tongue weigh-in - 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 01-09-2016, 02:07 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
tongue weigh-in

Today I got around to determining our 17A tongue weight for the first time, and it was a surprise.

Click image for larger version

Name:	tongue weighing 001.jpg
Views:	39
Size:	208.3 KB
ID:	14494

First, I constructed a poor-man's scale by using a 4x4 and the wife's deluxe bathroom scale (properly protected with a soft piece of cedar). the 4x4 is 36" long, and the trailer tongue foot is exactly in the center. The tongue weight is equally distributed to each end of the 4x4, so, whatever the scale reads, I just double to get the tongue weight.

I have just refilled the propane tanks (that's 70 lbs. total-tanks and propane), and the fresh water tank is full (20 gal.: 160+ lbs. behind the axle). I have 42 lbs. of stuff in the front storage box, with only a small amount of personal gear in the trailer.

So, essentially how it was when I picked it up in Sumas is how it sits: 492 lbs. on the tongue. Wow. I've got some work to do to get that weight down. Maybe I'll put a 500 lb. gorilla on the rear bumper.
dfandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 02:19 PM   #2
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
It seems to be quite easy with a 17', given the axle location to get the tongue heavy - but I'll sure take that over an underweight tongue. Our has often weighed in at near 400#.
__________________
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 01-09-2016, 02:52 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Milam, Texas
Trailer: 2016 ESCAPE 21
Posts: 158
Does anyone have a real world tongue weight on the 21.
thumper-tx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 02:53 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
500# tongue on BlackJack, 3800# on axles
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 02:54 PM   #5
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 thumper-tx View Post
Does anyone have a real world tongue weight on the 21.
Also see post #78 by Jon V here on the weight spreadsheet he maintains: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f7...-a-6955-8.html

And Jim is that pre or post diet for BlackJack?
__________________
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 01-09-2016, 05:39 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Don, it looks like you're weighing at the jack, not the coupler. The jack is a little further back, so it carries more load. It's only a few percent, but the reading at the coupler will be a little lower than at the jack. The trailer is still quite front-heavy, even if the real tongue weight is "only" 450 pounds.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 05:42 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
If you go here: Trailer Loading and Towing Guide
you will find a section on weighing the tongue at the jack and at the hitch and how to apply a calculation so that you can weigh it at the jack ever after.
It's also an excellent towing guide.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 06:18 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
If you go here: Trailer Loading and Towing Guide
you will find a section on weighing the tongue at the jack and at the hitch and how to apply a calculation so that you can weigh it at the jack ever after.
It's also an excellent towing guide.
Thanks Glenn I bookmarked the guide and I guess I will look for a 1000 lb scale . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 06:32 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Go here: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...cale-2343.html

Start reading at post #2 for previous discussion.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 06:47 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Go here: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...cale-2343.html

Start reading at post #2 for previous discussion.
Glenn Amazon has the 1000lb scale ? Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 06:54 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
Don, it looks like you're weighing at the jack, not the coupler. The jack is a little further back, so it carries more load. It's only a few percent, but the reading at the coupler will be a little lower than at the jack. The trailer is still quite front-heavy, even if the real tongue weight is "only" 450 pounds.
Good point, Brian.
I just went out and measured: jack to ball socket, center-to-center, is 10½". ball to axle is 144". So I have a 7.3% correction to make. Thus: 456 lbs. at the ball.

Thanks, Eric, for the feedback.
dfandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 07:36 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Wow, I'm surprised your weight is almost what mine is....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 07:42 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews View Post
Good point, Brian.
I just went out and measured: jack to ball socket, center-to-center, is 10½". ball to axle is 144". So I have a 7.3% correction to make. Thus: 456 lbs. at the ball.
Although I think you actually want distances to the centre of mass, rather than to the axle, this is more than close enough!

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
If you go here: Trailer Loading and Towing Guide
you will find a section on weighing the tongue at the jack and at the hitch and how to apply a calculation so that you can weigh it at the jack ever after.
It's also an excellent towing guide.
Good guide; however, the correction for scale position (in the NOTE FOR MATH PROS AND PERFECTIONISTS... section) requires you to weigh both locations to calculate a correction factor... but the whole point was to avoid weighing at the coupler because it is harder to setup.

Also, this isn't really for math pros or perfectionists because if you change the loading of the trailer so the load in centred in a different place, the factor will change. A math pro would realize this when doing the algebra for the leverage, and the perfectionist would check the calibration and notice that it changes.

You'll never get it precisely right unless you measure both "tongue" (at the jack) weight and axle weight each time, and do a little more calculating. I doubt anyone cares enough to do that, or has accurate enough weights to make it worthwhile. I think Don is in good shape with his factor.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 08:24 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews View Post
Maybe I'll put a 500 lb. gorilla on the rear bumper.
Methinks Alf prefers to ride in the tow vehicle.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2016, 08:47 PM   #15
Member
 
grantpallen's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Surrey, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 5.0 "Bubbles"
Posts: 91
Trailer weights in the real world

Just looked at the trailer weights in the real world on FGRV web site. He weighted 3 escape 17b 's 320 to 380 lbs. tongue weight.
grantpallen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2016, 03:47 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews View Post
Today I got around to determining our 17A tongue weight for the first time, and it was a surprise.

Attachment 14494

First, I constructed a poor-man's scale by using a 4x4 and the wife's deluxe bathroom scale (properly protected with a soft piece of cedar). the 4x4 is 36" long, and the trailer tongue foot is exactly in the center. The tongue weight is equally distributed to each end of the 4x4, so, whatever the scale reads, I just double to get the tongue weight.

I have just refilled the propane tanks (that's 70 lbs. total-tanks and propane), and the fresh water tank is full (20 gal.: 160+ lbs. behind the axle). I have 42 lbs. of stuff in the front storage box, with only a small amount of personal gear in the trailer.

So, essentially how it was when I picked it up in Sumas is how it sits: 492 lbs. on the tongue. Wow. I've got some work to do to get that weight down. Maybe I'll put a 500 lb. gorilla on the rear bumper.

Hi Don, Well part of it might be that huge chain, hook and shackle in your picture .... no problem though if that is what you need to keep Teresa under control ....

Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2016, 04:28 PM   #17
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Parksville, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016 Escape 21
Posts: 31
Has anybody used a "TOWSAFE Ball Weight Scales" available in Australia? Is it accurate?
Tom W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2016, 04:33 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
bouterse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Sarnia, Ontario
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 sold, 21NE on order
Posts: 130
If the tongue weight is less than 10% of the trailer weight, I can see the trailer being unstable when towing. What is the problem with having a greater than the recommended 15% tongue weight, assuming the tow vehicle has the capacity?


Jack
bouterse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2016, 04:40 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
I would think that it would affect the quality of ride in the tow vehicle and increase wear.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2016, 04:46 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Hi Don,
This past August I bought an enclosed cargo trailer to haul things I had in Washington state back to Alaska. Since I didn't have any sway control devices, I wanted to know what my tongue was.


I made the same set up as you did only I placed it under the coupler and had an additional 4X4 going from the center line of the horizontal 4X4 (please see Don's photo) up to the coupler. By cranking up the jack foot, I was able to get a direct tongue weight reading.


I am very thankful for your information .... and a bit concerned. In about two weeks I'll be heading to Chilliwack to pick up my 17A. I think today I'll head back to Costco and take back a memory foam mattress topper as its kinda heavy and a couple other things that I was planning on storing "up front".... or at least until I can measure my own tongue weight. Maybe its a good idea to have your trailer weighed when new and empty.


Did you get a WDH? ... and is that included in your tongue weight calculations?


Very timely thread for me ... Thanks Don


Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena 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 04:44 PM.


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