Tongue weight

[locknut]

I have a new trailer that weighs 440 lbs.My old trailer weighed 820 lbs,but the tongue weight on this new one is heavier,@ 80 lbs.I have to move it by hand about 30 ft after unhitching to place it where it needs to be parked and it's a little uphill.The new trailer has a jackstand with a wheel on it but that feature is no help with a loose crushed stone pad.I can add weight to the back and remove the jack,so how much do I dare lighten this tongue and not get in trouble pulling it empty down the road?

 

[Turbys_1700]

Rule of thumb I think is 10% minimum tongue weight of the loaded trailer for bumper pulls...15% to 20% for fifth wheels...
If you move the axles back I do not know what the dynamics are based on the length of trailer versus placement of axles...
It is better to be a little heavy on the front versus a little heavy on the back...
If you move those axles back I would not go less than 50# tongue weight for the empty trailer...

 

[locknut]

So,theoretically I can take it down to 44 lbs.That would be a lot better than 80 bs on this old back.I'll try it and see how it pulls.Thanks.

 

[RWK in WI]

I have found a "trailer dolly" works much better for moving a trailer than a jack wheel. Try Northern Tools for a trailer dolly.

 

[Diamondpilot]

10% is good but why not just try some weights on the rear when ready to move?

Chris

 

[bdog]

Two possible solutions for you.

1) Use your tractor to move it. Mount a ball on your bucket and push the trailer where it needs to go. I have 7 trailers and move them around this was all the time.

2) Add some weight the back of the trailer when you are moving it by hand. Nothing permanent. I was thinking maybe an 80lb bag of quickcrete that you could just set on the very back of the trailer while you are pushing it by hand.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Rocks are not good when pushing a trailer but I don't see the tongue weight being excessive. As Diamondpilot suggests, just put some weight on the rear to lighten the load, maybe have your wife or kid balance the tongue weight by moving to the rear to the correct point and just taking a seat. If you have a golf cart, ATV etc, put a hitch on the front and use that to back the trailer into the spot. I use my Kubota RTV and you can really pin point the position of the trailer when pushing it with a motorized vehicle from the front. It does take a bit of getting used to the steering (move left for the trailer to go right) but it beats pushing them for sure.

 

[locknut]

10% is good but why not just try some weights on the rear when ready to move?

Chris

It's a tilt bed with no endgate.I'm thinking of using barbell weights bolted under the back as I have plenty of them and would be low profile/hidden from sight.I'm taking it to the fab shop in a couple days to see about making an endgate so loose items won't roll off the back and fab up a light weight foot under the tongue.

 

[Harold_J]

Bolting permanent weights on the rear would be a bad idea. Maybe if you have the gate added it will lighten the tongue enough for your needs.

 

[aczlan]

I would get a trailer dolly long before I added weight to the rear. Here is an example of one: Ultra-Tow Trailer Dolly — 600-Lb. Capacity, Pneumatic Tires | Trailer Dollies| Northern Tool + Equipment


Aaron Z