Trailer tongue weight question

[Bob 04 H260]

I've towed sailboats a fair bit, sometimes from Canada to Florida (1600 miles) in the winter through the mountains.
My experience has been, if the tow vehicle can handle it, the more weight on the ball the better. The gear in the boat can often be moved to adjust the weight distribution, just like trimming the boat on the water.
I found towing a sailboat it is best to keep the ball height adjusted so the bow is down a bit. Otherwise when a tractor trailer comes toward you the wind will get under the hull and lift all the weight off the ball. The boat will go into little wiggle. If the drivers window is down you will hear the clunk as the hitch on the trailer lifts up off the ball.
The tow vehicle should be loaded so it is level. The longer the tow vehicles wheel base is the better.

Just my experience, Bob

 

[Bill Roosa]

Why are you even trying to do this? 25 to 50 lb would seem to be pretty easy to move from the truck to the boat (or vica verca) or just do as Ross suggests redistribute the weight inside the boat.
Perhaps I'm missing something.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Again, you need 10% of the towing weight on the ball hitch; otherwise a trailer balanced evenly on the axle/axles will pop off the trailer hitch ball. That is one reason why you want the weight for safety at 10% which is why all the institutes, manufactures, etc. suggest. The height of the hitch ball makes no squat as to weight. I use to set up tow vehicles so the ball hitch would raise the trailer frame so it is level with the road. That also helped to stop the sway when a tractor trailer passed me from occurring. My experience came from towing over 1 million plus miles of trailerable sailboats privately and as a dealer plus designing trailers. Also, I had my share of accidents while towing which except for one, were the fault of the other driver. The exception is towing a boat for a friend which I felt it was too light on the ball hitch but agreed. Thank goodness I hooked up the safety chains when he said he never did which saved the boat from getting damaged.

 

[Sailor Sue]

Thanks, and clarification.

The first response from kloudie 1 was what I was looking for - a formula to figure how moving the axle any amount would change the tongue weight. The figures I used were only a rough guesstimate of my situation to make the example simple.

My objective is to lessen tongue weight as much as is safely possible so the rear of my tow vehicle stays as high as possible. (My outboard, rudder and tool box are carried behind the rear axle of my van.) Other information on the web and dscribner's reply indicate that tongue weight on a tandem axle trailer can be less than the 10% most often sited. To Rick Webb, it would take me longer to do the math with your formulas than to just slide the axles forward a couple of inches and weigh the tongue - but I will keep the one diagram in mind if I need to find the center of gravity of a tank.

Again, thanks to all who read and replied.

 

[Ross]

Re: Thanks, and clarification.

Or you could return the outboard to the boat and get the weight out of the truck and behind the axles on the trailer.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Have you considered an "Equalizer Hitch"? This type of hitch spreads the trailer weight and tongue weight clear through the towing vehicle and also stop sway. I have used one for years on my camping trailer, boat and equipment trailers. This would prepare your tow vehicle for many different uses. They run about $500.
Ray

 

[EnginesForward]

Re: Center of Balance and Center of Gravity

Eor my V22 I took the weight of the trailer,boat and contents found that tounge weight should be 15%. Took a bathroom scale with a piece of to protect the scale reset the zero. Then I moved the Carriage that has the axles attached and moved it forward or back to adjust the tongue weight. I got the 15% figure from the Dept of Motor Vehicles and the trailer manufacturer.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Sailor Sue;

I will suggest that if going that route, when you do pull the trailer, if it starts to sway, readjust the tongue weight for your own safety. I pulled boat trailers for a living. Good luck and I have nothing more to say

 

[Chris Patterson]

Putting weight behind the drive axles of a truck is also part of the equation. It takes weight off of the steer, making the tow squirrelly. If the trailer has its weight equalized on the axle, a vehicle will barely stay in the road at fifty mph unless you are towing it with a one-ton dually. From my experience, I would go with Dave's advice..