Tongue Weight

[skipmarcy]

Another way to visually check the suspension load on a truck would be to look at the distance between the rubber bumpers on the frame to the axle/spring it contacts when the suspension is bottomed-out. I try to leave at least an inch or better before the bumpers contact. I find this is more accurate than looking at the rear bumper height although when I load my tractor I watch the rear of the truck drop and I can get the tractor positioned pretty close to perfect after doing it hundreds of times. Just moving the tractor forward or back 1 or 2 inches makes a big difference in handling !! Experiment and find your sweet spot for your tractor & trailer.

 

[newbury]

Here's a good way to calculate trailer tongue weight:
Tongue Weight Scale

 

[RWolf]

The way I do it is to drive the tractor on until the weight shifts forward. Then I step off to the side and look for a level plane between the truck and trailer (keeping in mind that my trailer and truck are set up to be level when unloaded). Anyway after that I move the tractor abit forward to place more weight on the tongue. If when driving it doesn't feel right I'll re-adjust. After a few times it becomes second nature to position it correctly. You don't want to much weight on the tongue or you'll start fish tailing when trying to slow done. Did that with a load of hay one time. One time was enough.

Good luck.

 

[Wayne's Train]

You know the best way to tell is to stop at a truck stop that has scales, drop the trailer on the scale with the tounge on the second platform and the trailor wheels on the third, all four truck tires on the first. Have them weigh everything. Then, if you really want to get technical you can move the trailor to the point where your rear trailor tires are on the third platform, your front trailor tires are on the second, drop the trailor again and the toungue should be on the first. Then reweigh. You'll know how well your load is really distributed. Then hook up your trailor again, reweigh with your front truck tires on the first platform, your rear truck tires on the second, and your trailor tires on the third. The first weigh is usually $9. Each reweigh costs $1. It doesn't take long and you'll either feel good knowing your load is well distributed, or you'll know what changes to make.

 

[Highbeam]

I do that at the closed freeway weigh stations. Our stations leave the scale window open so guys like me can weigh our trucks. The empty PJ trailer that I own was exactly 10% tongue weight when empty. The real risk is too little tongue weight which will cause sway which leads to flipped over trucks and trailers.

 

[schmism]

another easy way for tongue weight is to go to local elevator. pull the truck on the scale with the loaded trailer off the scale and weigh

then pull off the scale and unhook the trailer, put truck back on scale.

the diffrence in weights is your tongue weight. should take about 10 min to do.

 

[Duffster]

another easy way for tongue weight is to go to local elevator. pull the truck on the scale with the loaded trailer off the scale and weigh

then pull off the scale and unhook the trailer, put truck back on scale.

the diffrence in weights is your tongue weight. should take about 10 min to do.

You are exactly right

Very simple and no need to make it more complicated

 

[newbury]

another easy way for tongue weight is to go to local elevator. pull the truck on the scale with the loaded trailer off the scale and weigh

then pull off the scale and unhook the trailer, put truck back on scale.

the diffrence in weights is your tongue weight. should take about 10 min to do.

I live about 15 miles south of the Washington Monument. Do you think I could use their elevator?

Seriously, a lot of us don't live near elevators or scales. But probably more of us have bathroom scales and a board.