Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:02 pm

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Trailer tongue weight
PostPosted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:37 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:23 pm
Posts: 95
Location: San Diego, CA
I seem to remember that tongue weight should be some 80 lbs or so.

Right now, some 2/3s of the boat is ahead of the axle, and the tongue is so heavy we cannot lift it with two people.

Did the previous owner do this to save money in dry dock fees? (It makes the footprint of the boat [tip of the tongue to rudders] smaller.)

_________________
Practice makes perfect, so be careful what you practice...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:12 pm 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15027
Location: Oceanside, California
More tongue weight is a better ride while trailering, but you have to be able lift it! Should have a tongue jack for a bigger boat.

I am guessing that tongue weight should be a percentage of the over all weight rather than a fixed amount. Minimum (80 lb) tongue weight can easily turn negative on a heavy boat (fish tailing the car) as the boat / trailer bounces / flexes over road terrain.

Makes sense that they may shove the boat forward for storage and aft for trailering to save the length of storage space.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:08 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:23 pm
Posts: 95
Location: San Diego, CA
Thanks, Matt!

Next time I hoist the boat I'm going to drop her some 4 feet back on the trailer and check the tongue weight then.

It it is then some 80/100 lbs I will eventually shorten the tongue and relocate the hitch.

_________________
Practice makes perfect, so be careful what you practice...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:38 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:01 pm
Posts: 337
Location: little Washington, NC
According to multiple online sources, tongue weight should be 10-15% of total trailered weight. A couple of sources gave ranges from 5-15%

_________________
Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:20 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:40 am
Posts: 952
Location: Dallas, TX
Depends a lot on the two vehicle. 10% is bare minimum in my book. I regularly load for a 20% tongue weight. But then I run a beast of a tow vehicle that rides better the more weight I put on the rear axle.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:05 am 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15027
Location: Oceanside, California
McGyver wrote:
I will eventually shorten the tongue and relocate the hitch.


Long tongues are a good thing. Better tow. I wouldn't shorten it unless I really had to.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:16 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:45 pm
Posts: 1668
Location: Northfield Minnesota
aschaffter wrote:
According to multiple online sources, tongue weight should be 10-15% of total trailered weight. A couple of sources gave ranges from 5-15%


I was thinking this was B.S. and didn't apply if you had something heavier. But the more I thought about it, it probably holds true for heavier trailers as well. I routinely pull a 4500# trailer, with anywhere from 10k to 14k lbs on it. 2775#'s on the hitch is getting up there, but better than having not enough.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:44 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:40 am
Posts: 952
Location: Dallas, TX
Karl Brogger wrote:
I was thinking this was B.S. and didn't apply if you had something heavier. But the more I thought about it, it probably holds true for heavier trailers as well. I routinely pull a 4500# trailer, with anywhere from 10k to 14k lbs on it. 2775#'s on the hitch is getting up there, but better than having not enough.


The first time that gooseneck unloads while you've got it loaded to 10k lbs, it will have your attention. :shock:

Right, Karl...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:16 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:45 pm
Posts: 1668
Location: Northfield Minnesota
The Dog wrote:

The first time that gooseneck unloads while you've got it loaded to 10k lbs, it will have your attention. :shock:

Right, Karl...


I've been too tail heavy before. Not fun when it start throwing the pickup around.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:01 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:23 am
Posts: 599
Location: Lake Norman NC
move the axle to adjust for the load


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:07 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:23 pm
Posts: 95
Location: San Diego, CA
gary eudy wrote:
move the axle to adjust for the load


I like that solution. No drilling or welding, and it can be adjusted easily. Thanks, Gary!

_________________
Practice makes perfect, so be careful what you practice...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Too Heavy
PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:52 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:55 am
Posts: 36
Gary's got the ticket McGyver,,,just Move the wheels forward and this can be done with the boat onboard,,which is better,,,you will know when its perfect then. CHEERS ...Pepsi


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group