How to locate / determine tongue weight?

[darenkamp1960]

We are becoming more experienced RVer's after almost 2 years with our first RV, but still need lots of help.

I have a 2015 25 foot Aspen Trail travel trailer, model 2510RB that I purchased new from La Mesa RV in San Diego, CA. La Mesa RV took care of the weight distribution hitch, etc. Now I want to purchase an automatic front jack, instead of the crank, but they ask for the tongue weight. Is it same as the hitch weight?

I see the hitch weight posted on a placard, but not the tongue weight.

Thank you.

JIM

[lcv800]

I'm not a trailer hitch guy but can't you just put the current tongue jack on a bathroom scale?
Rusty

[bedrck46]

Have you ever seen a bathroom scale reads over 500 lbs or even over 300 lbs? Although it is possible to use a bathroom scale using the correct method. There is information on how this is done.

[DesertRat]

Tongue weight would be the max it's rated for. Hitch weight is actual.

[bedrck46]

Paste the attached in your browser, on how to use a bathroom scale to get tongue weight


hildstrom.com/projects/tonguescale

[wildwest450]

Good grief, your dealer must be nuts. Most electric tongue jacks on the market for rv's carry a weight rating of 3-4000lbs. At most you're in the 7-800lb range.

[wahoonc]

What is your GVW for the trailer, take 20% of that and buy a jack for that rating or heavier. Rocket science it ain't.

Aaron

[nineoaks]

Originally Posted by bedrck46

Paste the attached in your browser, on how to use a bathroom scale to get tongue weight


hildstrom.com/projects/tonguescale

Good info here thanks for sharing

[darenkamp1960]

All, good information. Kind of leery using the bathroom scale, especially if my tongue weight is supposed to be between 9%-15% (I have seen variations from 9%-20%) of my GTW. Time to go measure...or purchase a product that is overkill .

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by darenkamp1960

All, good information. Kind of leery using the bathroom scale, especially if my tongue weight is supposed to be between 9%-15% (I have seen variations from 9%-20%) of my GTW. Time to go measure...or purchase a product that is overkill .

Kind of hard to overkill on a tongue jack, FWIW I would recommend the Stromberg Carlson from etrailer. I had this one on my Coleman 16FBS, which was considered a light weight trailer. Remember if you are using it to hook up a WDH you are also lifting the rear of the tow vehicle too.


Aaron

[hddecker]

Originally Posted by darenkamp1960

We are becoming more experienced RVer's after almost 2 years with our first RV, but still need lots of help.

I have a 2015 25 foot Aspen Trail travel trailer, model 2510RB that I purchased new from La Mesa RV in San Diego, CA. La Mesa RV took care of the weight distribution hitch, etc. Now I want to purchase an automatic front jack, instead of the crank, but they ask for the tongue weight. Is it same as the hitch weight?

I see the hitch weight posted on a placard, but not the tongue weight.

Thank you.

JIM

Jim,

Electric toungue jacks come in two flavors, I can't recall the sizes, but there are two different post sizes. That is really all the info you need to start, what size is the tube then pick the capacity.

I have a Barker Engineering Made in the USA power head, I bent the tube and replaced it With a Chinese special. I love that Barker jack, but I keep forgetting to order up the spares to repair it.

Do some shopping around and look for sources other than a dealer ship.