Trailer Tongue Weight, Vehicle Tongue Weight Capacity and Weight Distribution Systems
Question:
I am confused . Does any additional weight anything not as per standard from the factory behind the tow vehicle axle and in front of the rear bumper count against the manufacturers tongue weight spec ? Does the hitch and receiver count against the tow vehicle tongue weight spec? If the tongue weight is defined as the downward force on the ball then the hitch and receiver should have no effect on tongue weight but it surely must affect an upward force on the front end if the vehicle if viewed as a lever with rear axle as the fulcrum and thus add toward steering instability as, it would seem, would any tongue weight. Help!
asked by: Phil
Expert Reply:
The weight of anything stowed behind the rear axle would need to be deducted from the vehicle's tongue weight capacity, but the weight of the hitch and the weight distribution system used would not.
You wouldn't really consider the weight of the system as trailer tongue weight either, because when you choose the system, you'll leave enough wiggle room between your trailer's actual fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight and its maximum capacity to account for the weight of the system. For instance, the Pro Series # 49570 system you've looked at has an effective tongue weight range of 700-1200 lbs. Ideally, you'd choose this system for a trailer that has a tongue weight of around 800-1100 lbs.
Weight distribution seems pretty confusing at first, but the principle is really pretty simple. The idea is to use a system whose spring bars can deliver enough leverage to counteract the trailer's tongue weight and even out the ride height between the front and rear vehicle axles.
I've linked you to and FAQ article that explains how to determine the trailer's fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight, and to an article that explains in more detail how weight distribution works.
