Trailer towing & tongue weight

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Donald

Donald

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Mar 21, 2004
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Near the beach in Delaware
I am set to tow my 27' power boat from RI to DE so a pretty long trip tomorrow.

Got a brand new LoadRite trailer and had the marina load it. But I think the boat is loaded too far back. The back of the boat is about 1' behind the bunks.

The winch stand needs to be moved forward and then winch the boat forward on the bunks.

No idea of the tongue weight. Should I order a tongue weight jack and wait a week?

I really don't want issues on the road.
 
Still at the marina?
Those guy should have been able to, and have done, a balance as part of sale and load.

Regardless of test/cure method, you do not want an ass-heavy trailer at speed.
I have had to stop and shovel gravel back to front a couple of times... didn't like it, had to do it.
 
tshephard said:
Still at the marina?
Those guy should have been able to, and have done, a balance as part of sale and load.

Regardless of test/cure method, you do not want an ass-heavy trailer at speed.
I have had to stop and shovel gravel back to front a couple of times... didn't like it, had to do it.
Click to expand...

The marina did not sell me the boat. I bought it from a slip holder and the marina just loaded it. They use a large TravelLift but are mainly use to hauling boats and put them on blocks.
 
Donald said:
I am set to tow my 27' power boat from RI to DE so a pretty long trip tomorrow.

Got a brand new LoadRite trailer and had the marina load it. But I think the boat is loaded too far back. The back of the boat is about 1' behind the bunks.

The winch stand needs to be moved forward and then winch the boat forward on the bunks.

No idea of the tongue weight. Should I order a tongue weight jack and wait a week?

I really don't want issues on the road.
Click to expand...

That's a big boat. Too little weight on the tongue is much worse that too much. But, there is only one way to know for sure: Weigh it. The quick and easy way IMHO is with A Weigh Safe hitch. I have one. I used the old quess and eyeball method and had way too much weight on the tongue. Adjusted it, and much better towing. Towing is dangerous as heck, I would wait until you can verify the weight. https://www.weigh-safe.com/

Here's a video of a very close call from a trailer with not enough weight on the tongue:
1604798416372.webp
 
If you cannot weight the tongue directly you should get your truck weighted at a truck scale hopefully close to the marina. Then hook up and carefully tow back to the scales. You front axle weight will go down and the rear axle weight will go up by the tongue weight and the weight you lost off the front. You will also get the boat/trailer weight so you can figure out if you have 10% of it on the tongue. Make sure you check your receiver tongue weight limit, you may be pushing it as most class 4 will be 750-1000 lbs without weight distribution. Also check you rear axle weight rating to make sure you have not exceeded that but if you have a 250 I dont think that will be an issue.
 
Take it carefully to the truck stop and weigh it. It's like 10 dollars and worth the time. The people are usually friendly if you don't know how to use the scales and will help you out
 
I think really need my own scale. Since I need to move the boat forward, measure the tongue weight and then decide if it's OK or more adjustment needed.
 
Last edited:
This is a good thread-lots of useful help by those who know what they are talking about. The NON-TOWERS are staying out of it-as they should.

OP-at the scale you need to make sure you are not over rear axle weight if you choose to move the boat forward on the trailer.
 
Congrats on the new boat. Better to have too much tongue weight than not enough. Have a smooth trip.
 
Donald said:
The marina did not sell me the boat. I bought it from a slip holder and the marina just loaded it. They use a large TravelLift but are mainly use to hauling boats and put them on blocks.
Click to expand...
OP unclear, did they sell you an adjustable trailer, and load it for you?
My liability hairs stood up....
 
tshephard said:
OP unclear, did they sell you an adjustable trailer, and load it for you?
My liability hairs stood up....
Click to expand...
The marina where the boat was located pretty much only does hailing of boats. No mechanical work. Nor sales of boats or anything else except for fuel.

I bought the trailer at a trailer dealer in NJ as trailers are very hard to come by during the pandemic. And this dealer had one coming in soon. The factories were closed for a few months. The trailer dealer setup the trailer according to the boat hull diagram I got from Chaparral.

The marina could have loaded the boat incorrectly and then movef the winch stand to accommodate the boat where they loaded it. Unsure.
 
CKN said:
No. Too much tongue weight takes weight off the front axle and affects steering.
Click to expand...

Yes, too much tongue weight will affect steering but not enough tongue weight will cause fishtailing. Better to have tongue weight.
 
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