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Old 04-09-2019, 12:49 AM   #21
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Our 21, loaded for travel, has ~4160 pounds on the axles and a tongue weight of ~440 lbs. Tongue weight is a calculated number rather than a measured value. It's a little less than 10% of trailer weight but I haven't had any towing issues (and know that Europeans use a different - lower - rule of thumb anyway) so I'm not worried about it. We habitually travel with the fresh water tank full and the gray/black tanks empty.
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Old 04-09-2019, 08:10 PM   #22
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Tongue Weight on E21

My 2017 21’ Escape’s tongue at the 2019 Quartzsite weigh-in:

650 lbs tongue weight
1/2 tank fresh water
Gray water empty
Black 3/4

The trailer weighed around 4800 lbs.
I must add that we full time in our Escape, so it is pretty loaded.

Fred M.
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Old 04-09-2019, 09:22 PM   #23
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Originally Posted by StanLewis View Post
Our 21, loaded for travel, has ~4160 pounds on the axles and a tongue weight of ~440 lbs. Tongue weight is a calculated number rather than a measured value. It's a little less than 10% of trailer weight but I haven't had any towing issues (and know that Europeans use a different - lower - rule of thumb anyway) so I'm not worried about it. We habitually travel with the fresh water tank full and the gray/black tanks empty.
Just thought it was worth mentioning that European caravans are designed with the center of mass just ahead of (typically) a single axle. This results in a lower tongue weight (4-7% recommended) and also a lower speed threshold before inducing sway. It gets into stability dynamics but from what I have read this is why they are strictly limited to 60 MPH max when towing. The design of the trailers is different and the methodology for safe towing is different. The North American rule of 10-15% tounge weight with center of mass more forward results in more rear axle load on tow vehicle (corrected with WDH if needed), but also allows for higher stable towing speeds. The European rule allows for a higher overall trailer weight but with less on the tongue. I know this isn’t what you were implying, but I just want to stress that one cannot simply apply the lower European tongue weight figures to their situation. Obviously too light a tongue weight and typical N. American highway speeds is a bad combination.
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Old 04-09-2019, 09:36 PM   #24
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I am planning to purchase a Sherline hitch scale...Any thoughts? Thanks...FGunderson
Although it might be a challenge to get in the USA, what about this scale: https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...le/A-p8686024e
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Old 04-09-2019, 09:48 PM   #25
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Although it might be a challenge to get in the USA, what about this scale: https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...le/A-p8686024e

It's worth a bit less than you pay for it.
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Old 04-09-2019, 10:28 PM   #26
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Although it might be a challenge to get in the USA, what about this scale: https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...le/A-p8686024e
I have one of these and it works just fine.
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Old 04-09-2019, 11:10 PM   #27
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I have one of these and it works just fine.
I suspect how well it works depends on your tongue weight. Mine normally comes in at 320 lbs. so if it's off by much, it's off by quite a lot. Whereas, a few pounds off at 650 lbs. is less significant.
Have you checked it for accuracy? See post #24 on this previous thread.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f2...o-12104-3.html
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Old 04-10-2019, 05:55 AM   #28
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Originally Posted by Red Dog View Post
My 2017 21’ Escape’s tongue at the 2019 Quartzsite weigh-in:

650 lbs tongue weight
1/2 tank fresh water
Gray water empty
Black 3/4

The trailer weighed around 4800 lbs.
I must add that we full time in our Escape, so it is pretty loaded.

Fred M.
It's heavier due to that wood workshop you carry to do those nice mod's.....
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Old 04-10-2019, 04:29 PM   #29
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It's heavier due to that wood workshop you carry to do those nice mod's.....


Ha! Ha! Ha! Point well taken!

Fred M.
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Old 04-10-2019, 08:23 PM   #30
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Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
I suspect how well it works depends on your tongue weight. Mine normally comes in at 320 lbs. so if it's off by much, it's off by quite a lot. Whereas, a few pounds off at 650 lbs. is less significant.
Have you checked it for accuracy? See post #24 on this previous thread.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f2...o-12104-3.html
Yes I have checked the accuracy, mine is off by less than 10 lbs at 400 lbs,
only off by about 7 at 500 lbs. Never checked at 300 lb,
It is sensitive to trailer level, which all scales are. and for something I use only about 3x per year it works fine for me
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Old 04-11-2019, 07:06 AM   #31
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I'm bringing mine to Osoyoos, maybe we can have a comparison contest, similar to Iowa Dave's torquing contest, which scale is the most accurate?
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Old 04-17-2019, 11:27 AM   #32
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Doesn’t shifting things forward in trailer add tongue weight? Maybe that’s your weight issue.
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Old 04-17-2019, 11:50 AM   #33
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700 lb tongue weight

We also have a 700 lb tongue weight. In addition to a full front box we carry an Orbital Machine Works over-propane-tanks metal cabinet with a Honda 2000 and 2 1/2 gal gas can on top. We weighed the tongue in Banff, after camping several days without dumping, so I suspect the black tank was over 1/2 full, although I did not specifically check it. We tow with a regular hitch and anti-sway bar. The trailer tows great.
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Old 04-17-2019, 12:29 PM   #34
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I'm bringing mine to Osoyoos, maybe we can have a comparison contest, similar to Iowa Dave's torquing contest, which scale is the most accurate?


Thanks Jim. I will try and re-weigh the trailer before I arrive in Osoyoos.

Fred M.
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Old 04-17-2019, 01:01 PM   #35
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When doing tongue weight make sure the trailer is level and on flat ground
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Old 04-17-2019, 01:52 PM   #36
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I stopped at a set of CAT scales on March 22nd, did the full rig weight, then the truck alone. A bit of math shows 5020 for the trailer & 580 on the tongue. When I left home (august 4th) it was 4800 & 500 on the tongue. I do need to lose some weight. I guess I bought too many "T" shirts!
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Old 04-17-2019, 02:24 PM   #37
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Jon, are you saying the axle weight is 5020 and tongue weight is 580 for a total weight of 5600#
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Old 04-17-2019, 05:50 PM   #38
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Jon, are you saying the axle weight is 5020 and tongue weight is 580 for a total weight of 5600#
Axle weight was 4440 pounds, 5020 pounds was the total trailer weight.
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Old 05-12-2019, 03:50 PM   #39
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I have a 2016 highlander limited with tow package, 5000/500. Would like to upgrade to 21 ft trailer... Do you think that be the highlander will work? How does your trailer pull with the 2018 highlander?
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Old 05-12-2019, 05:19 PM   #40
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My 2012 Highlander W/ tow package pulled our 21 just fine. When I had 180,000 on it I traded it on a 2018. It pulls excellent also. I like the 25 more Horsepower but I really like the 8 speed transmission. I tow in 6 or 7 at 62 mph. I ran 250 miles this past weekend and got 14.4 miles per gallon on 10 percent 87 octane gasoline. My tongue weight last year was 490 and I’ve lightened up some. Trailer weight last year was 4,400 lbs., again I’m lighter now err I mean the trailer is. I gained 14 lbs. over the winter! We will be in Osoyoos a week from Wednesday and look forward to a summer of towing. I like 60-62 mph, I tow with a WDH, and i closely monitor the conditions around me and the “tune” on our combination.
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