How to Measure Trailer Tongue Weight to Select Weight Distribution System

Updated 12/06/2016 | Published 12/05/2016

Question:

My 2010 VW Touareg has a tongue weight limit of 616 lbs. Im looking for a weight distribution system without sway control, and wonder if the 1,000 - 1,500 lb systems would be OK with my trailer and vehicle. Im towing a 27 ft Aspen Trail TT that weighs about 5500 lbs loaded not sure of its current tongue weight as loaded, but its listed at 612 lbs on the specs. Thank you!!

asked by: Tom M

Expert Reply:

Weight distribution (WD) systems need to be selected based on the measured tongue weight (TW) of the fully-loaded trailer, with all gear and supplies in place, to which you will add the weight of anything in the vehicle that sits behind the rear axle, such as a generator. This vehicle cargo weight acts just like trailer TW and so it must be included in the calculation. This lets you select a WD system that is rated properly to give you the weight shift you're looking for without creating any weird handling side-effects.

If your trailer's specs say its dry hitch weight is 612-lbs, then this means that once you fill your water and propane tanks and load the rest of your cargo your actual trailer TW will be substantially higher. We offer a handy scale # e99044 to measure TW but other methods are outlined in the linked article. I also included a general WD video for you that may be of interest. The ideal situation is to have your total TW fall right near the middle of the WD system's operating range.

Both your vehicle and the hitch on it must be rated for use with WD systems; your hitch will indicate this on its safety sticker and your VW owner's manual should tell you the maximum allowed trailer weight the car can pull when WD is used. You clearly want to exceed neither the hitch nor the vehicle capacities.

Once you know you actual total TW you can use the linked page to see systems (without sway control). All the systems shown work with electric trailer brakes, fit 2-inch hitches and include a shank. For example, if your total TW figure works out to be 900-lbs, then simply click on that filter on the page to see suitable systems like # PS49583.

expert reply by: Jesse M