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Old 02-06-2015, 12:20 PM   #21
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My concern is not so much the effect of heavy loading on the strength of the A-frame, although that is certainly a consideration, but rather the effect of heavy loading at either or both ends of the trailer on yaw stability (sway).

Simply put, a heavy load moving sideways, and pivoting on the axles, at the ends of the trailer is harder to reverse than a lighter load. At some point, under certain other conditions, it may become uncontrollable sway.

I don't know why my Airstream Owners Manual states tongue weight "MUST NOT EXCEED 1,000 lbs but it's a goal I try to achieve, with stability under adverse conditions in mind.
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Old 02-06-2015, 01:15 PM   #22
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My wild guess is that it would have more to do with the strength of the coupler than anything else. The frames seem pretty stout unless there is severe rust issues. It could also be as simple is the porpoising is much harder to control with extreme tongue weights.
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Old 02-06-2015, 02:25 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky Strike View Post
Is it safe if the trailer's hitch weight is more than 15% of it's total weight?
There is no "one" correct answer to your question since there are many different types of trailer construction. Some of the old trailers have a single pipe down the center for the tongue. Other trailers "A" frames vary from 3" chanel to 5" tubes, or heavier material. A thousand pounds of payload may bend the frame in one trailer and be perfectly fine in another.

The only failures of frames that I have seen have been cracks in metal or welds pulling loose. I suppose most of these failures have been primarily caused from overloading, thought some are undoubtedly from other types of abuse.

I would recommend following the manufacturers written instructions, rather than taking the advice of us trailer jockeys.
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Old 02-07-2015, 08:01 AM   #24
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The 10,000 pound GVW of the Classic would imply support for up to 1,500 pounds of tongue weight if the industry suggested 15% rule is applied.

When I towed the new empty Classic to our storage unit from the dealer's lot (about 20 miles on secondary roads to allow for much lower speeds), the trailer was really wiggly despite full propane tanks and basically no fluids in the water related tanks.

For that trip, I had an adjustable height ball for the trailer on the truck as the ProPride was still enroute to my location and I did not trust the dealer to install the ProPride.
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Old 02-07-2015, 09:12 AM   #25
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The 10,000 pound GVW of the Classic would imply support for up to 1,500 pounds of tongue weight if the industry suggested 15% rule is applied.
But your Airstream Owners Manual doesn't support that suggested 15% rule, on the contrary it states:

"Warning: The tongue weight should he approximately 10%
of the trailer’s total weight, but MUST NOT EXCEED 1,000 lbs."
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Old 02-07-2015, 03:13 PM   #26
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Originally Posted by dkottum View Post
But your Airstream Owners Manual doesn't support that suggested 15% rule, on the contrary it states:

"Warning: The tongue weight should he approximately 10%
of the trailer’s total weight, but MUST NOT EXCEED 1,000 lbs."
I believe the manual also states:

"Equalizing Hitch Load Distribution
--
When a trailer is hitched up properly to a tow vehicle with a load equalizing hitch, approximately 1/3 of the trailer’s tongue weight will be on the trailer’s axles and 2/3 will be transferred to the tow vehicle, 1/3 of this weight transfer will be carried by the front wheels and 1/3 by the rear wheels of the tow vehicle (See diagram), ---"
--
I would tend to disregard both the 10% specification and the 1/3, 1/3,1/3 distribution.
IMO, neither of them is based on good towing stability principles.
--
However, I would follow the "MUST NOT EXCEED 1,000 lbs" specification.
So if one wanted to tow with 15% tongue weight percentage, the TT's GVW would need to be limited to 1000/0.15 = 6667#.
--
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Old 02-07-2015, 04:50 PM   #27
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Trailer hitch weight limit of 1000# is religion to some but others consider it a recommendation and concern themselves with payload, tow ratings and GCWR.
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