Announcement Just Ordered Raindrop

Well, I haven't weighed it, but I did try to pick it up once and it was very heavy. I can't really shift my load - it's already as far back as possible. However, we are learning how to bring less each time we go out - that's the real solution.

 

Moi?

This may also help a few folks stay on the road. Having a light front end is no fun in the rain. I've had trouble in the rain with a lack of tongue weight when the tear got wet & had to empty the water tanks when the propane was almost empty to make up for the water weight. Thirty lbs off that 10% mark can make a difference. Sixty lbs off can make a big difference with a small car. Balance is the key along with understanding where you are at tongue weight wise. Like knowing propane weight is tongue weight, lb for lb. The scale above told me so.

Hilditch

 

I'll have to weight it then. Is there a reason I couldn't just set the wheel down on the scale? Do I have to built a contraption like yours?

 

No & maybe. I did it to distribute the weight evenly on my $6 scale at a height that matched my ball with the car loaded, including the tongue weight and people. Also remember your wheel is behind the ball changing the leverage some what -probably not significant. One piece of wood may do it under the wheel. Ball height is important as tongue weight can vary 20 lbs in +/- 2" inches from level.

The next time you are loaded & ready to go you can probably check it it five minutes with a board on a scale & the rear wheels chocked.

I just went for the stand as I've used it multiple times to check situations/changes without having to load the car to find the right height.I guess the angle of the trailer could be remembered from the level. I also don't have to play with getting the wheel up on the scale, & just use it to let the tongue down on the stand.

Hilditch

 

Hilditch

That is a very informative and usefully post what a simple design and the philosophy that the point of measurement is as if the trailer was on your ball hitch. So simple and so easy to check.

Do you take this with you on trips.

I would suggest weighing before a trip and then weigh as soon as you get home from a trip before unloading so you can see the effect of weight changes and distribution that are directly related to your trip.

I have a trailer for my ATV and you can adjust the Axel position which effects tongue weight but I have never thought about actually weighing the trailer at the tongue.

 

Evan,

You wouldn't need to build a nice stand like Hilditch has but when weighing the tongue it must be at the height it would be when hooked to the car. This could be done with some blocks and scrap wood piled on the scale and zeroed before placing the tongue on it. Notice I didn't say it should be with the trailer level, because rarely is the trailer perfectly level when hooked to a car. Try to match the hitch height. If you just set the nose of the trailer on the scale it will show a super high tongue weight.

Barry and Annie,

I would think you wouldn't need to be checking this while traveling. This is something I would do at home in the garage when loading the trailer so you have a good "feel" for how items you place in the trailer affect the tongue weight. Doing it this way will make you very comfortable with your loading while traveling.

Hilditch pointed out a very important point. Don't let the tongue weight get below 10% of the trailer's total. This is for all trailers. It will qet a bit squirrelly. We build the 550s with approximately a 12.5% tongue weight (depending on options, some add more). This is to give you wiggle room on your loading. The 550s are hard to get out of whack loading, as you load it the tongue gets a bit heavier. The 560s have a heavier starting tongue weight (about 14%). This is because of the trailer being longer and having more moment arm behind the axle. So, as you load the trailer the heavier stuff tends to be in the galley area and it reduces the tongue weight rather than adding it. So, the tongue weight percentage will typically get lighter on a 560 as you load it, even Evans.

Cary

 

Barry,

No we don't take the scale. As we don't load anything on the bed there were only a few variables to get a handle on and that was done in the driveway. Full cooler/no beer. Water/no water. Extra cast iron or not. Propane full or empty. I was able to get to know the tear.

We now carry four 5lb bags of lead shot in the front storage compartment for 10 lbs extra tongue weight. I stick real close to the 10% but do have some wiggle room on the road. 12% would provide a lot of wiggle room if the car is rated for it. Once one gets a handle on it you don't have to think about it anymore.

As a bonus, I was able to design the rear suspension/hitch so the tear rides level when loaded. When we got the Ford it rode like a go-cart, so it had to be reworked anyway. It's now a 1 ton, so about 400#'s of our stuff in the car doesn't hurt anything and actually helps the ride. It's a car built for camping.

Hilditch

 

you will love it