2020 Model 172 Hitch Weight

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I took a bathroom scale ($4.99 at a thrift store in case I broke it) and put it under my jack.  It came in at 245 lbs.  I believe my 172 weighs 2800 lbs after we added belongings.  Should I move some stuff from the rear storage to the front, to get a little more weight on the hitch?  I thought I read somewhere aiming for 10%-15% is correct, so I should aim for 280-420 lbs, no?
Thanks!
Mike

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michaelbarth Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 19 Jun 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Topic: 2020 Model 172 Hitch Weight Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 3:45pm
	I took a bathroom scale ($4.99 at a thrift store in case I broke it) and put it under my jack. It came in at 245 lbs. I believe my 172 weighs 2800 lbs after we added belongings. Should I move some stuff from the rear storage to the front, to get a little more weight on the hitch? I thought I read somewhere aiming for 10%-15% is correct, so I should aim for 280-420 lbs, no? Thanks! Mike

Colt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 383	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 4:54pm
	Yes, but, ..... You really need to be sure of your actual weight. You might already be over 10% 2800 seems a little heavy for a 172. Mine tows beautifully at 14%. I weighed my SUV and 180, the wheels of my 180 and then went back and weighed the SUV. I could then calculate the tongue weight of my 180. I eventually crawled under it and measured a bunch of stuff to build a weight and balance spreadsheet. That way I can know what to put where to set the tongue weight. Not sure where your water heater is, but it holds 50 (8.3 lbs/gal) lbs of water. A full propane tank is usually 48 lbs. ......
	John '16 R-Pod 180

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 6:48pm
	+1. Definitely worth going to a scale and getting the full loaded weight of the trailer and tow vehicle with and without the trailer. If for peace of mind if nothing else. If you have a weight distribution hitch remove the bars first, it will mess up the weights.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold