Calculating Tongue Weight to Pick Out a Blue Ox Weight Distribution System

Question:

There is a part of the calculation I dont understand. I know to add in any weight in back of the rear wheels. Weighing my truck and trailer on the public scales my tongue weight was 490 lbs. Here is the part I dont understand. The weight of the tongue changed my truck axle weight by 166 lbs. In other words the front was lighter by 166 lbs and this weight transferred to the rear axle. Do I ad that amount into the total tongue weight, making it 656 lbs? It would not seem so, but Im not sure? Thanks, P.S. My trailer is a Keystone Outback 21rs which has a gross vehicle weight of 5500 lbs. It may end up being a little over and closer to 6000 lbs? The tongue may come in a little over 500 lbs when fully loaded. Im looking to purchase a Blue Ox Sway pro. Can you suggest the right one? One last thing, the truck is a Ram 2500 with a tow capacity of 14000 lbs, so this trailer is well under its limits. Thanks again

asked by: John F

Expert Reply:

The tongue weight of your trailer is just the vertical weight that is present at the coupler. You would not need to factor in weight transferred from the front axle to the rear. You would need to just put the tongue's weight of the trailer on a scale to get its weight and then add in any weight behind the rear axle. I attached a help article that covers this more for you to check out as well.

Now before we go any further I cannot recommend you exceed the weight capacity of your trailer. You would have to find a way to remove weight from it to get it under it's capacity.

For a tongue weight of up to 550 lbs you would want the part # BXW0550 for a weight distribution system. But if you are over that you would need to go with the # BXW0750 that you referenced.

For a 2 inch ball you would want the part # A-90 or for a 2-5/16 inch ball part # 19286.