Written by: Rachel S.

Last Updated: 9/16/2024

Time to read: 10 mins.

What Exactly Is Trailer Tongue weight?

Tongue weight, also known as hitch weight, can be defined as the weight applied to the tow vehicle’s hitch ball. Proper tongue weight allows the trailer and tow vehicle to be connected and balanced, which provides a safer and smoother driving experience. Still a bit confused? Keep reading!

Jump to section:

Why is Tongue Weight Important?
How Much Tongue Weight Can Your Trailer Handle?
How Do I Measure Tongue Weight?

Why is Tongue Weight Important?

Tongue weight (or TW) is a key factor when it comes to safe towing. It is the constant downward force a trailer tongue applies to the ball of a hitch — a force that must be balanced! Without proper tongue weight, there would be no safe connection.

For my visual learners, picture a seesaw. A seesaw’s balance comes from having an equal distribution of weight on both sides. If an extra person hops on one side, there's too much weight, and the seesaw won't work properly. Similarly, tongue weight on a trailer requires proper weight distribution for safe travel. Too much tongue weight can cause the tow vehicle to squat where too little weight can cause the trailer to ride nose high. The end result? An extremely uncomfortable--and sometimes dangerous--ride.

How Much Tongue Weight Can your Trailer Handle?

Proper tongue weight is 10 to 15 percent of your loaded trailer weight. For example, if your trailer is 10,000 lbs when loaded, the ideal tongue weight would be 1,000 (10%) to 1,500 lbs (15%).

For trailers that aren’t towed with hitch balls, like fifth wheels and gooseneck trailers, you'll instead look at pin weight. Pin weight is the downward force being applied to the hitch in the bed of a truck. For example, a 13,000-lb fifth wheel may have a pin weight anywhere from 1,950 lbs (15%) to 3,250 lbs (25%).

For the best traveling experience, we recommend making sure your tongue weight is within safe limits each time you tow. If you haul the same lawn equipment each day, you know your tongue weight will be consistent. On the other hand, if you’re hauling a bed set today, a new fridge tomorrow, and a pile of lumber the day after that, you’ll want to check it before each trip as weight distribution will change.

Proper tongue weight can be the difference between a positive towing experience and a life-threatening one. Too much tongue weight means the majority of your trailer load is on the front end of the trailer, which may overload your rear vehicle tires. This can lead to an uncomfortable ride, damage your equipment (tires, trailer, etc.), or even lead to a dangerous “jackknife'' situation and increased chance of an accident. (Jackknifing refers to that “V” formation you see when a trailer swings up beside a truck. This is not what you want while driving down the highway - you don’t want to be that person!)

On the contrary, too little tongue weight may result in trailer sway, also called fishtailing. If you ever experience either of these issues, don’t slam on your brakes. Instead, reduce your speed and pull off at the closest safe place, then adjust your cargo to either add or reduce weight to the front of your trailer.

How Do I Measure Tongue Weight?

There are many ways to determine your tongue weight, including commercial scales, mobile apps, and tongue weight scales you can use in your own driveway! We discuss a variety of ways to measure tongue weight

here.

Although if you're measuring the pin weight of your fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer, the commercial scale is your only option at this time.

However you choose to measure the hitch weight, we hope to assist you along the way. We want to ensure that when you hit the highway, you and your cargo are both safe and sound!

About Rachel S.

One of our core values at etrailer is to be skilled. This means taking the time to research and learn about each product or concept inside and out. I am always eager to expand my expertise. Whether it’s attending product demonstration meetings to learn about the best ratchet strap features, absorbing customer feedback through reviews, or spending the day at a campground shooting help videos for first-time RV owners, I can always count on receiving an important takeaway.

It is my privilege to listen to your concerns, help you understand crucial concepts, recommend the right products, and continue to be a resource throughout your journey. As a visual learner myself, I strive to paint concepts in a manner that is easy to grasp, and I greet each learning opportunity with a smile. My job is to answer all the questions you didn’t even know you had!

Determining Trailer Tongue Weight

Written by: Rachel S
Last Updated: 8/29/2024

Andy B.

10/3/2025

Would a single axle trailer tend to have more tongue weight than a two axle trailer ? Does the weight spread out better on a two axle trailer as opposed to a single axle ?

Jesse M.

10/3/2025

@AndyB It really depends on the trailer. Typically single axle trailers would have lower GVWR compared to a tandem axle so the tongue weight would be lower, but this depends on how the trailer is loaded. Generally for single or tandem axle trailers the tongue weight will be around 10%-15% of the GVWR

Jannene

4/27/2025

I have a very small trailer that the dry weight is 855 lbs the GVWR is 2600 lbs after building out the inside my weight is at 1,400 lbs how do i calculate how high my tongue weight can be? The manufacturer states the tongue weight is 125 lbs I am assuming that it is dry weight.

Jerred H.

5/8/2025

@Jannene The tongue weight for your trailer shouldn't be any higher than 15% of your trailer's total weight. You'll want to keep it in the 10% -15% range when you've got it loaded. You can use the Big Truck Big RV Tongue Weight Scale item # BTBRV44FR to check your tongue weight. This will take the guessing out and let you move your cargo around to stay below 15% of your trailer's total weight.

Glenn H.

2/6/2025

I am considering purchasing a travel trailer that the manufacturer states the tongue weight is 1425# is that the best weight for the trailer or is it a variable. The reason I ask is that my truck has a 1400# limit. Can I load the trailer so the weight is within the truck's limit without compromising safety?

Robin H.

2/6/2025

@GlennH is that the dry tongue weight? That is typically the number manufacturers provide and would be with nothing loaded in the trailer at all. Once you add any cargo to the trailer that will become quite a bit higher. It is unlikely you will be able to safely load it in a way to offset it and tow it with your vehicle. Also, if you're adding anything like batteries and propane to the front you're going to be well over before you load anything else in the trailer.

Glenn H.

2/7/2025

@RobinH I might assume that, since it is listed in the specs. I am looking at a toy hauler TT and was thinking the weight of my "toy" behind the axles might reduce this and anything else I put in at the rear of the trailer. My Toy weight is around 700 lbs.

Robin H.

2/8/2025

@GlennH since it is a toy hauler it will be designed to have the weight of your toy back there. You can still expect 10-15% of the loaded weight to be tongue weight. This is also important for stability. If you were able to alter it significantly by overloading the rear with weight you would have a different set of problems.

Robin H.

2/8/2025

@GlennH Ford can say 10% but that isn't going to fall in line with reality. Many trailers sit at 12-13% which is perfectly fine and how they're designed. The Grand Design Momentum 30G is in fact at 1,425 lbs of tongue weight by design with nothing else in it. That high tongue weight is even more than 15% of the unloaded weight of the trailer. The exact reason behind their design falls a little outside of my expertise but if I had to guess, that high tongue weight is probably like that to help offset whatever you decide to load in the back. You can ask Grand Design but I'm willing to bet that is the reason so even something as awesome as a helicopter won't reduce it like you're wanting. Again, this doesn't even factor in propane tanks or batteries which typically sit on the tongue. Your typical 20 lb propane tank weighs 37 lbs when full. I'm sure you would have two on there so that is another 74 lbs of tongue weight. For the sake of the example add two Group 24 batteries on there and that is another 80-100 lbs up front. Realistically, the solution would be to move to an F-250 or F-350 with a higher capacity. You will also have a much better towing experience compared to the F-150 with a trailer that weighs 13,000 lbs.

See All (6) Replies to Glenn H. ∨

Don C.

12/24/2024

Stating exactly which components are included in measuring tongue weight has been overlooked in this article. In all my research on articles about towing, no one discusses if the draw bar is included in the weight calculation. Perhaps this is obvious, but even obvious details need to be stated when providing technical descriptions. By my estimation, the rated tongue weight includes everything attached to the receiver, including the draw bar (ball mount), extensions and adapters (if used). Certainly, knowing the tongue weight of the towed vehicle is mandatory. I've been towing for decades and have a new variation of tongue weights to consider which puts my tongue weight close to the limit. In addition to the tongue weight of my utility trailer, there will be several addition loads to my hitch which include a draw bar, dual receiver adapter, two ebikes and a bike rack... this all adds up!

Jon G.

12/24/2024

@DonC Definitely understand where you're coming from. I gotta be honest here and say I don't have all of the answers, and mainly because the manufacturers all have their own opinions as well. It would stand to reason that the ball mount adds to the tongue weight, but if you talk to any of the ball mount manufacturers they'll tell you that the ball mount basically becomes an extension of the hitch receiver itself which is why it isn't calculated with the tongue weight. One thing to keep in mind is that a dual receiver like you're planning on using will cut the tongue weight rating of your hitch receiver in half. If you can give me some insight into the weights you're calculating I'd be more than happy to offer any alternative options if you're willing to hear them!

Donc

12/28/2024

@JonG Hi Jon and appreciate your thoughts! I'm still gathering all the weight data so I know, "exactly what is hanging off my receiver, and really, how close to the spec am I?" For starters (interestingly!) Newmar specs 400# tongue while the receiver manufacturer states 500#, so I see what you mean about OPs! Reportedly, the trailer tongue is 223# so that doesn't leave much for rack, bikes, draw bar, and dual adapter, if one is truly limited to 400#. And not to neglect, clearances! (I don't see a way to attach anything, otherwise....). Picture a dual ebike rack hanging (precariously?) over the front of a Can Am Spyder on a Stinger trailer! I have my work cut out for me! And one other comment on what I've often read, "...dual receiver adapters cut the tongue weight rating of your hitch receiver in half", but I haven't seen this explained. Four-hundred pounds of downward force, at a right angle to gravity of course, is FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS...! Me being a ME, I ask, what exactly does that mean and how do you come up with half? For example, if my toad tongue is ~50#, then the balance available (w/400# rating) on the second 2" hole is 350#. So how is that half? Or is it meant, add the adapter and all you can load (for both 2") is 200#? Maybe I'm just not considering something? Static vs. dynamic motion is a whole different thing to consider when looking at forces, go ol' gravity, moment arms, and all that! And not the least of which... how well was that weld done!? I am drawing all this up in CAD and perhaps I'll run it by you guys for consideration, more brains on a problem yield better results!

Jon G.

12/30/2024

@Donc Thanks for the visual and additional insight! I agree with your logic, but none of the manufacturers agree with it, which is who we need to listen to since they've tested the parts out and hold all the power when it comes to a warranty. What I recommend doing in your instance is using the Gen-Y Hitch Setup # 325-GH-304, which only weighs in at 23.5 lbs, so you can put your bikes up higher and still have room for a ball mount on the lower receiver to tow your trailer. If your loaded trailer tongue weight is 223 lbs then even if we add this Gen-Y to your calculations it bumps that number up to 245 lbs and leaves us with 155 lbs for your e-bikes and rack. The Hollywood Racks Destination E-Bike Rack # HLY66ZR then weighs in at only 46 lbs which means you have 109 lbs left for your e-bikes.

Jay R.

4/1/2023

I pull a Tow Dolly with only the front wheels of a 3cyl fwd Chevy Metro on it, behind a 30' Tiffin Alegro motorhome. I am concerned about the tongue weight ballance & also the tongue weight overload on the motorhome overhang. Any suggestions?

Mike L.

4/4/2023

@JayR A vehicle that is towed using a tow dolly applies minimal tongue weight to the tow vehicle, so you should have zero problems. Since the front vehicle wheels usually sit just inboard from the tow dolly wheels, the vehicle engine usually sits atop the dolly's axle so it won't apply much in the way of tongue weight. A few pounds. yes. Enough to worry about, certainly not. Hope that helps! Check out the linked article, hope you'll find it helpful!

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