Can you have too much tongue weight?

[crashz]

I'd question the capability of the tongue of the trailer. Sounds like everything else is more than strong enough. But if your trailer is rated for 21K, the tongue must be designed for a 10-15% load (3150lbs) and most likely a factor of safety (lets assume 2, or 6300lbs). But I would expect bending failure to occur if you put 6300 lbs on the tongue and elastic bending to occur between 3200 and 6300 lbs. This may cause the trailer to bounce and sway.

My little 10K lb equipment trailer does this when I have it loaded, as I like to get as much tongue weight on to level the truck. It makes the load trailer straight and true. But I get some slight bending on the trailer tongue. I've really had to compromise on load position.

 

[charles todd]

All have provided good points.

Experience I have had is a load "feels" and pulls harder if it is loaded excessively tongue heavy. Move the load back to provide proper distribution of weight, the load "feels" and pulls easier. I factor it to less load on the rear tires (more weight, larger footprint).

CT

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I don't think you are going to have any problems. Pull the hoe forward any don't worry about it. You can't concentrate the weight far enough forward with a backhoe to do any harm. Personally I would have the lip of the bucket right at the header on the front of the trailer as added insurance in a panic stop.

 

[bdog]

I'd question the capability of the tongue of the trailer. Sounds like everything else is more than strong enough. But if your trailer is rated for 21K, the tongue must be designed for a 10-15% load (3150lbs) and most likely a factor of safety (lets assume 2, or 6300lbs). But I would expect bending failure to occur if you put 6300 lbs on the tongue and elastic bending to occur between 3200 and 6300 lbs. This may cause the trailer to bounce and sway.

My little 10K lb equipment trailer does this when I have it loaded, as I like to get as much tongue weight on to level the truck. It makes the load trailer straight and true. But I get some slight bending on the trailer tongue. I've really had to compromise on load position.

Good point. I think the tongue is made of two 12" 19# I beams coming together at the hitch. It is pretty heavy duty. I think the trailer weighs over 6,000 lb empty. It is a stout trailer.

 

[bdog]

I don't think you are going to have any problems. Pull the hoe forward any don't worry about it. You can't concentrate the weight far enough forward with a backhoe to do any harm. Personally I would have the lip of the bucket right at the header on the front of the trailer as added insurance in a panic stop.

When I weighed it I had the bucket against the header on the front. The header is just held on by four bolts. There is a 3' or so section on the tongue where there is a recessed box between the frame rails for chain storage. I was thinking of unbolting the header and moving the bucket forward over the chain box some. or curling it down so I can go farther forward. I think I would still have plenty of room to turn without hitting the corners of the bucket on the back of the truck.

 

[CJONE]

Good point. I think the tongue is made of two 12" 19# I beams coming together at the hitch. It is pretty heavy duty. I think the trailer weighs over 6,000 lb empty. It is a stout trailer.

Like I said in post #10, these trailers are built to have a bunch of tongue weight. + they have to withstand the rough suspensions of dump trucks Ect. Some of which have rubber blocks for springs. They are built tough. Like Redneck said we always put the bucket,forks ect aginst the front of the trailer for extra security. CJ

 

[crashz]

Good point. I think the tongue is made of two 12" 19# I beams coming together at the hitch. It is pretty heavy duty. I think the trailer weighs over 6,000 lb empty. It is a stout trailer.

That does sound heavy! I wouldn't worry in this case.

If you have enough length, you could try backing on with the backhoe. We used to do this with our 416, keeping the backhoe bucket crowded in and extending the stick to put the bucket on the deck. Kept it pretty tight to the lip of the trailer and put a lot of the load on the truck. Pulled it with a little U Model Mack, so weight on the rearend was needed.

 

[treefarmerguy]

Are you talking trailers or those studs some people stick through their tongues?:laughing:

 

[RedNeckRacin]

When I weighed it I had the bucket against the header on the front. The header is just held on by four bolts. There is a 3' or so section on the tongue where there is a recessed box between the frame rails for chain storage. I was thinking of unbolting the header and moving the bucket forward over the chain box some. or curling it down so I can go farther forward. I think I would still have plenty of room to turn without hitting the corners of the bucket on the back of the truck.

In this situation I thi k the world is your oyster. You are one of the very few with more than enough Truck. As long as you can turn and not hit the hoe with the truck, I'd play around with things. Putting the lip of the bucket against the header was just standard practice and cheap insurance in case you hadn't moved it that far forward yet.