How do you determine tongue weight?

[dlhort1955]

I have a 16 foot utility trailer to put my old car in. I also have an FX4 so I can tow 4000 pounds. What is the best way to determine the tongue weight so I have the car held down in the right place on the trailer? Thank you.

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[Master Blaster]

Unless your trailer was home-built, you should have a sticker showing the trailer empty and fully loaded weights. Your tongue weight should be about 10% of what you're hauling, including the trailer itself. If you're unsure of how much you're hauling, go through either a roadside inspection station or maybe a garbage dump where they weigh you.

 

[Gray Goose]

Here are a few different methods: https://www.curtmfg.com/trailer-parts/couplers/learn-more

 

[Redline]

A car plus a 16' trailer must be over 4000 lbs, no? Even with the 4k tow package, that seems like a lot for the Maverick.

 

[LSchicago]

A car plus a 16' trailer must be over 4000 lbs, no? Even with the 4k tow package, that seems like a lot for the Maverick.

Depending on the car. If it's the Model T speedster the OP has as a profile pic, it should be less than 1,500 pounds.

 

[BlueSpec1]

Measure the Tongue Weight.
Hopkins Medical Products EZ Carry 550LB Digital Scale
Fastway SIMPLE WEIGH Tongue Weight Scale
Sherline LM 1000 - Trailer Tongue Weight Scale - 1000LB

Notes: • Combined weight of vehicle and trailer cannot exceed listed GCWR.
• Do not exceed the Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight listed.
• Maverick calculated with SAE J2807 ® method.

 

[dlhort1955]

A car plus a 16' trailer must be over 4000 lbs, no? Even with the 4k tow package, that seems like a lot for the Maverick.

The car is a 1924 Model T speedster. You see it in my Avatar. Weighs about 1500 lbs. Two sheets of plywood on top of a chassis.

 

[The Real Maverick]

With that small car, have 2 wheels forward of the trailer axle(s) and two behind and you'll be in decent shape. Put heavier (engine?) end forward.

Also you can tell if it's grossly too much forward if your Maverick squats a lot.

With 300-400 pounds on the hitch point the truck should be about level. Squat should not be noticeable to the casual passer-by.

 

[Derwood]

I have a 16 foot utility trailer to put my old car in. I also have an FX4 so I can tow 4000 pounds. What is the best way to determine the tongue weight so I have the car held down in the right place on the trailer? Thank you.

You can buy a hitch with a tongue weight gauge built in.

 

[The Real Maverick]

You can buy a hitch with a tongue weight gauge built in.

Sure can.
But unless you do something really unusual, you're not going to need it.

 

[Decayed]

Did they make 4k towing a requirement for FX4? It used to be separate at least it was for '22. You may want to dig into that a bit more unless someone else can chime in.

 

[Derwood]

Sure can.
But unless you do something really unusual, you're not going to need it.

Yep. As long as one knows the weight of the trailer being pulled staying under the towing rating of the vehicle and it sits relatively level when hooked up one is usually good to go.

 

[SVTRIDE]

I have a 16 foot utility trailer to put my old car in. I also have an FX4 so I can tow 4000 pounds. What is the best way to determine the tongue weight so I have the car held down in the right place on the trailer? Thank you.

Just measure it…no doubts then...
https://www.sherline.com/product/sherline-trailer-tongue-weight-scale/#description

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