New 19 tongue weight - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Towing and Hitching
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-01-2017, 08:56 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
New 19 tongue weight

Hello! Wondering if anyone has a new design (2017) 19 who has measured loaded tongue weight? Considering one of these if I can't find a "classic" pre-owned 19. But, admittedly limited online info suggests the new design is substantially heavier especially on the tongue. I cannot change TV so am concerned about this. Any real world Info most appreciated!
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2017, 09:02 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milpitas, California
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 347
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlNH View Post
Hello! Wondering if anyone has a new design (2017) 19 who has measured loaded tongue weight? Considering one of these if I can't find a "classic" pre-owned 19. But, admittedly limited online info suggests the new design is substantially heavier especially on the tongue. I cannot change TV so am concerned about this. Any real world Info most appreciated!
we have a weight safe hitch and it usually reads a little above 400lb
caddoster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2017, 09:15 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
arniesea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlNH View Post
Hello! Wondering if anyone has a new design (2017) 19 who has measured loaded tongue weight? Considering one of these if I can't find a "classic" pre-owned 19. But, admittedly limited online info suggests the new design is substantially heavier especially on the tongue. I cannot change TV so am concerned about this. Any real world Info most appreciated!
If you have the Tow Package on your Highlander with the 5,000# tow capacity, you are fine. There are folks on this forum towing 21’ Escapes with late model Highlanders that swear by them.
__________________
- Arnie & Paula & Kizzy the rat terrier
https://www.arniesea.com
- 2019 5.0 TA, 2017 Tundra Platinum.
- Bremerton, WA
arniesea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 09:12 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
Quote:
Originally Posted by caddoster View Post
we have a weight safe hitch and it usually reads a little above 400lb
Thanks, that is great to know! Is that with typical traveling load in the trailer? Thanks again.
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 10:14 AM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Portsmouth, Virginia
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Posts: 42
My 2017 19' tongue weight is right at 500 pounds, as measured with a new Sherline 2000# tongue weight scale on a level surface. I just received the trailer last week and have not started loading it yet. There is no water in the fresh water tank, other than what Escape may have left in it for testing, so when I add water, I suspect the tongue weight could decrease. My unit has two 6 volt batteries in the front storage box, the propane tanks are filled and I have the standard dinette configuration.

It towed fine without a WDH but I had ordered one just in case and as it turns out, it feels more solid and stable towing it with the WDH, so I plan to use that on any longer trips. WDH is an Equalizer 4 point system that allows me to back up without removing the bars. Pretty happy with it but it does make a little racket when turning corners and I do grunt a bit hefting the head and shank onto the truck.
__________________
2017 Escape 19
2008 4Runner V8
Ironhorsenva is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 10:33 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milpitas, California
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 347
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlNH View Post
Thanks, that is great to know! Is that with typical traveling load in the trailer? Thanks again.
I would say yes... it was like that when we picked up the trailer and on the recent two trips.. the last two trips we have most of our camping gears on.
caddoster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 04:03 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
Thanks, that's very useful information. Also, a bit of what I am concerned about. My TV max is 500# tongue weight so there would be little to no safety margin. Water in tank would reduce tongue weight a bit but loading the trailer with typical gear will likely at least make up for that. Something to ponder...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironhorsenva View Post
My 2017 19' tongue weight is right at 500 pounds, as measured with a new Sherline 2000# tongue weight scale on a level surface. I just received the trailer last week and have not started loading it yet. There is no water in the fresh water tank, other than what Escape may have left in it for testing, so when I add water, I suspect the tongue weight could decrease. My unit has two 6 volt batteries in the front storage box, the propane tanks are filled and I have the standard dinette configuration.
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 04:06 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
Thanks! Looks like there is some variation trailer to trailer which is to be expected given differing optioning.

Quote:
Originally Posted by caddoster View Post
I would say yes... it was like that when we picked up the trailer and on the recent two trips.. the last two trips we have most of our camping gears on.
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 04:19 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milpitas, California
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 347
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlNH View Post
Thanks! Looks like there is some variation trailer to trailer which is to be expected given differing optioning.
We have the bottom insulation and extra insulation package which I assumed would add significant weight. I didn't notice much change after filling the water tank (it was 1/3 coming out of factory), the camping gears in the trailer, which mostly ended up in the rear storage area and in kitchen under sink. Granted the weigh safe hitch only has one notch between 400 and 500lb so the best I can tell is how close it is to the 400 or to the 500 line..
caddoster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 10:28 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
Thanks for the additional info! Between 400 and 500 would work so that is good to know.

Quote:
Originally Posted by caddoster View Post
We have the bottom insulation and extra insulation package which I assumed would add significant weight. I didn't notice much change after filling the water tank (it was 1/3 coming out of factory), the camping gears in the trailer, which mostly ended up in the rear storage area and in kitchen under sink. Granted the weigh safe hitch only has one notch between 400 and 500lb so the best I can tell is how close it is to the 400 or to the 500 line..
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 10:48 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlNH View Post
... My TV max is 500# tongue weight so there would be little to no safety margin. .

Toyota rarely lists an actual maximum tongue weight, is yours listed that way in your manual? Neither our 2016 nor our new 2017 Highlander lists one - only recommended % of the trailer weight.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 10:56 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer View Post
Toyota rarely lists an actual maximum tongue weight, is yours listed that way in your manual? Neither our 2016 nor our new 2017 Highlander lists one - only recommended % of the trailer weight.
It's the spec on the OEM Toyota hitch I have on my HL. You're correct, there isn't anything specific regardig the vehicle itself. Are you using the OEM hitch? Have you measured your loaded tongue weight? (Sorry for all the questions!!)

Thanks!
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 10:58 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
See here for some numbers http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f1...tml#post218805
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 11:08 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlNH View Post
It's the spec on the OEM Toyota hitch I have on my HL. You're correct, there isn't anything specific regardig the vehicle itself. Are you using the OEM hitch? Have you measured your loaded tongue weight? (Sorry for all the questions!!)

Thanks!
I have the Toyota OEM hitch - I've not seen it on there though either? I shoot for a tongue weight on our 21 of 410 - 450# and adjust it by how much freshwater we carry and load distribution. When I weighed our fully loaded for travel 21 we were at about 4100#. We never travel with full grey or black tanks, other than sometimes a few miles to a dump station, and usually travel with the fresh at 1/3. We tend to be more minimalists than most in what we take along.

Also keep in mind that more than 15% tongue weight in not recommended -our Escape has a sticker specifying 10-15% And I just checked, my dealer installed OEM Highlander hitch only has a sticker saying to consult the manual for maximum weights.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 11:25 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Carl - one thing that I consider important to know is that the Highlander OEM receiver has the pin hole out near the end. With our E2 WDH the shaft of the E2's hitch did not extend all the way thru the receiver tube. I drilled a new hole in the E2 so that the shaft went in deeper and mades full contact all the way thru the tube. I was not comfortable putting the force of the WDH on only about 1/2 of the receiver tube's depth. Doing so probably voided any E2 warranty, but it added to my peace of mind.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 11:39 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milpitas, California
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 347
When I put the OEM hitch on the 2007 FJ it has a sticker with 500lb limit on it. I think that's the only place that will specify the actual number?
caddoster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 11:47 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
My Highlander manual says:
• Tongue Weight
The gross trailer weight should be distributed so that the tongue weight is 9% to 11%.

So that would be up to #550 tongue weight for ours, and again, the only thing on my dealer installed OEM hitch is a sticker saying to consult the manual for weights. I am completely ok with being more than 20% under that max.

But as in all things, others may not.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 12:53 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
This is where I got the 500# number... http://toyotanews.pressroom.toyota.c...specs.download

Don't know if it's "official" but could not find a spec anywhere else.


Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer View Post
Toyota rarely lists an actual maximum tongue weight, is yours listed that way in your manual? Neither our 2016 nor our new 2017 Highlander lists one - only recommended % of the trailer weight.
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 02:26 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: In my Escape...full time. Currently in Maine, Maine
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 204
Thanks! Yes, I agree that it would be far better to have it set up as you have. The OEM hitch does have the pin hole very close to the end of the receiver.

Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer View Post
Carl - one thing that I consider important to know is that the Highlander OEM receiver has the pin hole out near the end. With our E2 WDH the shaft of the E2's hitch did not extend all the way thru the receiver tube. I drilled a new hole in the E2 so that the shaft went in deeper and mades full contact all the way thru the tube. I was not comfortable putting the force of the WDH on only about 1/2 of the receiver tube's depth. Doing so probably voided any E2 warranty, but it added to my peace of mind.
CarlNH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2017, 09:01 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Micheal K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Lake Country, British Columbia
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Posts: 167
We just came back from a couple days of camping and decided stop at the commercial scale. I weighed the TV and trailer axles all connected first and then disconnected and weighed the TV again to get the tongue weight and trailer weight.

Trailer(total including tongue wt): 3344 lbs
Tongue: 330 lbs

This is probably nearly as light as possible for a 2017 19.

Trailer was dry (including the HW tank). Also only had 1 propane bottle on the front. It did however have a fair amount of food and beverages in it as well as our normal (fairly minimal) camping gear.

Our trailer is very lightly optioned, no AC, no factory solar, single battery and no storage box. It does however, have the extra insulation and thermal windows. Dry weight of trailer as per ETI was 3110 lbs but I didn't get a chance to confirm that before adding our gear.
Micheal K is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:36 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.