Weight Stats

MtnGuy · 03-23-2011, 01:49 PM

There has been some recent discussion regarding trailer tongue weights, tow vehicle gross weights, and how weight distributing systems move the tongue weight around. I thought I would post some of my own weights to see how this works. Warning, this is boring reading.

Solo Tow Vehicle
Truck Front Axle (Actual)***********3300
Truck Rear Axle (Actual)***********2860
Truck Total (Actual & Calculated)****6160
Trailer Only (Calculated)***********5340

No Weight Distributing
Tow Vehicle Front Axle (Actual)******3020
Tow Vehicle 2 Axles (Actual)********6840
Tow Vehicle Rear Axle (Calculated)***3820

Truck and Trailer (Actual)***11500
Trailer Axle Only (Actual)****4620
Tongue Weight (Calculated)***680

Leeway of Tow Vehicle Front Axle Weight Rating (3750 lbs.)******730
Leeway of Tow Vehicle Rear Axle Weight Rating (3850 lbs.)*******30
Leeway of Tow Vehicle Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (7200 lbs.)***360

Percentage of Tow Vehicle Front Axle Gross******************80.53%
Percentage of Tow Vehicle Rear Axle Gross*******************99.22%
Percentage of Tow Vehicle Total Gross***********************95.00%
Percentage of Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (7559 lbs.)****70.64%
Percentage of Trailer Axle Weight Rating (7000 lbs.)**********66.00%

Weight Added to Tow Vehicle Front Axle **************-280
Weight Added to Tow Vehicle Rear Axle****************960
Weight Added to Tow Vehicle (Trailer Tongue Weight)****680

5 Chain Lengths Weight Distributing
Tow Vehcile Front Axle (Actual)*******************3340
Tow Vehicle 2 Wheels (Actual)*******************6720
Tow Vehicle Rear Axle (Calculated)****************3380

Truck and Trailer (Actual)***********************11500
Trailer Axle Only (Actual)************************4760
Adjusted Tongue Weight (Calculated)***************560

Leeway of Truck FAWR (3750 lbs.)******************410
Leeway of Truck RAWR (3850 lbs.)******************470
Leeway of Truck GVWR (7200 lbs.)******************480
Leeway of Truck GCWR (15,000 lbs.)***************3500
Leeway of Trailer GVWR (7559 lbs.)****************2239

Percentage of Truck FAWR (3750 lbs.)*************89.07%
Percentage of Truck RAWR (3850 lbs.)*************87.79%
Percentage of Truck GVWR (7200 lbs.)*************93.33%
Percentage of Truck GCWR (15,000 lbs.)***********76.67%
Percentage of Trailer GVWR (7559 lbs.)************70.64%
Percentage of Trailer AWR (7000 lbs.)*************68.00%
Percentage of Truck Tow Rating (9300 lbs)**********57.42%

Weight Added to Front Axle(vs. solo)**********************40
Weight Added to Rear Axle (vs. solo)*********************520
Weight Subtracted from Rear Axle (WDH use over no WDH)**-440
Weight Added to Truck *********************************560
Weight Added to Trailer Axles***************************140

Some people say that I am anal.

Triguy · 03-23-2011, 02:02 PM

Mtnguy,

Wow. Just wow.

That's really a great real world illustration of the effects of WDH on a truck.

I like that you covered GVWR, GCWR and axles. Nice job.

shineysideup · 03-23-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnguy

There has been some recent discussion regarding trailer tongue weights, tow vehicle gross weights, and how weight distributing systems move the tongue weight around. I thought I would post some of my own weights to see how this works. Warning, this is boring reading.

Solo Tow Vehicle
Truck Front Axle (Actual)***********3300
Truck Rear Axle (Actual)***********2860
Truck Total (Actual & Calculated)****6160
Trailer Only (Calculated)***********5340

No Weight Distributing
Tow Vehicle Front Axle (Actual)******3020
Tow Vehicle 2 Axles (Actual)********6840
Tow Vehicle Rear Axle (Calculated)***3820

Truck and Trailer (Actual)***11500
Trailer Axle Only (Actual)****4620
Tongue Weight (Calculated)***680

Leeway of Tow Vehicle Front Axle Weight Rating (3750 lbs.)******730
Leeway of Tow Vehicle Rear Axle Weight Rating (3850 lbs.)*******30
Leeway of Tow Vehicle Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (7200 lbs.)***360

Percentage of Tow Vehicle Front Axle Gross******************80.53%
Percentage of Tow Vehicle Rear Axle Gross*******************99.22%
Percentage of Tow Vehicle Total Gross***********************95.00%
Percentage of Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (7559 lbs.)****70.64%
Percentage of Trailer Axle Weight Rating (7000 lbs.)**********66.00%

Weight Added to Tow Vehicle Front Axle **************-280
Weight Added to Tow Vehicle Rear Axle****************960
Weight Added to Tow Vehicle (Trailer Tongue Weight)****680

5 Chain Lengths Weight Distributing
Tow Vehcile Front Axle (Actual)*******************3340
Tow Vehicle 2 Wheels (Actual)*******************6720
Tow Vehicle Rear Axle (Calculated)****************3380

Truck and Trailer (Actual)***********************11500
Trailer Axle Only (Actual)************************4760
Adjusted Tongue Weight (Calculated)***************560

Leeway of Truck FAWR (3750 lbs.)******************410
Leeway of Truck RAWR (3850 lbs.)******************470
Leeway of Truck GVWR (7200 lbs.)******************480
Leeway of Truck GCWR (15,000 lbs.)***************3500
Leeway of Trailer GVWR (7559 lbs.)****************2239

Percentage of Truck FAWR (3750 lbs.)*************89.07%
Percentage of Truck RAWR (3850 lbs.)*************87.79%
Percentage of Truck GVWR (7200 lbs.)*************93.33%
Percentage of Truck GCWR (15,000 lbs.)***********76.67%
Percentage of Trailer GVWR (7559 lbs.)************70.64%
Percentage of Trailer AWR (7000 lbs.)*************68.00%
Percentage of Truck Tow Rating (9300 lbs)**********57.42%

Weight Added to Front Axle(vs. solo)**********************40
Weight Added to Rear Axle (vs. solo)*********************520
Weight Subtracted from Rear Axle (WDH use over no WDH)**-440
Weight Added to Truck *********************************560
Weight Added to Trailer Axles***************************140

Some people say that I am anal.

I don't think anal is the right word... EDUCATED

seems much more appropriate! Great work, guessing and knowing are two very different things. I think if people take the time to read this they will be surprised.

Weight distribution hitches are just that, as you have proven! Please don't disregard the added safety of a weight distribution hitch because you have a truck.

Dave_Monica · 03-23-2011, 07:05 PM

Very interesting...

By your numbers, your payload, as calculated by GVWR is 1040 lbs (7200 - 6160). Your payload calculated by RAWR is only 990 lbs (3850 - 2860). That seems very odd? Anything I've seen posted, the payload calculated by RAWR is usually significantly higher.

On my 2005 Ram 1500, the payload, as calculated by GVWR is 950 lbs (6650 - 5700). The payload, as calculated by RAWR is 1350 lbs (3900 - 2540). You know which number I want to use.

Dave

lbrjet · 03-23-2011, 07:37 PM

Nice setup. 12.8% TW which is about perfect. 20% of TW shifted to trailer axles and 6% to front axle. Hard to get the front axle back to exactly the same. 40lbs more is better than 40 lbs less IMO.

Not anal to me at all. I'm a numbers guy as well.

lbrjet · 03-23-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

Very interesting...

By your numbers, your payload, as calculated by GVWR is 1040 lbs (7200 - 6160). Your payload calculated by RAWR is only 990 lbs (3850 - 2860). That seems very odd? Anything I've seen posted, the payload calculated by RAWR is usually significantly higher.

On my 2005 Ram 1500, the payload, as calculated by GVWR is 950 lbs (6650 - 5700). The payload, as calculated by RAWR is 1350 lbs (3900 - 2540). You know which number I want to use.

Dave

Probably had the bed of the truck loaded up.

Labzy · 03-23-2011, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnguy

There has been some recent discussion regarding trailer tongue weights, tow vehicle gross weights, and how weight distributing systems move the tongue weight around. I thought I would post some of my own weights to see how this works. Warning, this is boring reading.

Solo Tow Vehicle
Truck Front Axle (Actual)***********3300
Truck Rear Axle (Actual)***********2860
Truck Total (Actual & Calculated)****6160
Trailer Only (Calculated)***********5340

No Weight Distributing
Tow Vehicle Front Axle (Actual)******3020
Tow Vehicle 2 Axles (Actual)********6840
Tow Vehicle Rear Axle (Calculated)***3820

Truck and Trailer (Actual)***11500
Trailer Axle Only (Actual)****4620
Tongue Weight (Calculated)***680

Leeway of Tow Vehicle Front Axle Weight Rating (3750 lbs.)******730
Leeway of Tow Vehicle Rear Axle Weight Rating (3850 lbs.)*******30
Leeway of Tow Vehicle Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (7200 lbs.)***360

Percentage of Tow Vehicle Front Axle Gross******************80.53%
Percentage of Tow Vehicle Rear Axle Gross*******************99.22%
Percentage of Tow Vehicle Total Gross***********************95.00%
Percentage of Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (7559 lbs.)****70.64%
Percentage of Trailer Axle Weight Rating (7000 lbs.)**********66.00%

Weight Added to Tow Vehicle Front Axle **************-280
Weight Added to Tow Vehicle Rear Axle****************960
Weight Added to Tow Vehicle (Trailer Tongue Weight)****680

5 Chain Lengths Weight Distributing
Tow Vehcile Front Axle (Actual)*******************3340
Tow Vehicle 2 Wheels (Actual)*******************6720
Tow Vehicle Rear Axle (Calculated)****************3380

Truck and Trailer (Actual)***********************11500
Trailer Axle Only (Actual)************************4760
Adjusted Tongue Weight (Calculated)***************560

Leeway of Truck FAWR (3750 lbs.)******************410
Leeway of Truck RAWR (3850 lbs.)******************470
Leeway of Truck GVWR (7200 lbs.)******************480
Leeway of Truck GCWR (15,000 lbs.)***************3500
Leeway of Trailer GVWR (7559 lbs.)****************2239

Percentage of Truck FAWR (3750 lbs.)*************89.07%
Percentage of Truck RAWR (3850 lbs.)*************87.79%
Percentage of Truck GVWR (7200 lbs.)*************93.33%
Percentage of Truck GCWR (15,000 lbs.)***********76.67%
Percentage of Trailer GVWR (7559 lbs.)************70.64%
Percentage of Trailer AWR (7000 lbs.)*************68.00%
Percentage of Truck Tow Rating (9300 lbs)**********57.42%

Weight Added to Front Axle(vs. solo)**********************40
Weight Added to Rear Axle (vs. solo)*********************520
Weight Subtracted from Rear Axle (WDH use over no WDH)**-440
Weight Added to Truck *********************************560
Weight Added to Trailer Axles***************************140

Some people say that I am anal.

Hmmmmm, I just read this in bed while half asleep, and I didnt find it boring at all

Thank you for posting it!!!!

MtnGuy · 03-24-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

Very interesting...

By your numbers, your payload, as calculated by GVWR is 1040 lbs (7200 - 6160). Your payload calculated by RAWR is only 990 lbs (3850 - 2860). That seems very odd? Anything I've seen posted, the payload calculated by RAWR is usually significantly higher.

On my 2005 Ram 1500, the payload, as calculated by GVWR is 950 lbs (6650 - 5700). The payload, as calculated by RAWR is 1350 lbs (3900 - 2540). You know which number I want to use.

Dave

Good catch, Dave, and you were correct Ibrjet. I had been camping the previous weekend, and had some stuff in the rear of the truck, including my generator. My empty truck usually weighs ~5900 lbs. with me in the cab, with the rear axle weighing around 2560 lbs.

Here is what I had on-board the truck and trailer:

The truck: 17 gallons of gas. In the bed starting near the front I had the generator, 2 chairs, charcoal, tote, rug, portable table, and usual assortment of tools at the rear of the bed. Also the jack, and 3 6x6s blocks.

The Trailer: 1 propane tank near empty. Some food in the pantry, some clothes in front, all bottom tanks empty, the hot water heater full. 5 gals. of water stored under each dinnette seat. Towels, hiking box, sheets, and blankets under the bed.

In the front pass thru: Water hookup box, chock blocks box, sewer connection box, umbilical cords and adapters, camping suppy box, sewer box, charcoal grill, 2 lynx levelers and wheel chocks.

Except for food, some extra clothing, and fresh water, I am camping ready. My fresh water tank is sitting over the rear axle, so a full tank will take a couple of pounds off of the tongue weight.....gotta get those figures sometime.

prof_fate · 03-24-2011, 07:44 AM

Very interesting. I wasn't expecting an increase on the trailer's weight with the WD hitch.
I plan to get my outfit weighed but I have to find a scale someplace first. I know I'll be close to the GCWR limit, I just hope it's 99.22%!

MtnGuy · 03-24-2011, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prof_fate

Very interesting. I wasn't expecting an increase on the trailer's weight with the WD hitch.
I plan to get my outfit weighed but I have to find a scale someplace first. I know I'll be close to the GCWR limit, I just hope it's 99.22%!

That is 1 of the advantages of a WDH...you can actually get some of the weight off of the tow vehicle and put that back on the trailer axle. With the WDH, my rear axle is no longer near the GAWR limit, and weight is back on my front axle, with 140 lbs. no longer on the truck.......my wife can now come along on the trip.

Labzy · 03-25-2011, 11:57 AM

What is the usual % applied (distrubuted) to each axle, (trailer and truck) when using a WDH?
ie: front axle 33% and so on.....
I'm looking into a WDH but am concerned about how much extra weight will be applied to my front axle.

MtnGuy · 03-25-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labzy

What is the usual % applied (distrubuted) to each axle, (trailer and truck) when using a WDH?
ie: front axle 33% and so on.....
I'm looking into a WDH but am concerned about how much extra weight will be applied to my front axle.

The weight put back on the front axle depends on how the WDH is setup. In my case, I wanted at least the weight that I lost by hooking up the trailer back on the front axle. In my case, I have an additional 40 lbs. over the non-trailer weight.

Labzy · 03-25-2011, 12:28 PM

Ahhhh, I'm new so, let's take this slow............or even better yet I will start again.
My axle ratings are 3900lbs,
going by curb weight the FA is 3170lbs and the RA 2365lbs,( these are approximate as they do not include some optional equipment we have weighing around 100lbs)
our TW is gonna be around 400lbs.
When we load the truck:
1. I'm not sure how our weight will be distributed over the axles, hubby is 275lbs, I'm 120lbs, daughter 65lbs dog 70 lbs.
2. The front axle rating doesn't seem to have alot of play in it for us once loaded, and I'm not sure if we factor in extra weight from the WDH how much of that will be distributed onto it.
As you said before our trucks have similar ratings, my GVWR is 6800 and payload is 1100. Addind a WDH is looking good in the respect that it will take a bit of weight off our total payload, but on the other hand I dont want to overload the FA.
Your comments are always greatly appreciated

MtnGuy · 03-25-2011, 01:42 PM

With a 3900 lb. axle in front, you have over 700 lbs. to add to the axle. A properly setup WDH will get the weight of the tongue back on the front axle. if you are worried about your family overloading the axle, I don't think there is a concern there. If you and your hubby are sitting in the front seat, that is an additional 395 lbs........but y'all are not over the axle. The front passenger seat on super or crew cab pickups sit about 1/3 of the way back on a truck, so approx. 2/3 of that weight will go on the front axle (263 lbs.), and 1/3 will go on the back axle (132 lbs.) Likewise for your daughter and dog, since the back seat is about at the 1/2 way point, 50% of their weight will go towards both axles. Anything loaded to the front of the bed will be about 1/3 to the front axle, and 2/3 to the rear axle, and anything directly over the rear axle is going on add weight to the rear axle. That is why a trailer tongue causes so much trouble without a WDH.......it is adding weight a couple of feet behind the rear axle, taking some weight off of the front axle, and adding that to the rear axle. As you may see from my spreadsheet, adding 680 lbs. to my hitch takes off 280 lbs of weight on my front axle, and my rear axle goes up 960 lbs. If you subtract the 280 from the 960, you get the trailer tongue weight.....680 lbs.

So to make a short story long which I have already done

, if you get your WDH setup to put the original weight back on the front axle (and maybe a little extra), you will still have somewhere in the vicinity of 700 lbs. more to add there before you are maxing out the axle. Without a WDH and the bed of the truck loaded heavy, you could max out the rear axle, because of the leverage affect on the trailer tongue weight, although a 400 lb. tongue weight is not as bad on that as my 680 lb. tongue.

Before heading to the scales, I set up my WDH in the driveway using the fender measurements including in the setup instructions of most WDHs. My front fender dropped 1/16th of an inch when the trailer was hooked up over not being hooked up, and the rear fender dropped 1 1/16th of an inch. With those figures, I figured I had a little extra weight on the front axle which turned out to be an extra 40 lbs., and a lot of the trailer tongue weight was being carried by the rear axle, which is meant to carry weight.

Hope this helps.

Labzy · 03-25-2011, 05:41 PM

Thanks for the reply!!!
I'm going to have to tow this back home from Toronto without a WDH, because I dont want the dealer installing it. (this is the guy that said TW isnt part of payload; so I dont have any faith in their knowledge)
There is a great place near me that deals mostly with farming, aggregate, and livestock trailers and hitches, so I'm going with them. I want to make sure it's all installed correctly.

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