Tongue weight on a 19-footer

[WhereStream]

We have a 19-foot Serenity, 2017 vintage, and I'm trying to determine the actual tongue weight of our little beauty.

Going through the CAT scale, I got numbers that indicated the tongue weight was 940-plus pounds.

That's seems on the steep side of things for this model. The Airstream manual gives a tongue weight of 550 pounds (without options, cargo and water but including batteries and propane).

So I'd like to hear what others have learned.

Anyone out there with a late-model 19-footer know the actual tongue weight on their trailer?

[knowmercy]

That sure does seem like a lot of weight on the tongue! It's pretty easy to get the weight that high though. Since you had it weighed, what was the weight on the axles? I'd still try to shoot for the 14% number if you can. I wonder how far off you are from that? Anyhow, I didn't really offer much help... but too much tongue weight tows pretty poorly in my experience.

[RRHJR]

2007 19 Bambi SE.
510 lbs
3 or 4 inches water in tank (1/4 full)
1 full propane and 1 empty
Blue Ox WDH with 550lb bars

[Steamy1]

I'll weight our 19' Bambi with the Sherline scale next time I am out at the storage garage and report back. If I remember correctly the last time I did weigh it, it was over 600 lbs. The two 6V Lifeline batteries added to the weight which is the reason I am going to replace them with Lion Lithium iron batteries. This alone will take off about 88 pounds.

I do know that it is heavier than our 23FB.

[WhereStream]

Thanks, S-1, I'd like to hear what your Sherline tells you.

I'll see if I can dig up the CAT Scale numbers, knowmercy, and will report back.

[Rich W]

The Sherline LM2200 is a handy tool to have. Amazon has it for $123, less than the $155 I paid for mine in 2017 (same vendor). It's a handy gadget to have when loading up to keep track of what you're adding. My 23' with empty tanks, 2 group 24 AGM batteries and some propane in the tanks is 730 lbs.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Steamy1]

Originally Posted by WhereStream

Thanks, S-1, I'd like to hear what your Sherline tells you.

I'll see if I can dig up the CAT Scale numbers, knowmercy, and will report back.

Will do. I am going out there today. Not much else to do these days except to tinker with the cars and trailers.

[Il Bambino]

Hi
2017 19’ International Signature
5% fresh water
1full propane tank, other approximately 1/2 full
2 standard 12v battery
About 570#

[sepohl]

I have a 2015 19 foot Serenity with the corner bed. I weighed it last summer with both propane tanks full and fresh water full. We were loaded for normal camping, however we do not put much in the trailer other than clothes, food, etc. The tongue weight was 620. The method I used was a home scale, with boards as they show in the manual. Not perfect I am sure, but it gave me what I was after. When towing, I do not usually fill the fresh water tank.

[Steamy1]

Just weighted our 2007 19' Bambi with the Sherline=580 pounds

Conditions:
-full 30 pound propane tanks
-two 6v LifeLine batteries
-all fresh water and waste tanks empty
-not packed for travel, though there are pots, pans and bedding

Hope this is useful.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by richw46

The Sherline LM2200 is a handy tool to have. Amazon has it for $123, less than the $155 I paid for mine in 2017 (same vendor). It's a handy gadget to have when loading up to keep track of what you're adding.

There's another Airstream owner here in town who has one (a scale, anyway, and I think it is a Sherline).

I may ask to borrow his and give it a go.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by Steamy1

Just weighted our 2007 19' Bambi with the Sherline=580 pounds

Conditions:
-full 30 pound propane tanks
-two 6v LifeLine batteries
-all fresh water and waste tanks empty
-not packed for travel, though there are pots, pans and bedding

Hope this is useful.

Thanks. Very helpful.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by sepohl

I have a 2015 19 foot Serenity with the corner bed. I weighed it last summer with both propane tanks full and fresh water full. We were loaded for normal camping, however we do not put much in the trailer other than clothes, food, etc. The tongue weight was 620. The method I used was a home scale, with boards as they show in the manual. Not perfect I am sure, but it gave me what I was after. When towing, I do not usually fill the fresh water tank.

That sounds more in the ballpark, 620 pounds.

The home scale, I may put one of those together and see what I get. Looks kinda tricky in the manual!

We typically travel light, too, and I don't usually put water in the tank, as we hardly ever use the tanked-up water.

Thanks for the report.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by Il Bambino

Hi
2017 19’ International Signature
5% fresh water
1full propane tank, other approximately 1/2 full
2 standard 12v battery
About 570#

Thanks for the numbers.

This is all very interesting. I think I may be misreading the CAT Scale numbers, as we don't load up our trailer with a lot of stuff, yet was almost 400 pounds over what you are reporting.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by RRHJR

2007 19 Bambi SE.
510 lbs
3 or 4 inches water in tank (1/4 full)
1 full propane and 1 empty
Blue Ox WDH with 550lb bars

Thanks.