Does Tongue Weight Capacity Apply to Weight Behind Rear Axle When Not Towing a Trailer
Question:
In your WD guide it states that the weight behind the rear axel gets added to trailer tongue weight to determine WD tongue weight. This makes sense as far as ing proper equipment for bars etc. However, is this value part of the receiver limits. For example, receiver states 600 lbs. weight bearing and 1200 lbs. with weight distribution. Is that the limit of trailer and weight behind rear axel. If thats the case, there are a lot of 1/2 tons and SUVs way overloaded.
asked by: Pat K
Expert Reply:
I would agree, there are a lot of SUVs and trucks that drive around overloaded.
Your question dips into one of the gray areas of towing capacities. Yes, when determining the tongue weight of a setup the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle does need to be considered as tongue weight when there is a trailer involved.
When you aren't towing a trailer the truck bed's payload capacity should be used as the overall capacity for the truck's bed. The difference is whether or not there is a trailer connected. When there isn't a trailer attached to the hitch the capacities of the trucks frame are different than when towing. Long story short, as long as you stay under the capacities for your truck when towing and when not towing you will be fine.
