I have often heard, and read on the web, that a rear pull type trailer tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer gross weight. Does anyone know if this is covered in some federal or state regulations? If so what is the reg and where can it be found? I need this for my work.
Trailer tongue weight regulations
- Thread starter psj12
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Builder
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It's not a regulation, but more a rule of thumb or guideline.
Bird
Rest in Peace
Like Builder, I've never known of any law, statute, or regulation related to tongue weights; just a good guideline for safety.
NSBound
Platinum Member
Same here. I just checked our provincial driver's handbook and it's not even mentioned. On trailer websites it shows this kind of recommended weights :
RECOMMENDED HITCH WEIGHT PERCENTAGES
TYPE OF TRAILER
PERCENT OF WT. ON TONGUE
Single Axle
10% minimum/15% maximum
Tandem Axle
9% to 15%
Travel Trailer
11% to 12%
5th Wheel
15% to 25%
RECOMMENDED HITCH WEIGHT PERCENTAGES
TYPE OF TRAILER
PERCENT OF WT. ON TONGUE
Single Axle
10% minimum/15% maximum
Tandem Axle
9% to 15%
Travel Trailer
11% to 12%
5th Wheel
15% to 25%
Diamondpilot
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If you have too much or too little you will not need a cop to tell you. I have towed both ways and its unpleasant and really unsafe. Too little is way more dangerous in 99% of the circumstances than too much. Too much just puts a strain on the rear end and can make steering a little harder but not as much as too little weight.
Chris
Chris
DIRTROAD
Platinum Member
The only law that might apply in the instance of too much tongue weight would be an overloaded rear axle on the towing vehicle, but as others have said just step back and look at the whole rig and you'll be able to tell.
Bird
Rest in Peace
I'll never forget about learning about too little tongue weight when I was 16 years old, pulling an old single axle utility trailer with a clamp-on bumper hitch on my 1946 Chevrolet sedan.
When that thing started fishtailing at about 50 mph, it provided a great deal more excitement than I wanted. Fortunately, no other traffic in sight and I got it back under control with no damage, but you can bet I never did that again.
When that thing started fishtailing at about 50 mph, it provided a great deal more excitement than I wanted. Fortunately, no other traffic in sight and I got it back under control with no damage, but you can bet I never did that again.radman1
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I got a ticket at a weigh station for too much tongue weight. I had a 16' 10000 lb rated trailer carrying a Kubota B7100. A subcut tractor and not very heavy. I thought I would just put it to the front so I could tie it down more securely. Went through a weigh station and got asked to come inside for a visit. It seems my F250 crew cab, gasser pickup didn't have enough leeway for weight. I had a tool box in the back and the overall weight of the truck, toolbox and relatively mild tongue weight put me over the top by 300-400 lbs. Unknown to me the truck was liscensed for 9K lbs. The truck and toolbox alone was within 500 lbs of max. I suspect if I was carrying 6 adults, it would have been over loaded. Later, I got farm plates for the same liscensing fee but now rated for 26,000 lbs total truck and trailer weight. Go figure. I am sure I could have just driven by the weigh station and never had an issue.
But where you ticketed for to much tongue weight or for being over licensed weight?
