Will Upgraded Batteries Push Tongue Weight Too High on Keystone Passport  

To get really accurate GVW numbers for your tow vehicle it is important to know your tongue weight. Towing capacity is one thing (and should not be solely relied upon for determining if you are "over weight"), but perhaps the more important number is whether you are exceeding the cargo capacity of the tow vehicle. Tongue weight is a significant element. Going to a scales and unhooking to get a tongue weight is, generally, not convenient. I purchased the Tongue Weight scale and now can regularly check the tongue weight. When we start adding weight to the front of the trailer this changes (batteries, front storage, tools, etc.). I have used it numerous times and share it often with others I am traveling with. Recommend. As always, purchases from etrailer are easy, a great value and come with excellent customer service.

Good afternoon, Ryan I purchased the BTVRV tongue weight scale a while back. I just had to use it again yesterday as I have a truck camper with a long hitch extension, so tongue weight is crucial. I found I was 200 pounds over the tongue weight that I was rated for so I had to readjust my load. The scale is definitely worth the purchase. Good luck.

Hello Ryan, I bought the BTBRV 2,000 lbs unit with the tote bag and added a snap pad. It will be slightly less in cost if you wanted both the bag and snap pad. I recommend the 2,000 lbs unit over the 1,000 lbs unit, because you can adjust the height of the scale unit, and I believe you could get a better tongue weight measurement by doing this. The 1,000 lbs scale is not adjustable. Plus the 2,000 lbs unit is more versatile, and can be used with other trailers. When you buy the snap pad separately, that means you need to install it. Here’s a trick, put a few drops of dish soap in a cup, fill it with water, shake a little to get some bubbles and pour it over the foot of the scale and snap pad. This will act like a lubricant. Position the scale under your trailer tongue and let the trailer weight snap the pad into place on the scale’s foot. I think the snap pad provides much better stability than just placing the bare metal scale on the ground. I felt very comfortable with stability of tongue scale and the readings I received seem to be on target. I knew my tongue weight was a little low, just by the way my trailer bounced during towing. The scale read 650 lbs, and my tongue weight should really be about 710 lbs, so I need to make some adjustments with my weight distribution. As an aside, I tried using a make shift scale to make tongue weight measurements using some wood beams, pipe sections and a bathroom scale. Hands down the BTBRV Tongue scale is a no brainer, it’s way easier and safer. Just a thought, if you have too much weight on your tongue because of the extra battery, you could try adjusting the trailer weight distribution by shifting some of the inside storage closer to your axles. Also, adding water to your fresh water tank could help off set the tongue weight, since water weighs 8.34 lbs per gallon. A lot of people usually fill their fresh water tank with 15 to 20 gallons before hitting the road. Although, that 140 lbs battery sounds like a real beast. One last thought, having a tongue scale like the BTBRV can be real handy to ensure you have the right weight distribution not only before you leave your home, but also before you leave the camp ground. Having water in your tanks can seriously alter your trailer weight, especially if your black and gray tanks are full, causing your tongue weight to change. Good Luck