actual 29HFS weight

[GDavidHughes]

Originally Posted by ZNR XLR

I’ve read this whole thread and sometimes it made my head hurt, but I am convinced I’m in the right place to ask a related question about tongue weight. It’s probably obvious to most in this thread, but not so much to me. I bought a new 27 HFS and I want to get a baseline empty weight and TW to compare against the same weights once the TH is loaded. My thought was to go to the scales and weigh my TV by itself. Then I’d hitch up the TH and get another weight of the TV and the TH together. Finally I would pull forward so that the TV is off the scales and get a weight of the TH while it is hitched to the TV. With those 3 weights and a little math, I think that will allow me to determine the empty weight of the TH and the TW. I have a WDH. My question is this…if the WDH is hooked up, do I get a true and accurate tongue weight or do I need to disengage the WDH before I move the TV off the scales for the last measurement. My understanding is that the WDH “distributes” some of the tongue weight to the front axle of the TV and the axles of the TH. It would seem to me that any weights with the WDH engaged would not provide a true value of the TW. Can anybody confirm how to get an accurate TW by using public scales? Thank you.

When weighing your TV and trailer, consider that the TW does not change when using a WDH. What the WDH will do is move some of the down-force created by TW from the rear axle springs and distribute it in a linear fashion to the front TV springs and trailer springs. Actual tongue weight is the downward force placed on the hitch ball. This does not change. Only where that force is applied to the suspension changes.
Of coarse, I could be wrong but, It's not likely.

[WolfWhistle]

Originally Posted by GDavidHughes

When weighing your TV and trailer, consider that the TW does not change when using a WDH. What the WDH will do is move some of the down-force created by TW from the rear axle springs and distribute it in a linear fashion to the front TV springs and trailer springs. Actual tongue weight is the downward force placed on the hitch ball. This does not change. Only where that force is applied to the suspension changes.
Of coarse, I could be wrong but, It's not likely.

Its the rest of the world that's wrong

BTW, I would say the WDH spring bar pockets serve as a fulcrum, in effect, so that the force exerted upon the trailer tongue with the bar under tension, is likewise exerted upon the tow vehicle and at a virtual point equal to the length of the spring bar in an equal but opposite direction. So, TW is not at a single point, specifically the trailer ball, but is rather applied across a length twice the length of the bar, but still centered on the spring bar pockets (or the trailer ball). So, in similar fashion as the weight of the trailer that rests on the rear axle pair is applied for a distance from front spring to rear most spring shackle; the weight is centered above the rear axles of the trailer. In conclusion, TW is still centered on the trailer ball. Archimedes would support me on this... if you can't trust him who can you trust?

[GDavidHughes]

Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

Its the rest of the world that's wrong

BTW, I would say the WDH spring bar pockets serve as a fulcrum, in effect, so that the force exerted upon the trailer tongue with the bar under tension, is likewise exerted upon the tow vehicle and at a virtual point equal to the length of the spring bar in an equal but opposite direction. So, TW is not at a single point, specifically the trailer ball, but is rather applied across a length twice the length of the bar, but still centered on the spring bar pockets (or the trailer ball). So, in similar fashion as the weight of the trailer that rests on the rear axle pair is applied for a distance from front spring to rear most spring shackle; the weight is centered above the rear axles of the trailer. In conclusion, TW is still centered on the trailer ball. Archimedes would support me on this... if you can't trust him who can you trust?

That what I said just with less big words.

[Taranwanderer]

Archimedes? You're bringing the bathtub with you? I know you have everything in that rig including the kitchen sink, but the bathtub too?

[ZNR XLR]

GDH, WW,
You guys are smarter than I'll ever be, but I get it (I think)...WDH does not change the TW, it just redistributes it (duh). Won't say I understand the engineering, but I'm just happy I don't have to disengage the WDH to get an accurate TW on the scales. Appreciate the help.

6inthefamily....Yep, I'm going to pull it with my half ton Silverado. I'm pretty much an extended weekend campground kind of guy, so I don't anticipate having a real heavy load. The long range plan is to buy another TV in the next 2 years, but we just couldn't wait that long to buy the TH. First trip is this weekend. You'll know if I have problems because I'll be back on this forum looking for more expertise.

[lbrjet]

To get an accurate tongue weight first weigh the truck with the hitch in the receiver. Then hitch up the trailer without engaging the WDH. Go across the scales with the combo. The difference in the truck weights is your tongue weight.


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

[WolfWhistle]

ZX, you do, as was pointed out have to disengage WDH. Minimum one trip on scale with trailer making sure you get truck total weight.

[WolfWhistle]

Weigh truck without WDH but with trailer hooked up. Weigh truck without trailer. The first weight less the second equals TW.

[WolfWhistle]

If WDH moves TW to trailer and steer axles and you weigh with WDH how do you know how much weight was redistributed. You won't.