Low tongue weight

[mdsjohna]

Was just at the trailer show this weekend and found a few layouts that we kinda like. This one was kinda weird though. Now I realize you have to add propane and a battery and there is lots of weight in the rear with the kitchen. Even so pretty much every other trailer has a tongue weight dry at over 10%. I looked at a whole lot of spec sheets at the show and didn’t see anything like this. I’m sure the mfg does their homework but still has me concerned. Thoughts?

[APhotoWizard]

I would never pull a trailer with less than 10% of the weight on the tongue. Less weight means a bump might lift the rear wheels of the tow vehicle. Not sure why any manufacturers would produce one that had less than 10%. Here is what GMC has to say about the issue: Tongue Weight Is Key To Safe Towing - GMC Life

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by mdsjohna

Even so pretty much every other trailer has a tongue weight dry at over 10%.... Thoughts?

That's a new model, and apparently Heartland hasn't released all the specs yet. UVW is 6,478 and dry hitch weight is 500. The CCC (and all other specs) are TBD so we cannot even estimate GVWR by the usual method of UVW + CCC.
https://www.heartlandrvs.com/brands/...ler-lynx-28-lx

Buy you can safely ignore dry tongue weight. With UVW of 6,478, assume minimum wet and loaded trailer weight of 7,500. With average tongue weight (TW) of 13% of gross trailer weight, that's a wet and loaded TW of 975 pounds.

[rte1985]

I read everywhere that people buy trailers and the tongue weight is couple hundred pounds more than listed. But I agree, with above. 12-13% sweet spot. I guess just need to pack that front compartment well!

[keymastr]

Add a couple batteries, the propane and tanks etc. and the tongue weight will be back to at least 10%. All the more reason to add 4 GC2s to the tongue.

[archer75]

My previous trailer was a keystone and dry hitch weight as 9% of trailer weight. I had to front load everything. It still towed like crap.

[mdsjohna]

I hear what everyone is saying but even with 2x20 propane and a battery it would still be under 10% albeit close. We travel light. No firewood no generator no liquid in any tanks. And being it’s a rear kitchen lots of the weight would be added in the rear. Two batteries would help for sure but we have been pretty much always connected to electrical.

Boat trailers are less then 10% I believe because lots of the weight is on the very back and the axles are adjusted in such a way to compensate. Wonder if something like that is going on here.


Edit for*
I missed you post archer that’s good feedback. Thank you.

[archer75]

We put our zero gravity camp chairs on our bed. We also have a folding table we put on the bed. Sometimes we bring a cooler and that goes on the side of the bed. The front passthrough makes it easy to load more weight. It has my tool box, jack pads, bbq, charcoal and other items. If you're still low on weight put some sand bags in there.

[xrated]

I have a 34 1/2' tow behind Toy Hauler and we usually have two motorcycles, the bottom half of a roll around tool box, a pop up canopy, plus a lot of other stuff back there in the garage that causes the tongue weight to be too light. I have added, since buying it....two 6 volt batteries (instead of one 12 volt battery), a sliding tray in the baggage compartment, a 35 lb barbell weight, two sand tubes (60 lbs each), and a heavier mattress on the bed. I also travel with a full fresh water tank (106 gallons), and after all of that....I still only have about 11.5% for my tongue weight. When the trailer was new (with one battery and two full 30 lb. propane tanks) I had a little over 1300 lbs of tongue weight....and it towed like a dream. So the bottom line for me was to keep adding weight up front to offset the weight that was put in the back garage area. If I ever tow it without the bikes in the back, I'll probably just drain the fresh water tank.