How to Determine Tongue Weight with Weight Distribution System Connected

Updated 08/11/2021 | Published 08/10/2021

Question:

When using the tongue trailer scales, how much weight is on the hitch? If you measure the tongue weight while the trailer is level and not connected to the truck, you will get one weight. But that’s not how you tow the trailer? When towing the trailer, the hitch is connected to the ball, and the weight distribution system is connected to the truck and trailer. That setup then transfers weight back onto the trailer and lightens up the load on the hitch and ball. When the weight distribution system is connected correctly it shifts enough weight back onto the trailer to keep the nose of the truck at the same height as it was before the trailer was attached. The trailer is a toy hauler it has a 17 ft. garage and the 2,500 lb toy is only 12 ft. long. That 5 ft. difference allows you to move the toy forward toward the hitch or back toward the loading ramp that movement will dramatically affect the tongue weight. I bought the Blue Ox from e-trailer So how do you measure the tongue weight statically when the weight distribution shifts the weight from the tongue back onto the trailer once connected?

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

The etrailer Tongue Weight Scale part # e99044 will not be able to tell you the tongue weight of the setup when your weight distribution system is connected. There's only one way to tell how much tongue weight your weight distribution system is distributing to the front axle of your tow vehicle and that by taking your trailer setup to a weigh station and put the front axle of the tow vehicle on the scales with the spring bars connected and then get the weight figure when they are disconnected. The difference between the two is how much tongue weight is redistributed which you could then subtract from the static tongue weight of your trailer without a weight distribution system hooked up.

expert reply by: Jameson C