Can you do some math for me?

[aluminitus]

So we took our newly remodeled '62 Tradewind to the scales yesterday and weighed the TV, the Tradewind + TV, and then just the Tradewind, all while hitched.

TV: 5200 lbs
TV + Trailer: 8440 lbs
Trailer: 3300

Remember, this is all while hitched.

THEN we weighed just the TV (unhitched):4640

Is it possible to calculate the tongue weight from these numbers? How accurate is the trailer weight and do I need to add the tongue weight to the total trailer weight registered on the scales?

Please help this right-brainer!

[ventport]

I think you need the weight of the TV without being hitched and the trailer without being hitched. Then I think you figure it out.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Tongue weight...

You can also use the scales to set the weight distribution.

Bob

[Ridgerunner3]

Tongue weight is probably approximately 560# if you had no WD bar tension and the ground was level with the scale while weighing trailer & truck individually while connected.

[aluminitus]

How would a weight dist. hitch change the tongue weight? We hope to get a pro-pride...can it actually lessen the weight on the tow vehicle? It seems like that would go against the laws of physics, but then again I am terrible at that kind of thing.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by aluminitus

How would a weight dist. hitch change the tongue weight? We hope to get a pro-pride...can it actually lessen the weight on the tow vehicle? It seems like that would go against the laws of physics, but then again I am terrible at that kind of thing.

It doesn't change the TW, it just re-distributes it forward to the steering axle and back to the trailer axle/axle's.

Tickets...Left to right
No weight dist, WD set for towing, TV alone.
Note with WD set the steering axle is with-in 100lbs of its un-hitched weight. Also note the difference in the AS axle weights with and without WD set. I use a Hensley Arrow hitch.

Bob

[Ridgerunner3]

What Bob said X2.

[aluminitus]

Okay I think I've got it. Bob, can you explain what those receipts are for? Are the first two without and then with a WD hitch?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by aluminitus

Okay I think I've got it. Bob, can you explain what those receipts are for? Are the first two without and then with a WD hitch?

Those are CAT Scale tickets....

Steering axle on the first scale plate, drive axle on second, trailer axle/axles on the third.

The first is tow vehicle & trailer without weight distribution set.
The second is TV & trailer with WD set for towing. (you may have to get several weights to determine this setting).
The third is tow vehicle alone, full fuel, two peoples, and a dog.

The goal being to replace as much of the non-towing steering axle weight as possible while keeping the trailer and tow vehicle LEVEL!!.
I could replace that last 100lbs by tensioning the WD bars more, but that would raise the tongue and lower the rear bumper of the trailer, causing more weight to be transferred to the rear axle of the Airstream...NOT good!!

Remember....trailer LEVEL while towing.
Important for the TV also...don't want the headlamps searching for bats.

Good Luck...

Bob

[Ridgerunner3]

Alumnitis, we ended up buying a Propride about a year ago after owning a Reese dual-cam and an Equalizer brand hitch. We have been extremely happy with the Propride.

[aluminitus]

Thank you all so much for your help! I think we are pretty settled on a v6 Grand Cherokee with a propride WD hitch. I really felt like I was drowning in a sea of information and didn't know where to start. You all have helped to break it down into much more manageable chunks and I am really starting to understand what needs to happen to hit the road.