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Features:
Specs:
Note: Do not handle scale by the top black portion. This can affect scale accuracy.
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Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Speaker 1: Today we're gonna be taking a look at Sherline's Trailer Tongue Weight Scale. With a 2,000 pound capacity. Part number 5780. This tongue weight scale is gonna give you the weight, at the tongue, on your trailer to help you decide how to properly load it and whether or not you have too much trailer for your tow vehicle.It measures in both kilograms and pounds for the maximum of 2,000 pounds. Giving you an accurate reading of how much tongue weight you have. It's important to know your tongue weight to verify you're not overloading both your tow vehicle or your hitch.
Overloading your hitch can be dangerous because you can cause a disconnect with the receiver. Overloading your tow vehicle can be dangerous because the suspension is gonna cause your vehicle to lift in the front and drop in the back which can drastically hinder steering and braking performance.this is gonna help you distribute the weight in your trailer. You can move it from front to back to see how much tongue weight you still have to make sure you're not exceeding it but you also wanna keep in mind that you don't want too much weight in the rear or that can cause oscillation. This'll also help you determine if your tow vehicle and the hitch installed on it is gonna be sufficient for your trailer.Here you can see it in action. I'll lower down my trailer by lifting up my jack until all the weight of the trailer is resting on the scale and how jack is no longer touching the ground.
This'll give you an accurate measurement of how much weight is on your tongue. So as you can see here, we're at about 400 pounds tongue weight with an empty trailer. With that unloaded trailer measurement in mind, we're now more prepared to load up our trailer.So now we've got a couple of guys here to help us out so we can distribute that weight in the front and the back and show you how it affects our tongue weight. I've got my guys now standing at the front of the trailer and we can see our tongue weight has gone up drastically. Now I've got my guys slowly walking to the back and we'll see that the tongue weight starts to drop off.
By positioning all of weight at the rear of our trailer, it has actually lowered our tongue weight down drastically by having the weight at the back will cause instability on your trailer.Loading your trailer is all about finding that sweet spot with the load you have on it. I've now got my guys evenly distributed amongst our trailer and you can see our tongue weight is back to where it was when we started unloaded. Now that's not always gonna be the case. The more weight you add to the trailer, the more it can have an impact on your tongue weight, even when properly distributed. But we've added several hundred pounds to our trailer and had very minimal impact on our tongue weight.It's important to keep in mind both the weight of your trailer and the weight of the load that's gonna be on your trailer.
Together they equal your gross trailer weight. Your tongue weight should be 10-15% of what your gross trailer weight is, while these numbers vary slightly depending on your trailer. For single axle trailers, you want a minimum of 10% on your tongue weight to a maximum of 15%. For tandem axle's, you want 9% to 15% and for travel trailers, you want 11-12%.A similar product we sell is Weigh Safe's line of Ball Mounts with Built In Scales. These are always gonna be accurate and they're always gonna be installed in your hitch ready to go. However, there are gonna be significantly more expensive than our Sherline scale.One of our customers, Trailer Guy, wrote in and said, "this is a must have product if you're towing anything. Especially a travel trailer. It's very easy and fun to use. I highly recommend it to everyone. It is well worth the cost for the knowledge and peace of mind and safety. It is small and easy to pack and carry. Tongue weight is very important to safe towing. Don't leave home without one".Now that we've gone over some of the features, we'll show you how to set it up properly. We're gonna begin by using the block method. Now when checking your tongue weight, it's important that add the height of your trailer, roughly what it would be as if it was hooked up to your towed vehicle. And ideally, both your towed vehicle and trailer would be about level when they're hooked up. So that's why we've got our level here. To get the most accurate measurement using your scale, you wanna do this on level ground. Now you notice here we have a large flat area on top of our scale, this will not work so well up inside of our cavity of our tongue here, doesn't even actually fit up in there. But there's a stem included with it that you'll screw inside of it and this'll give you a good point of contact up inside your ball cavity.So here we've got our trailer lifted by its own jack. We'll move some blocks into position underneath of it to help get the correct height that we need. We're using two 4X4's but that may vary depending on your trailer. We're gonna set our scale right on top of these blocks. Now it's important when handling your scale that you hold it by its base. Holding it by the upper portion can cause it to become inaccurate. The lower portion of our base here has a rubber non-skid pad to ensure that it stays in place when taking your measurements. Now with everything in place, we'll raise up our jack, lowering our trailer down onto our scale. We wanna make sure that we have the trailer completely suspended by the scale so all the weight is transferred onto it. With our jack no longer touching the ground, we can get an accurate read out on our scale. You can see our read out of about 400 pounds just like we checked it before.Now if you have access to a floor jack you can use that as well. This is my preferred method because you can lift your trailer up to the same height that it would be as if it was hooked to your towed vehicle, giving you the most accurate measurement. Unlike the wood block method we used that has set distances that it can work at, we have infinite variability in the height we can work with here using our floor jack. Now if you don't have access to a floor jack or wood blocks, you can remove the stem on top, it just unthreads, now you can use your trailers jack on the scale. You may need to use your vehicle to hold your trailer up while you position the scale underneath your jack's leg. Now of the 3 methods for measuring your tongue weight, this one is gonna be the least accurate because we're moving it back, away from our actual ball cavity. Now as you can see here, we're measuring only 300 pounds verses the 400 we had using the other 2 methods. So you can use this to get a rough estimate of your tongue weight for you trip but if you have the option to do the other methods, I would recommend those.That completes our look at Sherline's Trailer Tongue Weight Scale with a 2,000 pound capacity. Part number 5780.
Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (507 Customer Reviews)
Great product. I wish I’d known about these scales early on. Thanks! 576318
Very quick delivery. Appears to be a well made product. Not something I use everyday but is a valuable tool for determining tongue load on my Keystone trailer. I shifted some of the heavier stored items to aft locations so as to distribute the load more favorably due to the results. Will make it available to some friends and family if they request it. Very glad I purchased it! 559201
I'm not sure if I've reviewed this product, but WOW!! This is a must have for you tool box and for taking with you on your camping trips (if you're using a bumper pull type trailer). The scale was very accurate when I compared it to the CAT scales (you need to do a little math after weighing at the CAT scale). Over all, go get one. 199448
Gerry T - 05/31/2016First the service at Etrailer is the best I have ever experienced. I placed my order on a Monday and had std shipping. With a few minutes I get a confirmation of the order then another email from the shipping dept saying it was ready to ship. Then one more from the shipping dept saying they were able to upgrade my shipping at no charge because the timing worked out with the trucks. That is super and it just felt that the people cared about my order and had pride in what they do. Back to the order. I received in three days and it works great. etrailers pricing was by far the best on the web. I will for sure do business with again!! Thanks James 126702
Only used it once so far but t will definitely come in handy when I get the toy hauler. Would be nice to include a decent protective case though. 198243
DTG173 - 06/17/2016Delivery was quick and packaging protected the scale very well. Construction seems very solid, so expect years of worry-free use. Used it the next morning to weigh my utility trailer with two ATVs loaded up to check weight distribution and tongue weight. I had a need to tow with my wife's Grand Cherokee rather than my Chevy HD, and didn't want there to be any drama. Very easy to use to quickly determine that I needed to adjust position of one of the ATVs to center the load a bit better, but that my tongue weight was 13% of the total trailer weight, so right in the range it should be. I also have a 30' travel trailer that I will be checking weights on as soon as I have time to ensure I am distributing the load correctly in it as well. 443798
This is a MUST HAVE product if you are towing anything; especially a travel trailer. It's very easy & fun to use. I highly recommend it to everyone. It is well worth the cost for the knowledge & peace of mind & safety. It is small & easy to pack & carry. Tongue Weight is VERY IMPORTANT to Safe Towing. Don't leave home without one!!! Get this & keep it with you!! You need to verify first that you have the right Hitch Receiver & Ball. They have weight ratings & you need to know that they are adequately rated for towing your trailer. Then you need to weigh your trailer before & after you load it every time ! to make sure the Tongue Weight is still at a safe weight. It changes depending on many things & you can teach yourself about this using this scale. That is the first thing we did & it was fun & informative. Make sure your wheels are chocked ! but your jack stands are not being used!! The owner's manual is a wealth of information about safe towing. READ it First!! Safe Towing. 136682
Product as pictured. Packaged well and delivered promptly. Works well and will be part of trailer inventory not garage inventory. Peace of mind knowing exact weight on tongue. I find a small motorcycle lift helps in getting scale jacked up to correct height. 564145
Extremely happy I purchased this piece of equipment. After receiving it, I immediately weighed our trailer tongue and found why I was having so much trouble balancing everything properly. My trailer tongue was 400 lbs. over what the dealer and manufacturer said it was. Come to find out, my WD Hitch, from our previous trailer, was severely under rated for the newer and much bigger load it was being tasked to carry. Based on the tongue weight this scale gave me, I purchased a higher capacity WD Hitch and everything is now balanced and pulling great!! Unknowingly, when we swapped trailers, we created a major safety issue by using a severely under rated hitch. Lesson learned, don’t go by what the dealer/manufacturer tells you! Thanks to the purchase of this Tongue Scale, I corrected what could have been a major safety issue. 524804
Philip - 06/21/2019I debated long and hard about buying this product but at the end of the day I had justified the purchase. Tongue weight is a component to consider along with many others but my research showed it’s not just important but extremely important. My wife and I live in our Airstream so knowing my tongue weight was I thought necessary to know and the only way to do it was with a scale. It works as advertised and I am happy with the purchase. As a bonus there is a small helpful guide about towing which was both logical and informative. Way to go! The two day shipping was perfect. Bravo to etrailer. 494671
Fantastic product. Takes all the guess work out of determining tongue weight. 189202
SC B - 05/02/2016I would give this product a 5 star rating. It is strong and sturdy. Just the instructions say not to lift it by the piston, the top part. will cause it can cause it not to work properly. I'm afraid sometime in the future someone that hasn't read the instructions will come along and say "hey let's move this from here to there" and grab the top part to move it. Then me not knowing will go to use it again and it not work right. But that hasn't happened yet. I'm hoping it wont happen. But yes, I have used it and it works great and your not going to get a better deal then on etrailer.com even cheaper then Amazon. 171731
Very convenient fine product - should have purchased years ago I use it with a customized 3 Ton Jack Stand to support this unit. This allows me to quickly use the unit in each on my trailers & carry it with me on a loading mission Custom details are: The top of stand I drilled and tapped 5/16" hole in its center. Then I drilled a clearance counter sunk hole in a center of a 3/8" aluminum plate that fits into top of stand and used a 5/16 counter sink bolt to stabilize the plate. The jack I had handy was Harbor Freight 61196 (can be any) 139903
CasG - 07/09/2015Received the scale a day early. Checked weight on tongue by placing scale on top of a floor jack as suggested in the booklet. Right at 1000 pounds on 6200 pound trailer. This will help balance the load. Nice product and easy to use. 567714
William - 09/22/2019Great tool, worked as advertised. No more guessing if the weight is distributed correctly in my trailer. It is a quick and easy measurement of the tongue weight with my floor jack supporting the scale directly under the trailer tongue. I was surprised at how heavy my tongue weight was compared to my travel trailer's specs. And can now see how much weight change there is by adding fresh water to the tank. Plus the manual with the scale gives some great tips and advice on towing. 383491
Matt P - 05/22/2018The instructions to use this are some of the most thorough I've ever seen. It's clear from the documentation that comes with this that the manufacturer is passionate about safe trailer towing. The scale does exactly what it says it does. One interesting not though is the instructions recommend matching the scale to the expected use such that the weight ends up about mid scale. So if 10-15% of your anticipated tongue weight is 500 pounds, you'll want the 1000 lb scale. Also of note is if you need to weight heavier items, the instructions state you can install a gauge that reads higher. You do not need to buy a new scale. 127252
Excellent product and a must for anyone who tows a trailer. Very comprehensive pamphlet included that contains valuable info on trailering basics and safety. I've learned the hard way about proper tongue weight. This product would have saved me thousand$ and a lot of angst if I had it earlier. Buy it and use it. 418787
Louis A - 08/11/2018So why did I order trailer tongue scale. Even though I have a equalizing hitch I was still concerned that I might have to much tongue weight since I bought a toy hauler trailer that can haul two Harley Davidson's inline. Where you decide to put the first bike and second bike is more or less a guess. The tongue scale helped in the placement of the bikes for correct tongue weight. That's a lot faster than making multiple adjustments and trips down the road to see if you have them where they need to be. To me the time I saved and knowing I have the correct tongue weight was well worth the money. 415451
Roger B - 08/05/2018I tested the Sherline on two of our single-axle trailers used in our landscaping business. On the aluminum stake-bed on which we often carry a zero-turn mower (its' deck is in the front, and engine and most mechanicals in rear): The Sherline indicated 50 lbs. tongue weight, with 1,100 lbs aft of the axle (About 5% on the tongue. Not Good). Turning the mower around, and loading it backwards, was not as comfortable loading; but changed the numbers to: Tongue weight = 150 lbs., and aft of axle 1,000 lbs. (About 15% on the tongue. A lot better). On the box-trailer: We were at 400 lbs. tongue weight (25%), 1,650 lbs. aft. So we'll shift some of the contents aft, to lighten the tongue. The result: I'm going to go with the gauge, rather than my imagination. 201173
This product works as advertised, is useful, and makes life run smoother. No more guessing at tongue weights or going to the scales, later to do a bunch of math, albeit simple. The machining and finish seems to be near perfect. Beats the heck out of levers and bathroom scales. I'm happy with etrailer.com and the purchase. A couple of picks... ...Price -- the price makes purchase not an easy decision. If I wasn't changing and shifting loads a lot for running down the road for significant miles, I might not have made the purchase. ...and comes without a case; for the price, I might expect one. I carry this scale on the truck (for use both on our usual trailers, used for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief, and several that we may be asked to pull.) Without a case, it would roll around and probably get damaged. I built a wood case outta scrap for it, blocked it in with sponges, and it sits in the toolbox with the 10 ton bottle jack, the lug nut torque wrench, and a few other useful items. 4-3/4 stars outta five from me; I recommend it. 66972
Bob S - 08/25/2014I have just received this product and have not had a chance to use it yet. However, after reading the instructions and care manual supplied with it, I recognize that it's longevity and accuracy depends upon how it is stored and handled. The manufacturer needs to offer a specialized storage case for it, as it needs to be stored upright, above 32 deg. F, and not jostled or handled roughly. The manual is a good tutorial on trailer towing and offers many cautions and suggestions for the user. The product itself is compact and simple in operation. It should prove to be most useful when loading and towing my travel trailer 468048
John F - 01/18/2019Great product. Used it right away to confirm tongue weight was in range or not. It was. Only concern is storage conditions recommend keeping upright, not bumping the gauge, etc. and yet no storage case.. 566505
I was concerned about the reviews talking about lifting the unit with the black piston that sits on top of the scale. Don't be. Although lifting it from the piston will cause accuracy issues it will not make the item unusable and can be fixed in minutes. It's a hydraulic piston, no magic inside other than hydraulic oil, same as a hydrolic jack. If your readings change or you suspect it has sucked in air because someone lifted it from the top- lay it on it's side with the guage up, unscrew the guage, compress the piston till the oil is level with the hole, re-install the guage using a little teflon tape. Accuracy is in the guage and how you set it up for compression when weiging the object, it must be level. Want greater accuracy?, go to a higher quality guage not jack. According to the instructions hydraulic oil or 20w engine oil can be used. 306619
We bought a new travel trailer and I had it weighed at a scale to determine its weight (5,350 lbs dry). For safety reasons, the TW should be between 10-15% of the loaded weight of the trailer. However, I had no clue what the tongue weight was and the dealer wasn't willing to provide any useful information. It took me less than a minute to put this scale under the coupler and lower the trailer to get a reading. I discovered an empty TW of close to 800 lbs! Even with a WD hitch, I now know that I need to load a lot in the back of the trailer to get things more evenly distributed and reduce the TW to something more reasonable - considering I tow with a 2016 Tacoma. I plan to use this scale before every trip. Great product and I received it two days after I placed the order - better than my experiences Amazon Prime lately. 274507
Good quality product,excellent service to receive product shipped to Canada so fast.Thank you 394806
Doug L - 06/18/2018Do you have a question about this Tool?
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