Re: Trailer Tongue Weight Question
Bill Combs (ttursine@gnt.net)
Mon, 16 Aug 1999 23:06:56 -0500
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> Hi Webgang,
>
> I'm hoping to get some sound advice from one or a few of our trailer
gurus...
>
> My P19 and trailer weigh about 2000-2100 pounds (fully loaded with gear. I
> weighed the tongue today using a home scale and it read 250 pounds. The
> conventional wisdom says that tongue weight should be between 5 and 10% of
> total weight, right?
>
> I'm bringing it in tomorrow for a warranty repair on something else --
> should I have them move the axle to get the tongue weight down to 200
> pounds or less? What is the effect of having the tongue weight too heavy?
>
> I have noticed that the trailer causes my tow vehicle to "bounce" a bit
> when the trailer goes over a bump. (Dodge Grand Caravan with factory tow
> package consisting of heavy duty shocks, tranny cooler, factory tow wiring.
> Rated to pull 3500 pounds)
>
> Thanks in advance. Judy B
> WWP19 #266 Redwing
> Sailing SF Bay, CA
>
Too much tongue weight will cause your "tow vehicle to "bounce" a bit
when the trailer goes over a bump." [;-)] Too much is better than too
little, but it will harm the ride as you have noted and will also
induce extra (perhaps excess) wear on suspension components --
especially shocks.
Were I you, I'd try to get it down to 150 lbs or so. You may be able
to do this by redistributing the load (e.g., carry the outboard on the
cockpit floor), but if trailer mods are necessary, it's usually a lot
easier to move the boat than the axle ... if you have the clearance.
Regards,
Bill Combs
WWP 19 #439 (Aug 1987)
"Ursa Minor"
Fort Walton Beach FL
ttursine@gnt.net