When Flat Towing a Vehicle How Much Tongue Weight is on the Trailer Hitch
Updated 05/06/2024 | Published 08/31/2013
Question:
We purchased a motorhome with a Gross weight restriction of 26000lbs. It says we cannot tow more tha 4500 lbs. Im confused if the tongue weight is what gets added to the overall weight of the motorhome or he weight of the vehicle we are towing. We will be towing the car flat 4down. How does this affect the tongue weight?
asked by: Rick
Expert Reply:
There are 2 different capacities independent of each other though related. Tongue weight is the downward force or weight on the trailer hitch. So it is pushing down at the back of the vehicle. The gross trailer weight is the weight of whatever it is you are towing. So for your motor home, at most you can tow 4,500 pounds gross trailer weight. Tongue weight is typically 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight.
However, when flat towing a car there is almost no tongue weight because the vehicle is supporting itself on all 4 wheels. So as long as your vehicle weighs less than 4,500 pounds you will be within the limits of the motor home.
Check the vehicle owners manual to make sure that it can be flat towed behind your motor home. If it can there are 5 things you will need: base plates, tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking. Some of these items are vehicle specific so I would need to know the year, make, and model of the vehicle to make more specific recommendations.
I have also included 2 helpful links to the right on flat towing.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Reese Weight Distribution System - No Shank - Trunnion Bar - 12,000 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD Only
- Trunnion Bar
- Shank Not Included
- Top-Mount
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- Requires Disconnection
- 1000 lbs
- 1100 lbs
- 700 lbs
- 800 lbs
- 900 lbs
- Reese
more information >
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on Weight Distribution Hitch
Norman F.
4/1/2024
Good Afternoon I have a 2020 forest river Georgetown gt5 max weight is 24,000lbs and it is specified for a 5000lbs towing capacity, on a ford F53 chassis with a V10 engine. I am flat towing a 2021 jeep gladiator and wanted to understand the tongue weight on the motorhome to decide if I can have the ebikes (63lbs each) on the hitch above the car tow hitch. Thank you Norman