In order to successfully tow your trailer, you need to first know the tongue weight. This is the weight of the fully loaded trailers that exerts down on the hitch ball of the tow vehicle. If you’re unable to determine the tongue weight, here are several different ways to determine it.
Bathroom scale (Figure A): You can use a bathroom scale and a cinder block of smaller trailers (4-6′ Wide). Place the coupler of the loaded trailer on the scale at normal towing height. For larger trailers (7-8.5″ Wide) please refer to the other methods for your safety.
Commercial scale (Figure B): Usually for a small fee a local truck stop, quarry or material supply center will way your tow vehicle and trailer. Your vehicle and trailer must be fully loaded and fueled just as they will be when leaving for your trip. First. drive on the scale with all 4 wheels of the tow vehicle and record the weight of the vehicle and trailer attached. Secondly, unhook the trailer and jack the trailer up so there is no weight on the hitch ball while ensuring the trailer has no weight on the scale. The weight of the trailer is your Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Thirdly, subtract the GVW from the weight of the trick with the trailer attached. This will give you the approximate weight of the trailer. (A-B = Tongue Weight).
Tongue weight scale (Figure C): A Tongue Weight Scale is one of the easier, accurate & quickest ways of determining this figure. The scale can weigh a trailer tongue weight with a weight of up to 2,000 lbs. Since most tongue weights are equivalent to roughly 10-15% of the weight of the trailer, this scale can ultimately handle a gross trailer weight of up to 20,000 lbs.
Weigh safe ball mount (Figure D): Can provide the most convenient way to find your trailer’s tongue weight. The ball mount has a scale built in directly to the mount itself. This allows for an instant determination of the trailer weight eliminating the guesswork or taking the time to drive to a commercial scale. Most ball mounts are adjustable and come in a variety of different sizes.
 Figure A |
 Figure B |
 Figure C |
 Figure D |
Tongue weight scales along with Weight safe Ballmount are available through your local Snapper Trailers dealership. For more information call or submit the form submission below for more information. Thank you!
The Snapper Trailers Safety Disclaimer can be viewed here
No Fields Found.