GAWR, GVWR and Tongue weight questions

[ricksterv]

Hi.. here is the set up
Reese WDH
24" at rear of BH17 and 24 at front
1/2 inch difference between front fender and rear fender of t/v
88% difference between GAWR fron and GAWR rear ratings no trailer
87.5 % Difference with trailer attached.
Looking good so far?
here are some numbers that confuse me
From Loves T/S Scale..
Steer Axle = 2540
Drive Axle = 2900
Trailer Axle = 3960
BUT!!!
When weighing JUST the TRAILER..
Tongue = 680
Trailer = 3760
1st Question - this is all dry weights - does this seem rather heavy on the tongue? Especially considering the (empty) fresh water is in front of the first axle..?
2nd Question Why is there exactly 200 lbs difference on trailer axles when discoed from the t/v? Can I assume the 200 lbs is coming OFF the tongue? I kinda hope so ...
Thanks for all the advise..
r

[Riccochet]

What's your TV axle weights unhooked? You really need those to see accurately what the WDH is doing when hooked up.

Ideally, yes, some of the weight is going to be shifted back to the TT axles and to the front axle of the TV.

[lbrjet]

You are at 15% tongue weight which is fine, maybe a little heavy but fine. 200 lbs could be being transferred to the trailer axles which would be a bit high for your TW, but it is certainly possible. I would expect more like 125-150. I would also weigh the truck alone as well next time to make sure your front axle weight doesn't weigh more hitched than unhitched. If that is the case lighten up on the WDH a bit.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[ricksterv]

ok.. I thought I could find a curb weight per axle in datasheets or in the manual. No luck. Should of got that while I was there. nuther day and 10 more bucks...
I still think 18% is too heavy for a dry tongue of a 20 ft trailer.

[lbrjet]

680/4440 = 15.3.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[ricksterv]

doh... - used the wrong number. Thanks

[Too Tall]

I'd rather take as much weight possible off those China bombs and put it onto my tow vehicle personally.

[ricksterv]

ok lbrjet.. here is the skinny..
curb weight on tow vehicle w/o driver - same scale
steering - 2520
Drive - 2380
Gross - 4900

so using the first visit's numbers I have added only 20 lbs to my steering, 520 lbs on the drives and 200 on the trailers tandems.
this is all done with what visually seems the perfect balance. (24" clearance on front and back of trailer and 1/2 " difference between front fender well and rear. By the way I just measured the fender well heights of the car sitting the the garage.. same numbers.
This set-up is using what I think is minimum lift on the wd bars. Only using the second link.

Do you see anything I am missing? or am I off to a good start. Oh yea this is leaving me with between 700 and 800 lbs for cargo and passengers which I will never hit.

Thank for the input..

(btw 2tall. what is a china bomb?)

[lbrjet]

You restored all but 20 lbs on the front axle. About perfect.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by ricksterv

(btw 2tall. what is a china bomb?)

Sorry, Chinese made tires

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by ricksterv

curb weight on tow vehicle w/o driver - same scale
steering - 2520
Drive - 2380
Gross - 4900

That is a really lite truck......what is it ??

[ricksterv]

Ah.. and so starts the controversy. . Volkswagen touareg

[BigDaddy1967]

Originally Posted by ricksterv

Hi.. here is the set up
Reese WDH
24" at rear of BH17 and 24 at front
1/2 inch difference between front fender and rear fender of t/v
88% difference between GAWR fron and GAWR rear ratings no trailer
87.5 % Difference with trailer attached.
Looking good so far?
here are some numbers that confuse me
From Loves T/S Scale..
Steer Axle = 2540
Drive Axle = 2900
Trailer Axle = 3960
BUT!!!
When weighing JUST the TRAILER..
Tongue = 680
Trailer = 3760
1st Question - this is all dry weights - does this seem rather heavy on the tongue? Especially considering the (empty) fresh water is in front of the first axle..?
2nd Question Why is there exactly 200 lbs difference on trailer axles when discoed from the t/v? Can I assume the 200 lbs is coming OFF the tongue? I kinda hope so ...
Thanks for all the advise..
r

Were you in the TV when you scaled the TV and TT?
Do you weigh 200 pounds?

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by ricksterv

Ah.. and so starts the controversy. . Volkswagen touareg

You seemed to have purposely left out that little detail.

What is the GVWR GCWR of the Touareg ?? The GVWR be posted on the driver's side door pillar, and you may have to contact Volkswagen to find the GCWR. With a quick look on the web, I found 6173 lbs as the GVWR, but that could be different with your vehicle depending on build.

If the GVWR is indeed 6173 lbs then I think you may have a problem staying under that number. With a weight of 4900 empty, then adding 680 lbs of tongue weight already brings the number up to 5580 lbs., leaving you with ~590 lbs. of available payload. With the driver, passengers (bunkhouse indicates kids), Fido (?) and personal gear can add up quickly.

You also posted a that your WDH is a Reese, with no model specified. Even with a fairly short trailer, it would be good to use a WDH model that has intergrated sway control, especially when being pulled by a short wheel base tow vehicle.

[ricksterv]

Thanks all for the responses..
BigDaddy, i as not in the car when weighed. That makes MtnGuy accurate with the numbers.. so
The wife is 98lbs me.. 205. No kids no pets and when we traveled b4 the trailer, we had a cooler and 2 small suitcases. I may seem naive but we really do travel light.

The plans are to travel short distances to family around the country (mostly flatlands) then sell the trailer after 3 or 4 years. (we are old) And I do love the tow-rag.. it will be a keeper

Back to the numbers..
we will never come close to the gross combined weight- over 12000 lbs, tire capacity is fine.

the only numbers we are close to is the rear axle (tongue) and what you found - the 590.

My last two questions for you all is regarding the mechanics of the 200 lbs going back on the trailer, and if the location of the ball in relation to the wd (ie further or closer to the axle) may be determining which direction the wd is affecting the load.

Do those questions make sense? I may be selling the reese straight line WD and get one that keeps the ball closer to the TV if you guys think that would be wise.

one picture is from the (in)famous article about a Porsche towing the airstreem. the other is mine. You may see my concern here.

Again,, Glad to have the pro's helping out - even as i fall into the "marginal" category.

[ricksterv]

Forgot 2 things. I will weigh again and will be with and without WD, may answer 1 question...also the reese shown is with a friction sway on the other side. If I keep this I will get the straight line add on later..

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by ricksterv

My last two questions for you all is regarding the mechanics of the 200 lbs going back on the trailer, and if the location of the ball in relation to the wd (ie further or closer to the axle) may be determining which direction the wd is affecting the load.

Do those questions make sense? I may be selling the reese straight line WD and get one that keeps the ball closer to the TV if you guys think that would be wise.

I am not sure if other brand WDHs have the ball closer to the TV or not, or whether that would even help. I am not even sure what the problem is (without reading back through the entire thread) ??

The Reese shanks usually have 2 holes for the hitch pin......are you using the 1 furthest back (nearest the head assembly) for hooking up ??

Overall, it looks like a pretty good setup if the system gets most of the weight back on your steer axle. You can see the bars are slightly bent.

Edit: Comparing the empty TV with the 1st post, those numbers look pretty darn good.......if both we weights were done with the same passengers, cargo, and fuel levels.