I have an 02 Super Crew and a 7 X 14 enclosed trailer. I need some help figuring my tongue weight before a trip. My trailers unladen wt. is 2180 and I will have approx. 1000 lbs or cargo. What should I have for a tongue wt. for a safe haul. I will be hauling a Harley Electra Glide. I am keeping the bike back about 15" from the front with the rear tire about in the center of the two axles. A formula for this would be nice also.
Thanks much Dave C

 

For that total weight, you want about a 300-350lb tongue weight. Ideal tongue weight is between 8-15% of total weight.

 

There is no 'formula' to figure tw that I'm aware of??? It's all based of of how far the trailer axles are from the ball and how much "A" frame you have and how much other stuff you have loaded forward of the trailer axles and on and on...

What you basically want is between 10% and 15% of the trailers total weight as tw... 12% is ideal IMO... It's usually best to load the heaviest stuff you have up front and then equalize it as you load towards the rear...

In your case, if you don't have a WD setup, I'd move the bike as far forward as it takes to only sag your truck an additional inch or so after you hitch the trailer up empty.

As long as you aren't on the bump stops and it's sagging a ton in the rear, then it's probably ok on how you loaded your trailer.

Once you are out on the road, if it feels 'twitchy' on you, then you need to move more weight up front.

There is some deal you can rig up with a bathroom scale and some 2x6 boards and a set fulcrum point to figure out your tw....

Mitch

 

Can't you just set your tongue wheel on the scale with it disconnected from the truck?

 

Problem is most bathroom scales can not handle that heavy of a weight. That is why you would use this method, so you can limit the weight on the scale, but know what the real tongue weight is.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-trailertowtips.aspx