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07-05-2013, 04:03 PM
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#1
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Posts: 314
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Tongue Weight done at Home
Sunbeam Bathroom Scale..$7.90 Walmart, 2"X6"X8' Board..$6.97 Lowe's..Knowing your true tongue weight..Priceless
Thanks to a e-mailed diagram from Bill, I was able to find my tongue weight at home, without having to hitch up and go to a scale.
I cut a four foot board, marked the one, two, and three foot centers and leveled the board using two large jack stabilizer pads, two bricks and the scale. The first photos show the rig in my garage and the last ones show it in use with the Trailmanor.
Doing the math, the 170 lb scale reading = 510 lb tongue weight. This number is probably a little low as the trailer did not have all the "stuff" in it we take on trips.
I also measured a little over two inch drop on my hitch when I connected the TM. So..this means an Andersen "No Sway" weight distribution hitch has been ordered.
Mark
__________________
Mark & Claudia - Greeley, Colorado
2016 Lance model 1995
2013 Ford Lariat F-150 Super Crew Eco-boost with 4x4 Off Road & Max Tow
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07-05-2013, 05:05 PM
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#2
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 538
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Can you send me the diagram?
Hi Mark
Please send me the diagram. Sure would be easier than taking to CAT scale.
Did you subtract from your 170 # the weight of the brick and the board that were on it?
If not, why not, what am I missing.
__________________
Sara & Sophie
(RIP Bailey - 12/6/2020)
Welcome Sophie DOB 1/5/2021
Mini Goldendoodle (who's not so mini)
New to me 2010. 2720SD TrailManor
New to me 2010 Chevy Traverse
Both purchased July 2013
Factory installed 80W solar panel.
New batteries June 30th 2018.
(SLIGC115 Duracell Ultra 6V Deep Cycle Golf Cart Battery x 2)
New bag seals Sept 2020
Rohent R7 HD 1080P RV Wireless Backup Camera Installed Sept 2020
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07-05-2013, 05:12 PM
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#3
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Guest
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bailey'sMom
Hi Mark
Please send me the diagram. Sure would be easier than taking to CAT scale.
Did you subtract from your 170 # the weight of the brick and the board that were on it?
If not, why not, what am I missing.
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You should scale the trailer once you have your stuff loaded in it. The process described above only determines the tongue weight, not the trailer weight or the weight on the rear axle of your vehicle. As noted, search for threads about weights of trailers and effects on tow vehicles.
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07-05-2013, 05:55 PM
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#4
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Posts: 314
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Sara,
I did zero the scale with board and bricks in place. Mister P, I realize this is only the tongue weight, but I had some concern that this model might be "tail heavy". I will way trailer and tow vehicle when everything is loaded, just not an easy thing to do right now. At any rate, it lets me know that I am above the 500 lb hitch weight max for the Ford F-150. I am sure with the pick up bed loaded there will be more weight on the hitch, so I now feel the WDH is a good thing to have.
Mark
__________________
Mark & Claudia - Greeley, Colorado
2016 Lance model 1995
2013 Ford Lariat F-150 Super Crew Eco-boost with 4x4 Off Road & Max Tow
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07-05-2013, 06:12 PM
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#5
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Guest
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoPolo
Sara,
I did zero the scale with board and bricks in place. Mister P, I realize this is only the tongue weight, but I had some concern that this model might be "tail heavy". I will way trailer and tow vehicle when everything is loaded, just not an easy thing to do right now. At any rate, it lets me know that I am above the 500 lb hitch weight max for the Ford F-150. I am sure with the pick up bed loaded there will be more weight on the hitch, so I now feel the WDH is a good thing to have.
Mark
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Mark - my comment was directed to BaileysMom, who stated the method was easier than going to the scale. I commend you for your effort.
Paul
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07-07-2013, 01:44 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,198
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoPolo
Sunbeam Bathroom Scale..$7.90 Walmart, 2"X6"X8' Board..$6.97 Lowe's..Knowing your true tongue weight..Priceless
Thanks to a e-mailed diagram from Bill, I was able to find my tongue weight at home, without having to hitch up and go to a scale.
Mark
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Mark -
Glad to hear you did it, found it valuable, and relatively easy to do. For anyone else who wants to try it, I've put the diagram in my Tech Album at
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...&pictureid=861
But your pictures really tell a better story. By the way, my diagram suggests using a length of 2x4. It looks like you used 2x6, and it is still a little bendy, so your choice was better than mine. Thanks for showing that.
The weight of the brick (maybe 5 pounds?) really ought to be subtracted, but accounting for 5 pounds out of 500 really doesn't change much. And yes, the setup in the diagram measures only tongue weight, not any of the other equally-important weights associated with a TM.
Bill
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07-07-2013, 02:37 PM
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#7
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 277
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Bill:
Thanks for using the "folders" mechanism.. I had no idea it existed until you used it. Then I read the tutorial by commodor47 and everything was clear.
It is a very useful tool.
Jerry
P.S. I think it is incorrect physics to subtract the weight of the scale brick and plank...if the scale is zeroed after the brick and plank are added(as Mark said he did) but before the TM tongue is lowered onto the plank. IMHO (maybe I am wrong).
__________________
Essie, Jerry and Lil' Bit the Mini Schnauzer-(now replaced by TWO Mini Schnauzers, Sassy and Schotzi)
2010 TM 3326 loaded for 3 day trip, 4955# GTW, 26 gal. water, 9.5 gal. LP, 530# Tongue Wt., 15" Dual Axle, TST Tire monitor, Hensley Cub Hitch
2004 Suburban 1500, 11,100# CGVW
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07-07-2013, 03:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 115
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Same idea from etrailer with some additional verbiage:
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-d...ue-weight.aspx
__________________
2005 TM 2720, 15" tires. Awning, oven, LP tanks removed (for now). Battery to the rear.
2014 Audi Q5 diesel w/ tow pkg
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07-07-2013, 05:31 PM
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#9
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 538
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterP
Mark - my comment was directed to BaileysMom, who stated the method was easier than going to the scale. I commend you for your effort.
Paul
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I plan to go to a scale to get all my weights as soon as I am able. I also was thinking it would be a good way to find a quick tongue weight to know for a WDH. certainly not replacing knowing all the other items.
__________________
Sara & Sophie
(RIP Bailey - 12/6/2020)
Welcome Sophie DOB 1/5/2021
Mini Goldendoodle (who's not so mini)
New to me 2010. 2720SD TrailManor
New to me 2010 Chevy Traverse
Both purchased July 2013
Factory installed 80W solar panel.
New batteries June 30th 2018.
(SLIGC115 Duracell Ultra 6V Deep Cycle Golf Cart Battery x 2)
New bag seals Sept 2020
Rohent R7 HD 1080P RV Wireless Backup Camera Installed Sept 2020
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