Tongue Weight Calculator

Why 10–15%

Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer's coupler puts on the hitch ball. Keep it around 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight and the trailer tracks straight. Drop below ~10% and the trailer can start to sway (fishtail) at highway speed — one of the most common causes of loss-of-control with a travel trailer. Go much above 15% and you push weight onto the tow vehicle's rear axle and eat into its payload.

How to measure it

The most accurate way is a CAT scale: weigh the whole rig, then unhitch and weigh again — the difference at the trailer axles vs. total tells you the tongue load. At home, a bathroom scale and a lever setup, or a dedicated tongue-weight scale, works for lighter trailers. Always measure loaded the way you'll tow.

Balancing the load

Tongue weight is set by where you load the trailer, not just how much. Move cargo forward of the axle to add tongue weight, rearward to reduce it. Aim for the middle of the range, then confirm your total rig stays inside every limit with the tow-match calculator.

Heavy tongue weight (over ~500 lb) usually calls for a weight-distributing hitch.