How to gauge your trailer's tongue weight on an ongoing basis

[KiotiKowboy]

why are you worried about tongue weight on an 1 7/8" ball?

Not. It's just a matter of convenience. Albeit rarely, I have pulled small ball trailers. No biggie - just saying it would be nice if this hitch could fully substitute for a B&W Tow & Stow tri-ball.

 

[locknut]

I think it would be a neat idea to have a sensor built into the ball and a small monitor you could Velcro to the dash to give a weight reading.Something similar to the TPMS system.

 

[check]

I think it would be a neat idea to have a sensor built into the ball and a small monitor you could Velcro to the dash to give a weight reading.Something similar to the TPMS system.

OK, great idea. Build it, and I will be your first customer!

 

[bigtiller]

I am looking for a convenient way to measure my tongue weight, while adjusting my BX25 location and spare implement location on my 18' trailer. I have a 2" receiver hitch on my 2014 F150, and a (non-wheeled) trailer jack on the front of the trailer. If you think about the logistics, you would want to have the trailer attached to the truck while loading and/or adjusting the location of your load, but then you would have have to disconnect it and jack it up off the trailer ball in order to weigh the tongue weight. Also, since my trailer is a 7K model, I need a scale that can take at least 700 lbs, so your average bathroom scale is not going to work!

So, my fellow TBNers, any creative ideas that don't cost an arm and a leg would be much appreciated!

Use a fulcrum, staff and a bathroom scale.

Put the fulcrum 1' to the side of the trailer hitch.
Put a 10' staff (a 2x4 works) on the fulcrum and under the trailer hitch.
Put the bathroom scale 10' away, stand on it, lift the staff until the hitch raises off the ball.
Read the scale.
After subtracting your weight, if you have 80 pounds, multiply 80 times 10 (staff length) and the hitch weight is 800 pounds.

 

[jimrs]

I have not towed my B2320 yet as my trailer is too small. But here is a picture of it being delivered by the dealer on a 18ft trailer. Yours is smaller than mine so just about even with the first tire should be close?

 

[Cord]

I have a 2011 F150, EB, Max tow. What I do is I have the mrs stand away from the truck watching the gap between the rear wheels. When the gap closes by 2", the tongue weight is about right.

If you really need the weight, you could use a regular scale and a lever to reduce the scale weight. It'll take some math, but it'll get the job done.