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albikes 
Newbie 
Joined: 30 Nov 2020 Location: IA Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
 Calendar Event: measuring trailer/tongue weightPosted: 08 Dec 2020 at 9:32pm |
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I am new to RVing. Just purchased an 2017 Rpod 178 in Oct., but havent had a chance to use it. I was wondering what different folks used to measure their tongue weight along with their trailer weight. I have seen the Sherline Trailer Tongue weight scale and that has pretty good reviews. A little pricey; $150, but if used all the time maybe worth it. Guessing tongue weight changes every time you go out? I also saw an app called "Better Weigh" digital towing scale system; $130. I wasn't sure how accurate it would be. I know folk who are towing with large pickups and maybe some SUV's don't have to worry as much. I am planning on towing with a mini van, so I don't have as much leeway. Maybe after 1/2 dozen trips, I will know pretty close and not have to worry about it. Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions.
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offgrid
Senior Member 
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 09 Dec 2020 at 7:24am |
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Just copying over another post I did on this subject yesterday:
There are several ways to measure tongue weight.
One is to get a a tongue weight scale like this: Another is to use the "bathroom scale method": But since you still also have to weigh the trailer itself, what I do is make two runs through a public scale. On the first run I hitch up and weigh the two tow vehicle axles with the trailer axle off the scale, the roll the trailer onto the scale and weigh the combined rig. Then I disconnect the trailer and go back through the scale to get the weight the tow vehicle by itself. The difference between the combined rig from the first weighing and the second weighing is the trailer weight. The difference between the weight of the two tow vehicle axles from the first weighing and the second weighing is the tongue weight. Often you can do this for free at your county waste transfer station. Go at a quiet time of day and ask nice. In your case, because you have a very light tow vehicle, you should also compare the total combined rig weight to the MCGVWR of your TV, which should be on your door sticker. That is important because the tow rating of your vehicle is listed assuming there is nothing but a driver in it, which of course is not the real world. So be sure to load up both the trailer and tow vehicle as you plan to actually use them, with all gear, batteries, propane, fuel, passengers, water, tools, etc etc. It adds up quick. I think you will find that unless you travel very light, and don't carry water in the trailer you will be pushing if not over your MCGVWR. Up to you how close to the limits you are willing to be, but don't go over, its illegal and you would be exposing yourself to personal liability if you have an accident. As for load changes from trip to trip, once you get your gear sorted out the big variable is water weight. Water is very heavy. A full fresh water tank plus the water in your water heater, neither of which are included in the trailer spec numbers, is about 300 lbs. In a 178 if you fill with fresh water you will be lowering tongue weight because the fresh water tank is behind the axle. As that water gets used it will move forward into the black and gray tanks and increase the tongue weight. You need to keep the tongue weight above 10%, preferably 11-12% of total trailer weight to minimize sway, while also keeping it above the max hitch weight rating of your TV. That can be a challenge, you might not be able to carry any water at all with that tow vehicle. You might want to load all your numbers into this nice online calculator to see where you are. It also shows what the benefit of a weight distribution hitch would be, assuming your TV manufacturer allows it. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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pedwards2932
Senior Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 337 |
Posted: 09 Dec 2020 at 1:46pm |
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I have the Better Weigh and the Sherline. The Better Weigh seems to be somewhat accurate on tongue weight but trailer weight it is useless. What you do is you stand on the trailer hitch and plug in your weight to the app and then it estimates from that setting when you put the trailer on.....I would say it is within 10%. The Sherline is essentially a hydraulic jack type conversion that measures the pressure and converts to it to pounds. I got it because it seemed to be the most accurate method without having to screw up my bathroom scale.
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twodues
Newbie
Joined: 31 Oct 2016 Location: Michigan Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
Posted: 09 Dec 2020 at 2:42pm |
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I posted this back in 2017:
Suspended from a sturdy step ladder, this makes a pretty good, inexpensive tongue weight scale: Guide Gear Big Game Scale, 550-lb. Capacity Item # WX2-222314 |
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albikes
Newbie
Joined: 30 Nov 2020 Location: IA Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Posted: 09 Dec 2020 at 10:07pm |
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Thanks for everyone's input and suggestions. I think I am still leaning towards the Sherline just because it seams most accurate and easy to carry around if you get the one that is just the gauge and not on the stand. So many different weights to keep track of.
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 10 Dec 2020 at 8:49am |
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I think you are expecting to have to measure your weights much more often than you will need to. There are several numbers to check but you really only need to do it once unless you make significant changes. Use the calculator to keep track of them, there are nice dial gauges at the bottom that show you how much headroom you have. If you are pushing your limits to the point that you feel you have to weigh all the time then you need a lighter trailer or a heavier tow vehicle.
Once you’ve weighed the trailer and tongue once with your “typical” load out then if you add, subtract, or relocate a load you can easily calculate the effect of that on tongue weight without having to weigh it every time. This is the same method pilots use when they load airplanes where if you get it wrong you can die. So the process works fine. Say you want to add 50 lbs in a cabinet. Measure the horizontal distance in inches from the trailer axle to the hitch ball pocket. Call that DH. Measure the horizontal distance in inches from the axle to the middle of the cabinet. Call that DC. The tongue weight change will be 50xDC/DH. If the cabinet is behind the axle then the tongue weight goes down that amount. If the weight is added in front of the axle then it goes up that amount. If you are removing a load it has the opposite effect, tongue weight goes up if you remove something that is behind the axle, and goes down if it was removed in front. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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measuring trailer/tongue weight - Event Date: 08 Dec 2020 - 20 Dec 2020