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How Do I Determine Gross Trailer Weight And Tongue Weight Capacities For A Trailer Hitch?
Home » Automobiles » Trailer Hitches » How Do I Determine Gross Trailer Weight And Tongue Weight Capacities For A Trailer Hitch?The two most important factors in selecting towing equipment are gross trailer weight (GTW) and tongue weight (TW).
To select the right trailer hitch, you will need some information about the tow vehicle and trailer. For the trailer you will need the gross trailer weight, the weight of the trailer fully loaded in its actual towing condition. Gross trailer weight is measured by placing the fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale. The entire weight of the trailer should be supported on the scale.
Tongue weight is the downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer coupler. In most cases, it is about 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight. Tongue weight of up to 300 pounds can be measured on a household scale by resting the trailer coupler on the scale and placing the scale on a box so that the coupler is at its normal towing height. The trailer must be fully loaded and level.
To obtain the tongue weight, multiply the scale reading by three. For greater tongue weights, place the scale and brick four feet apart, rest the jack on the beam three feel from the scale and multiply the scale reading by four.
Like the trailer, the tow vehicle has a maximum weight capacity it was designed to tow. Its maximum towing capacity can be found in the owner manual.
Resources:
WWW.HITCH-WEB.COM
WWW.HITCHESONLINE.COM
WWW.ETRAILER.COM
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- How Do I Determine Gross Trailer Weight And Tongue Weight Capacities For A Trailer Hitch?