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Old 07-05-2013, 04:03 PM   #1
MarkoPolo
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Default Tongue Weight done at Home

Sunbeam Bathroom Scale..$7.90 Walmart, 2"X6"X8' Board..$6.97 Lowe's..Knowing your true tongue weight..Priceless

Thanks to a e-mailed diagram from Bill, I was able to find my tongue weight at home, without having to hitch up and go to a scale.

I cut a four foot board, marked the one, two, and three foot centers and leveled the board using two large jack stabilizer pads, two bricks and the scale. The first photos show the rig in my garage and the last ones show it in use with the Trailmanor.

Doing the math, the 170 lb scale reading = 510 lb tongue weight. This number is probably a little low as the trailer did not have all the "stuff" in it we take on trips.

I also measured a little over two inch drop on my hitch when I connected the TM. So..this means an Andersen "No Sway" weight distribution hitch has been ordered.

Mark
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Old 07-05-2013, 05:05 PM   #2
Bailey'sMom
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Default Can you send me the diagram?

Hi Mark
Please send me the diagram. Sure would be easier than taking to CAT scale.

Did you subtract from your 170 # the weight of the brick and the board that were on it?

If not, why not, what am I missing.
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Old 07-05-2013, 05:12 PM   #3
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Hi Mark
Please send me the diagram. Sure would be easier than taking to CAT scale.

Did you subtract from your 170 # the weight of the brick and the board that were on it?

If not, why not, what am I missing.
You should scale the trailer once you have your stuff loaded in it. The process described above only determines the tongue weight, not the trailer weight or the weight on the rear axle of your vehicle. As noted, search for threads about weights of trailers and effects on tow vehicles.
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Old 07-05-2013, 05:55 PM   #4
MarkoPolo
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Sara,
I did zero the scale with board and bricks in place. Mister P, I realize this is only the tongue weight, but I had some concern that this model might be "tail heavy". I will way trailer and tow vehicle when everything is loaded, just not an easy thing to do right now. At any rate, it lets me know that I am above the 500 lb hitch weight max for the Ford F-150. I am sure with the pick up bed loaded there will be more weight on the hitch, so I now feel the WDH is a good thing to have.
Mark
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Old 07-05-2013, 06:12 PM   #5
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Sara,
I did zero the scale with board and bricks in place. Mister P, I realize this is only the tongue weight, but I had some concern that this model might be "tail heavy". I will way trailer and tow vehicle when everything is loaded, just not an easy thing to do right now. At any rate, it lets me know that I am above the 500 lb hitch weight max for the Ford F-150. I am sure with the pick up bed loaded there will be more weight on the hitch, so I now feel the WDH is a good thing to have.
Mark
Mark - my comment was directed to BaileysMom, who stated the method was easier than going to the scale. I commend you for your effort.

Paul
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Old 07-07-2013, 01:44 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoPolo View Post
Sunbeam Bathroom Scale..$7.90 Walmart, 2"X6"X8' Board..$6.97 Lowe's..Knowing your true tongue weight..Priceless

Thanks to a e-mailed diagram from Bill, I was able to find my tongue weight at home, without having to hitch up and go to a scale.

Mark
Mark -

Glad to hear you did it, found it valuable, and relatively easy to do. For anyone else who wants to try it, I've put the diagram in my Tech Album at

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...&pictureid=861

But your pictures really tell a better story. By the way, my diagram suggests using a length of 2x4. It looks like you used 2x6, and it is still a little bendy, so your choice was better than mine. Thanks for showing that.

The weight of the brick (maybe 5 pounds?) really ought to be subtracted, but accounting for 5 pounds out of 500 really doesn't change much. And yes, the setup in the diagram measures only tongue weight, not any of the other equally-important weights associated with a TM.

Bill
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Old 07-07-2013, 02:37 PM   #7
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Bill:

Thanks for using the "folders" mechanism.. I had no idea it existed until you used it. Then I read the tutorial by commodor47 and everything was clear.

It is a very useful tool.

Jerry

P.S. I think it is incorrect physics to subtract the weight of the scale brick and plank...if the scale is zeroed after the brick and plank are added(as Mark said he did) but before the TM tongue is lowered onto the plank. IMHO (maybe I am wrong).
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Old 07-07-2013, 03:10 PM   #8
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Same idea from etrailer with some additional verbiage:

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-d...ue-weight.aspx
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Old 07-07-2013, 05:31 PM   #9
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Mark - my comment was directed to BaileysMom, who stated the method was easier than going to the scale. I commend you for your effort.

Paul
I plan to go to a scale to get all my weights as soon as I am able. I also was thinking it would be a good way to find a quick tongue weight to know for a WDH. certainly not replacing knowing all the other items.
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Welcome Sophie DOB 1/5/2021
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New to me 2010 Chevy Traverse

Both purchased July 2013

Factory installed 80W solar panel.

New batteries June 30th 2018.
(SLIGC115 Duracell Ultra 6V Deep Cycle Golf Cart Battery x 2)
New bag seals Sept 2020
Rohent R7 HD 1080P RV Wireless Backup Camera Installed Sept 2020
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