Tongue Weight After Mods

[RMNummi]

Anybody ever figure out how much tongue weight reduction occurs after Lithium Battery swap (and/or relocation) Aluminum/Carbon Fiber LP Tank change? Will the cumulative tongue weight reduction of all these mods begin effecting OEM designed towing stability?

[wulfraat]

I have a 30’ international. I Installed ~275lbs of lithium gear under rear bed (as far forward as possible)

I left the lead acid batteries in the front box for ballast. After install my tongue weight was 990lbs on a wet/loaded 8,500lb total trailer weight. That’s 11.6%.

Tongue weight was within 100lbs of pre-install weight.

At the time I was towing with equalizer hitch. No real difference. Now I tow with propride. Even better.

Hope that helps.

[OutdoorIdaho]

I immediately think of Free Body Diagrams from my second semester of engineering school. Sounds like a fun math problem that you could run through.

Of course, you could just weigh the trailer before and after...

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Does your rock collection get put up at the front of the trailer or in the back?

Folks put this and that in a wide range of places in their trailers. The weight reduction (if there is any .... ours went up ....) going Lithium is right in there with normal variations in packing a trailer.

( ... ours went up in part from the 4 lithiums, it also went up because of more solar and a few other power related mods)

Bob

[booma]

Probably not the right place, but I am looking for info/ideas on how to best increase my tongue weight.
Background: 2001 30 Classic Slide out.
Just installed a Fiamma bike rack (fabricated bracket supports welded to the skid rails).
With two bikes installed the previously wonderful to tow rig now had a nice little porpoise working (thought it might).
AS wizards in our WBCCI club calculated that I need to increase my tongue weight by 35/40#.
Tongue weight as it sits now (with bikes onboard) is 1100#.
Thought about bolting a couple of 20# free weights (could be removed when bikes are not installed)
Anyone out there with silmilar issues/resolutions?
Thanks

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by booma

Probably not the right place, but I am looking for info/ideas on how to best increase my tongue weight.
Background: 2001 30 Classic Slide out.
Just installed a Fiamma bike rack (fabricated bracket supports welded to the skid rails).
With two bikes installed the previously wonderful to tow rig now had a nice little porpoise working (thought it might).
AS wizards in our WBCCI club calculated that I need to increase my tongue weight by 35/40#.
Tongue weight as it sits now (with bikes onboard) is 1100#.
Thought about bolting a couple of 20# free weights (could be removed when bikes are not installed)
Anyone out there with silmilar issues/resolutions?
Thanks

Hi

If only it was that simple ....

Putting weight way out on the tail end of a 30' does multiple things. The least of it is changing the tongue weight. Stability is the only real issue here. This is very much a "try it and see" sort of thing. I find that's best done towing on the ball with your hand on the brake controller. Do *not* try this unless you already understand how to kill sway when it happens ....

Bob

[guskmg]

If you think instability is a problem wait until you develop rear end separation from the added weight on the rear. Maybe the Flamma system supports reduce this and then maybe not. I have heard of the upper braces pulling loose. Then all the weight is on the frame and rear end separation may be next. I'm just nervous because I have had this twice with out the bike rack. Just heavy cords in the cargo compartment ahead of the bumper.
guskmg

[wulfraat]

Guskmg - twice on the same trailer or once on 2 different trailers? Did JC correct the issue?