Newbie tongue weight question

[joebuoy]

We picked up our new E19 on 9/12/2023 and this is our first trailer. On the way home from Chilliwack I went the Cat Scale in Ferndale. The trailer was basically empty and the dry weight was 3500 pounds. I bought a Sherline tongue weight scale. The trailer is empty with full propane tanks and I used blocks to get the trailer level on the scale.

The scale weight read 500 pounds. My wife got on the bed and the weight was 450 pounds. My 4Runner has a maximum hitch weight of 500 pounds.

These values seem high and are not close to the ETI specs for dry hitch weight, 305 pounds.

Our driveway is slightly sloped, 3" in 15 feet or about a 1% slope. Will the slope of my driveway give me an inaccurate hitch weight?

Any thoughts on my dry hitch weight?

[bborzell]

500 lbs. seems high. Our 2022 21C never registered higher than 450 on our Sherline scale.

That said, on board water and battery location can alter readings pretty significantly. Sounds like wife placement is also a factor.

[John in Santa Cruz]

A 4500 lb loaded 21 should have a tongue weight between 450 lbs (10%) and 675 lbs (15%) for stability towing.

Yes, any slope will throw your weight measurement off.

I don't know about you, but when we travel, the trailer has food, beverages, cooking gear, clothing, bedding, etc in it, it's not empty.

[Selkirk]

It seems slightly high to me for a completely empty trailer, but not unreasonable if loaded for travel. I would attempt to remeasure on level ground.

My E19 has a dry weight of about 3650lbs and an over-the-road weight of 4000-4200lbs. I recently measured the hitch weight at 460lbs. That included full propane tanks, about 50lbs+ of stuff in the front storage box, lead acid batteries plus another 30lbs of tools stored under the dinette seats, a full fresh water tank, and empty grey/black tanks.

[BobG]

your slope is closer to 1.7% and if the trailer is level then the rear axle's suspension is compressed more than the front axle if the slope is sloping down toward the front of the trailer. That will place more weight on the rear axle and move the balance point to the rear. This will increase the tongue weight significantly. If the slope is sloping toward the rear and the trailer is level then the tongue weight will be less because the balance point or fulcrum will move forward.

[joebuoy]

Thanks for all the comments. My driveway slopes toward the street (front of the trailer) and the trailer was empty. I'll try to weigh on level ground.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by joebuoy

Thanks for all the comments. My driveway slopes toward the street (front of the trailer) and the trailer was empty. I'll try to weigh on level ground.

if you can block up the jack high enough that the trailer frame is level, and the scale is vertical, then it should be accurate