3124KS Actual Scale Weights

[Riwright]

<edited to correct numbers>

Here are my numbers from the weigh-in today.

2003 3124KS
2005 Tundra Double Cab w factory tow package

With Chains* Engaged
Front Axle 2800
Drive Axle 3200
Trailer Axle 4060
Total 10060

With Chains released
Front Axle 2660
Drive Axle 3420
Trailer Axle 3960
Total 10040

No Trailer
Front Axle 2900
Drive Axle 2600
Total 5500

Check my math here:

Trailer Weight 4560
Tongue Weight w Chains engaged 600
Tongue with no chains 820

Limits for my 2005 Tundra Double Cab
Gross Combined Weight Rating:11800 - Under by 1800 lbs
Towing Capacity: 6800 -- under by 2240

Not sure what the limits are for the trailer, I'll have to look at the sticker again.

Looks like I'm well within limits for everything which is what I expected. I owned a 3500 lb rated 2000 Lexus RX300 when I bought the Trailmanor but it did NOT work out with a couple of short test tows that I did. I don't remember what the literature said the trailer weighed when I bought it but it was below 3500 lbs so I gave it a shot. I don't see how that trailer could ever be that light.

With what I've learned here, I was not surprised the see the trailer weigh over 4000 but 4500 did surprise me.

WDH is doing exactly what it is designed to do. Front axle weight with chains engaged is within 100 lbs of what it is with the truck unloaded.


*By "chains" I mean the chains in the weight distributing hitch

I as just thinking about, not tongue weight, but weight as measured at the tow ball.

Definitions for this post:

Tongue weight, measured at the jack
Tow ball weight, measured at the tow ball


Without WDH, the weight at the tow ball ought to be slightly higher than the tongue weight. This is due to the increased length from the TM axles.

With WDH:

The spring bars ought to be carrying some of the weight.

The tow ball ought to still be carrying some of the weight.

How much weight is on the tow ball and how much is on the WD bars?

I am only curious because if WD bars increased weight at the tow ball and if the tow ball weight was at the limit, then you would go over the limit.

My mind is foggy this morning. I think that the tow ball weight decreases.

Originally Posted by yoda911

I went and bought a tongue weight scale so I would know exactly what the tongue weight is. Not relying on the large trucking scales to calculate this weight.

Surprisingly, but I've found the CAT scales to be quite repeatable, and hopefully accurate. With a similar setup, I got 620# tongue weight on 2 different CAT scales at 2 different times.

Originally Posted by PopBeavers

With WDH:
...
My mind is foggy this morning. I think that the tow ball weight decreases.

I think Ron Gratz would agree with you. The decrease on the ball would be the same as the weight on the trailer axle increases with the WDH. Which equals the diff in changes in TV axle weights with the WDH.

Theoretically, maybe, depends ...

[Mr. Adventure]

Originally Posted by Riwright

<edited to correct numbers>

Here are my numbers from the weigh-in today.

2003 3124KS
2005 Tundra Double Cab w factory tow package

With Chains* Engaged
Front Axle 2800
Drive Axle 3200
Trailer Axle 4060
Total 10060

With Chains released
Front Axle 2660
Drive Axle 3420
Trailer Axle 3960
Total 10040

No Trailer
Front Axle 2900
Drive Axle 2600
Total 5500

Check my math here:

Trailer Weight 4560
Tongue Weight w Chains engaged 600
Tongue with no chains 820

Limits for my 2005 Tundra Double Cab
Gross Combined Weight Rating:11800 - Under by 1800 lbs
Towing Capacity: 6800 -- under by 2240

Not sure what the limits are for the trailer, I'll have to look at the sticker again.

Looks like I'm well within limits for everything which is what I expected. I owned a 3500 lb rated 2000 Lexus RX300 when I bought the Trailmanor but it did NOT work out with a couple of short test tows that I did. I don't remember what the literature said the trailer weighed when I bought it but it was below 3500 lbs so I gave it a shot. I don't see how that trailer could ever be that light.

With what I've learned here, I was not surprised the see the trailer weigh over 4000 but 4500 did surprise me.

WDH is doing exactly what it is designed to do. Front axle weight with chains engaged is within 100 lbs of what it is with the truck unloaded.


*By "chains" I mean the chains in the weight distributing hitch

Thanks for posting your scale numbers.

You get the tongue weight by subtracting the unhitched TV Gross Weight from the hitched TV Gross weight with the bar chains slacked. Your tongue weight is either 580 or 600, depending on how you view the 20# discrepancy between using the WDH and using the same hitch with the bar chains slacked (perhaps a scale error, or maybe somebody let the dog out).

Without the WDH, the 590# tongue (+- 10#) is adding 820# to the rear axle and subtracting 240# from the front. (bar chains slacked)
With the WDH, the tongue adds 100# to the trailer, 600# to the rear axle, and subtracts 100# from the front.

The spreadsheet is attached.

With an unhitched trailer, the weight at tongue post would be slightly more than the weight if measured at the hitch ball, because it has a shorter lever arm to the trailer axle, and the trailer axle would be be less by exactly the same difference if measured at the same time. But there's no need to actually measure the tongue weight separately because it is so easily calculated from the truck scale weights.

[scrubjaysnest]

Finally put the nest on the CAT scales....
#3680 for the axle with the WDH in place
note: no water in TM, loaded with 2 week supply of can goods, bedding and two size 27 deep cycles. One full propane and the other a little over 3/4 full
Two solar panels, #34.

#7580 for the TV with the WDH in place
note 2 mtn bikes, 1 full propane bottle, grill, stuff to level the camper, all our clothing. 10x10 awning, 1 axe and 1 splitter both with 3 1/2 heads. Tool box, about #40's, a thrid battery and two scrubjays.
1 58 qt cooler jammed with ice, 6 cold drinks and lunch makings.
GCWR = 11260 and I still can't find what Dodge says it should be

Our tow vehicle is a Volvo XC-90 T6 - 270 HP from a turbo'd 6 rated at 4960 towing capacity. Showroom says that's the trailer, service department says that's the trailer, vehicle occupants and bugs on the windshield.

Last time I put the trailer on the scales the axle weight was 3500 lbs w/o water, 3 gals in the toilet and 6 in the water heater. This figure does not agree with numbers quoted here by others, so I need to re-weigh.

We just completed a 2300 mile trip and averaged 14.5 MPG. Pretty surprising because we crossed the Rockies and the Cascades twice. I can usually do 55-60 up a 6% grade without difficulty, but I'm in 2nd at 4000 RPM. Temp gauge doesn't even wiggle.

Originally Posted by curtcharlespdx

...
Last time I put the trailer on the scales the axle weight was 3500 lbs w/o water, 3 gals in the toilet and 6 in the water heater. This figure does not agree with numbers quoted here by others, so I need to re-weigh.
...

Well yes, that's 500# less than the OP. But maybe you just travel very light? Some people on this board do; they have to because of their TV.

We easily dump more than 500# into our trailer on the way to Florida, and maybe that's what the OP is doing.