trailer build question

marty79 said:
So since the tongue weight is 331lb, I need to load Jeep to where it's only adding just few more hundred pounds right? Since Tahoe says 500lb tongue weight..
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I am guessing the 500lb number you are talking about is max tounge weight on the hitch?

Wild guess here, but I would imagine having over max recommended weight on the hitch (331+couple hundred pounds) will squat your Tahoe to carolina stance levels.

I would imagine this would make the tow vehicle drive like poop?
 
junkxj said:
I am guessing the 500lb number you are talking about is max tounge weight on the hitch?

Wild guess here, but I would imagine having over max recommended weight on the hitch (331+couple hundred pounds) will squat your Tahoe to carolina stance levels.

I would imagine this would make the tow vehicle drive like poop?
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right...so since it towed almost pretty perfect last weekend now knowing I had it too far forward according to these weights now, my tow rig should be able to handle this even better once I get some of this weight off the tongue.
And yes that 500 is what the hitch says, like most all of them I've ever seen say 500lb tongue weight max
 
83oldyoda4x4 said:
You realize how tongue weight works, you cant have zero tongue weight. Jeep on trailer you had 300lbs?


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I'm glad someone redid that video with a truck instead of a Mustang. Who the heck tows with a mustang?
 
marty79 said:
So since the tongue weight is 331lb, I need to load Jeep to where it's only adding just few more hundred pounds right? Since Tahoe says 500lb tongue weight..
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I'm confused to why you're trying to change this? 500lb is the MAX, not what it needs to be. If it towed fine, leave it be. You need to place the load 60/40. That does not mean you must always have the max on the tongue. If your load was smaller/shorter then you may wind up putting everything in front of the axles to try to get to this "500lb tongue weight". Some loads may not even be possible to get to a 500lb tongue weight.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I'm confused to why you're trying to change this? 500lb is the MAX, not what it needs to be. If it towed fine, leave it be. You need to place the load 60/40. That does not mean you must always have the max on the tongue. If your load was smaller/shorter then you may wind up putting everything in front of the axles to try to get to this "500lb tongue weight". Some loads may not even be possible to get to a 500lb tongue weight.
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I think he's trying to follow the 10-15% rule for tongue weight? Hard to believe his jeep and trailer only weighs 5k though.
 
Soooo 1580 for the trailer, and 4980 for the rig, so that's 656 lbs tongue weight at 10%, and 984lbs at 15%. That's the target, not the actual based on placement obviously.


What's the tongue rating on the Tahoe with a weight distributing hitch?
 
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How many of us that tow regular break out a scale for the tongue weights? I know they have hitches with scales built in but I can't justify paying for one. I load it till it looks good and roll on. I have loaded it wrong before and just a quick adjustment forward or back corrects things.
 
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77GreenMachine said:
How many of us that tow regular break out a scale for the tongue weights? I know they have hitches with scales built in but can justify paying for one. I load it till it looks good and roll on. I have loaded it wrong before and just a quick adjustment forward or back corrects things.
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It's not that simple with Fuller, remember the science of metals thing? I think most of us who tow on the regular know how to load a trailer by look and feel. Something I call the calibrated eyeball scale.
 
77GreenMachine said:
How many of us that tow regular break out a scale for the tongue weights? I know they have hitches with scales built in but I can't justify paying for one. I load it till it looks good and roll on. I have loaded it wrong before and just a quick adjustment forward or back corrects things.
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I do.

I have 4 hydraulic scales. 0-1000 lbs.

Hook trailer to tow rig, load trailer, measure loaded height of hitch.

Unhook trailer, put scale under tongue, set to same height. Check weight.

Move load front to rear for desired tongue weight.
 
Mac5005 said:
I do.

I have 4 hydraulic scales. 0-1000 lbs.

Hook trailer to tow rig, load trailer, measure loaded height of hitch.

Unhook trailer, put scale under tongue, set to same height. Check weight.

Move load front to rear for desired tongue weight.
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Each time you tow? I could see doing that with an unknown load, but even that would change based on tools, spare parts , etc. But it seems a little over the top to do that each time. I just figured out where both my Jeeps level the truck and ride the best. That changed when I added the tool box to the front of the trailer, and then again when I bought the slide in camper.
 
Mac5005 said:
I do.

I have 4 hydraulic scales. 0-1000 lbs.

Hook trailer to tow rig, load trailer, measure loaded height of hitch.

Unhook trailer, put scale under tongue, set to same height. Check weight.

Move load front to rear for desired tongue weight.
Click to expand...

If I had said scales, I would weigh everything once just to know! Be nice to know whats what and all.
 
what i did on my old trailer (towing with a 1500) was painted a line on the trailer in two different colors. one for the skid steer and one for the tractor, where the front tire should be. Since mostly dealing with 2500s, Most of the time when loading i just watch for when the truck starts to squat. I can tell how much the squat the truck likes.

I guess if your hauling 3 rigs to harlan with an f150 you may need to be scientific with the scales and all.
 
Fabrik8 said:
So let's explore this, just to check assumptions. I'm assuming left both tires on one scale for the left side, both right tires on one scale for the right side, and the tongue jack on the 3rd scale?
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Yep.

83oldyoda4x4 said:
Jeep on trailer you had 300lbs?
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no that 331 is just trailer empty weight.
I was just stating that the way I had it loaded, I "thought" my jeep weighed a heck of a lot more than 5000, and I thought the front also weighed a lot more than the rear so I was loading it like I usually do by 60/40 ish but now that I see actual weight, it makes me realize I had the jeep too far forward on trailer now knowing the actual weight and how much just the empty trailer tongue weight is.
Fabrik8 said:
What's the tongue rating on the Tahoe with a weight distributing hitch?
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I wasn't aware there are 2 numbers, but the numbers on this hitch are worn off. I just know from owning so many Tahoe 500 is usually normal max tongue.
 
Mac5005 said:
I do.

I have 4 hydraulic scales. 0-1000 lbs.

Hook trailer to tow rig, load trailer, measure loaded height of hitch.

Unhook trailer, put scale under tongue, set to same height. Check weight.

Move load front to rear for desired tongue weight.
Click to expand...
dang it, should've done this while I had scales here stupid...lol
 
Chris_Keziah said:
It's not that simple with Fuller, remember the science of metals thing? I think most of us who tow on the regular know how to load a trailer by look and feel. Something I call the calibrated eyeball scale.
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this is how I've been doing it but since I'm working with a Tahoe that's not mine, borrowed, and I'm working with current setup which is these funky axles that I'm not used to, makes this trailer tow little funky (the tiny shake I had at 58-62). Having that said, I'm about 99% sure I had the jeep about 7" too far forward so I think placement will/should get it to pull as good as it did at 65mph at other speeds as well.
Most people yeah, they load and go. I can't. I need and want to constantly learn to get it right or close to right as possible. Once I get some better axles on this trailer, it'll be golden...oh and a truck haha
 
Chris_Keziah said:
It's not that simple with Fuller, remember the science of metals thing? I think most of us who tow on the regular know how to load a trailer by look and feel. Something I call the calibrated eyeball scale.
Click to expand...

I loaded mine and went on a cat scale to determine exact placement then marked the trailer and the load distribution chains.so I knew where to them each time.
 
marty79 said:
Yep.


no that 331 is just trailer empty weight.
I was just stating that the way I had it loaded, I "thought" my jeep weighed a heck of a lot more than 5000, and I thought the front also weighed a lot more than the rear so I was loading it like I usually do by 60/40 ish but now that I see actual weight, it makes me realize I had the jeep too far forward on trailer now knowing the actual weight and how much just the empty trailer tongue weight is.

I wasn't aware there are 2 numbers, but the numbers on this hitch are worn off. I just know from owning so many Tahoe 500 is usually normal max tongue.
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One number is for standard bumper pull the higher number is usually the max with a weight distributing hitch.
 
$85 and be done with it...

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marty79 said:
I wasn't aware there are 2 numbers, but the numbers on this hitch are worn off. I just know from owning so many Tahoe 500 is usually normal max tongue.
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There should be a second number if it is capable of being used with a weight distributing hitch. You should be able to Google it for whatever year and package Tahoe you have. Tahoes have a fairly short wheelbase and a lot of glass in the back, so they aren't going to be as high of a hitch rating as the equivalent pickup, etc.
 
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