Max Tongue Weight & Weight Distribution Hitches

[Devil6]

Ok, I’ve been operating with knowledge and some assumptions. I’m looking to answer the assumptions.

I’m looking for answers from professionals, those that are trained and licensed, and those that are highly experienced. If you aren’t either of these please add to this but keep what you’ve been told or heard to yourselves.

Facts: the max tongue weight and max payload ratings are the limits and there is no way to increase them and the weight of the trailer is the weight of the trailer.

Everything I have ever seen or learned covers: a.) how can I increase payload, (you cannot), b.) how can I increase tongue weight capacity (you cannot), c.) how does a weight distribution hitch (WDH) work (by transferring weight from the rear axle to the front truck axel and the trailer axels by creating a semi fixed sprung bridge at the pivot).

I think I get this and I’m not asking for this.

I haven’t seen anything that answers- can I reduce tongue weight by using a WDH and still maintain 10-15% trailer weight on the tongue and remain within max tongue weight rating?

For example, an empty 7,500lbs trailer may put 750 lbs on the tongue, the minimum trailer weight recommended, 10%. Both of these weights are the maximum weight ratings for the Ranger and a WDH is required.

*** My assumption is that operating at maximum rated capacities is bad and that strategies to reduce this should be employed- the WDH does this, for the tongue weight only, by balancing weight front and back so that the trailer tongue weight goes from 750 lbs to 730 lbs, for example.

Is this correct?

If it is, then trailers that are not at the maximum capacities, you could reduce tongue weight by first using a WDH and then rebalanced the trailer by positioning weight within the trailer to maintain your preferred 10-15% trailer tongue weight, all at the same time.

But, anything that causes the hitch to pivot up or down returns that weight back to the tongue, possibly exceeding max tongue weight ratings, meaning you must disconnect the WDH springs before you pivot the hitch.

Are my assumptions false?

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[Grumpaw]

Your right in that you can decrease the tongue weight by moving weight to the center, and than rear of the trailer. The entire weight will remain the same.
But, as you decrease the tongue weight to less than 10% the trailer becomes tail heavy and your almost guaranteed a very scary ride, and pretty much guaranteed to jackknife the first time yo hit your brakes hard.
Any large vehicle passing you will most likely send your entire rig into dangerous swaying and you could easily lose control, jackknife and flip over.
If your trailer is at the 750 tongue weight you can move items to the rear, but at the same time you must try to stay near the 10-15% tongue weight.
The use of a WD hitch dose not change the weight of the trailer or the tongue weight, and does not "subtract" weight from the tongue....it does transfer "weight" to the front of the tow vehicle for a more stable ride.
So, whether you load the trailer before or after you hook up with a WD hitch, the tongue weight is still there.
You can lower the tongue weight by moving cargo closer to the axles or behind the axles, but at the same time you must still balance the load so you still have the 10-15% on the hitch. Doing this does not increase the max weight over the 7500 lbs...your just redistributing the weight.
Also, remember, your still limited by the gross combined weight of the truck/trailer....so even if the weight is redistributed in any way you wish to do, the gross weight remains the same.....basically no matter how you move/distribute/transfer weight, it is still all there.
Using your 7500/750 lb empty trailer as it sits. If you remove the battery, usually positioned at the front, it weighs lets say 40 lbs.
Take it off the front, and move it to the back, you still have 7500 lb, but now your tongue weight is 710 lbs. But, it does not mean you can now load another 40 lbs to the front, as that would bump the trailer to 7540 lbs. And, when you removed the 40 lbs from the front, you may have decreased the front percentage to 8 or 9%, less than the recommended 10-15%.

 

[Devil6]

Your right in that you can decrease the tongue weight by moving weight to the center, and than rear of the trailer. The entire weight will remain the same.
But, as you decrease the tongue weight to less than 10% the trailer becomes tail heavy and your almost guaranteed a very scary ride, and pretty much guaranteed to jackknife the first time yo hit your brakes hard.
Any large vehicle passing you will most likely send your entire rig into dangerous swaying and you could easily lose control, jackknife and flip over.
If your trailer is at the 750 tongue weight you can move items to the rear, but at the same time you must try to stay near the 10-15% tongue weight.
The use of a WD hitch dose not change the weight of the trailer or the tongue weight, and does not "subtract" weight from the tongue....it does transfer "weight" to the front of the tow vehicle for a more stable ride.
So, whether you load the trailer before or after you hook up with a WD hitch, the tongue weight is still there.
You can lower the tongue weight by moving cargo closer to the axles or behind the axles, but at the same time you must still balance the load so you still have the 10-15% on the hitch. Doing this does not increase the max weight over the 7500 lbs...your just redistributing the weight.
Also, remember, your still limited by the gross combined weight of the truck/trailer....so even if the weight is redistributed in any way you wish to do, the gross weight remains the same.....basically no matter how you move/distribute/transfer weight, it is still all there.
Using your 7500/750 lb empty trailer as it sits. If you remove the battery, usually positioned at the front, it weighs lets say 40 lbs.
Take it off the front, and move it to the back, you still have 7500 lb, but now your tongue weight is 710 lbs. But, it does not mean you can now load another 40 lbs to the front, as that would bump the trailer to 7540 lbs. And, when you removed the 40 lbs from the front, you may have decreased the front percentage to 8 or 9%, less than the recommended 10-15%.

Thanks.

Then my assumption is false.

For example, a 750lb tongue weight cannot be reduced by using a WDH to transfer weight to the front axel. The 750lbs remains on the tongue regardless but, only the rear axel weight has been reduced.

 

[ControlNode]

Right, WDH does not reduce the weight on the tongue, the bars help to "project" a portion of the weight forward through leverage to prevent having too light a steer axle and improve stability. On the Ranger there is not requirement for a WDH, using one is purely optional, but does not hurt since it can make it more stable and keep the truck better balanced. In theory the only number the WDH can help with is rear axle weight limit, if you are right at it, the WDH should actually remove some and project it to the front axle. But I would never plan my load around requiring a WDH on the Ranger.

Sidenote, F-150 requires WDH with trailers >= 5,000lbs.

 

[VAMike]

The WDH will actually increase tongue weight because the WDH has weight itself.

 

[Grumpaw]

The WDH will actually increase tongue weight because the WDH has weight itself.

Nope....the hitch is attached to the truck....it becomes part of the trucks weight as it is considered a load, just as if it were placed in the bed.

 

[VAMike]

Nope....the hitch is attached to the truck....it becomes part of the trucks weight as it is considered a load, just as if it were placed in the bed.

sorry, you're right; it technically only reduces the payload, but that often does affect how much payload is left for tongue weight if you're already near the payload capacity.

the point I was trying to make while rushing over the details is that the WDH doesn't magically make anything lighter--there is a cost to adding it and that needs to be accounted for

 

[Big Blue]

sorry, you're right; it technically only reduces the payload, but that often does affect how much payload is left for tongue weight if you're already near the payload capacity.

the point I was trying to make while rushing over the details is that the WDH doesn't magically make anything lighter--there is a cost to adding it and that needs to be accounted for

Tongue weight can be a bit confusing to people. Look at it this way. It is the weight that is on the ball of the hitch. It can be adjusted by moving things about in the trailer, and should be between 10 and 15 percent of the total unhitched trailer weight. The type of hitch does not change it.

Now for confusing part. It is considered part of the trailers Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) when looked towing capacity. It is considered part of the trucks payload when looking at the tow vehicles Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). The weight of the hitch assembly is also considered as part of the tow vehicles payload. It sounds like is being counted twice, but not really. It is only counted once in the number that really counts the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW).

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