Weight guru's---need help

[Broadway Joe]

Just finished replacing both axles on my Wildwood TT and having them aligned. Stopped at the Cat Scales on the way home and have some numbers. This is for my Silverado 1/2 ton heavy duty tow pkge straight hookup no w/d hitch

Front Rear Total fully loaded no trailer
3080 2460 5540

2780 3580 4420 10780 trailer hooked up

-300 + 1120 -820 10780

My trailer should weigh 5240 by my calculation

I am thinking of buying an Equalizer Brand W/D hitch and 1000 lb bars, does that look right

[Dave_Monica]

Yes...looks like a 820 lb tongue weight so camper total weight is 5240 which is 15.6% tongue weight...a little higher than it needs to be. Is anything loaded into the camper at all? If it isn't loaded, would the added weight reduce or increase tongue weight?

A 1000 lb W/D bar should be okay and you could stand to bias loading weight to the back of the camper if that's possible.

Dave

[Broadway Joe]

Trailer is fully loaded except clothing which hangs in rear closet, and some fresh food. All tanks are empty, so it's almost exactly as I plan on towing within 100 lbs. I am looking at moving a little of the weight to the front tv axles and equl amount off rear tv axles.

[Dave_Monica]

I believe the guideline is to move at least half the weight lost. You've lost 300 lbs of weight off the front axle, you'll want to shift at least 150 lb to the front with the W/D bars...I'd try for a little more. Part of the weight removed from the rear axle with the W/D hitch is also transferred to the camper's axles.

There's good write-ups on-line to set up your hitch should you require them.

Dave

[Broadway Joe]

Thanks Dave, appreciate the input.

[ptt87]

Forgive my ignorance...how did you calculate the 820 lb tongue weight?

[Broadway Joe]

Tow vehicle weighs 5540 3080 front 2460 rear
gross weight 10780 so trailer weighs 5240

combined tv front 2780 rear 3580 trailer 4420

rear tire weight 3580 - 2460 equals 1120 minus 300 lbs transferred from front = 820