Tongue weight

Research shows to have 10-15% of trailer weight on the tongue. Anyone with many more years of experience than I, have insight on erring on the side of more,15%, or less, 10% on the tongue?

Just picked up an Intech Explore which is going to carry a 4 wheeler or our dual sports. And trailer sway is not something I ever want to experience again after a failed tow of a big old typical RV.

I also picked up a weigh safe tongue scale hitch which, to me is awesome so far showing the tongue weight in real time as I load it up.

Cheers!

 

There is no harm in going with 15% or more even if the trailer tows fine at 10%, as long as you aren’t overloading the truck.

 

Oh yeah well aware of the payload of the truck number. Hence why I got an intech, all aluminum frame 13'9" trailer. Dry weight at 1500 ish and can carry 1000lbs of gear. GVWR at 2990.

Thanks I was thinking I'd rather more weight be on the tongue than on the rear.

 

My previous travel trailer ran about 18% on the hitch and was fine. I think it's more of an issue if you are down under 10% on the hitch than if you are over 15% on it.

 

I think it depends on the trailer, axle placement, and weight placement. My TT tows amazing between 10-11%. Above 12% and it is very clearly nose heavy, most notable on bumps and can be seen on tire temps.

 

On my Lance I like how it behaves with a heavy tongue... it's fine with 12% but it's better with 15.

 

Can you provide a few details about your Lance ie. model, tongue weight? I"m considering one.....

 

Looks like a 1685. I had one a few years ago and it was nice. My kids got too big, but it’s more than enough space for 2 people.

https://www.lancecamper.com/travel-trailers/1685/

 

More is typically better than less if erring, but neither extreme is good. With a trailer that small, it would be hard to overload your truck, but putting too much weight behind the trailer axles will cause you lots of issues on the road. Little trailers get really squirrelly when you don’t have enough tongue weight.

 

Thank you