.com However you made a big assumption that both scales are correct..

 

[Yoshi1]

ok..using some of the suggestions. I made a jig to use the bathroom scales right on the coupler.

I checked the three scales with my weight and all 3 came within +/-1 pound.

Measured tongue weights

Digital Scale #1 ; 315, 272 318 lbs

Digital Scale #2 ; 262, 232 225 lbs

Mechanical Scale #3 (only 280 capacity, but would go zero) 325 lbs

Tongue weight scale; 300 lbs.

I'm guessing the digital scales wild swings in weight may have to do with placement of weight on platform (single point vs two feet)...don't know.

I'll go with the tongue weight scale as the closest, not far off from the average of digital scale #1.

UPDATE; I flipped the jig so the top of the "T" is on the scale on got within 20 lbs and both the two different digital scale...so weight place across the scale platform makes a difference.

Thank you for the help

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I'm guessing the digital scales wild swings in weight may have to do with placement of weight on platform (single point vs two feet)...don't know.

I've seen that problem on a couple digital bathroom scales. They seem to be sensitive to the placement of the load. The old mechanical ones were better for something like this.

 

[Kirk]

3460 lbs.

10% od that means 346 pounds and 15% is 519 pounds. The proper tongue weight for towing a trailer is typically between 10% and 15% of the trailer's gross weight, ensuring safe and stable towing.

 

[Yoshi1]

10% od that means 346 pounds and 15% is 519 pounds. The proper tongue weight for towing a trailer is typically between 10% and 15% of the trailer's gross weight, ensuring safe and stable towing.

thank you...we have a tongue bike rack that we always carry bikes on...so that will add another 70 lbs. two 35 lb bikes. So they will get us over the 10%.