Trailer towing & tongue weight

[Astro14]

You can use a bathroom scale and some boards and pipe to measure the tongue weight.

How to Measure Tongue Weight

There are a few different methods that can be used as a trailer tongue weight calculator, including using a tongue weight scale, using a bathroom scale or using a vehicle scale. Tongue weight is the downward force exerted at the vehicle-trailer coupling point when your trailer is hooked up for...

www.curtmfg.com

You got a bathroom scale that measures 900-1300 lbs!?

Because that’s what 10-15% of total weight is in this case...

 

[RhondaHonda]

Read that link, it would work just fine. And, have you seen my wife?

 

[MNgopher]

Time to look for a truck scale nearby. Lots of unknowns and guesses at this point. The actual weight of the boat and trailer isn't a known if they haven't been scaled. You may have ballparks based on manufacturer data, but nothing beats actually scaling it.

That being said, having some estimate of just tongue weight is better than nothing - and now is the time to make sure that trailer is set up properly.

If there is a CAT sale in the neighborhood, you can set up their mobile app and do it all without having to into the truck stop to get your tickets...

 

[tshephard]

OK, separate vendors - so it's on you!

I think you need to rig a lever operated home scale (physicists?), so you can limp to a real scale.

See https://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-determine-trailer-tongue-weight.aspx

 

[Donald]

I bought a real tongue weight scale.

 

[Donald]

Well I measured the tongue weight today at it was 400. It needs to be 630 to 900. LoadRite says 7% but the rule of thumb is 10%.

I am going to ask the marina to get the boat reloaded 6" forward.

The trailer has a sticker that says "Do not dry load". I assume that means don't pull the boat forward with the winch.