What Your Trailer Tongue Weight Should Be

Your tongue weight should typically be 10–15% of your fully loaded trailer weight (GTW) for conventional bumper‑pull trailers, with a sweet spot around 12–13%; for fifth‑wheel and gooseneck trailers, plan on 15–25% (often near 20%). Always confirm your tow vehicle and hitch ratings, and base calculations on the trailer’s actual loaded weight, not its empty weight.

Why Tongue Weight Matters

Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer exerts on the hitch. Too little and the trailer is prone to sway; too much and the tow vehicle’s rear suspension, tires, and hitch can be overloaded, reducing steering, braking, and headlight aim. The right percentage keeps the trailer stable, the tow vehicle balanced, and the whole rig within its rated limits.

Recommended Targets by Trailer Type

While the 10–15% rule covers most bumper‑pull trailers, different trailer designs and load placements call for slightly different targets. Use the guidelines below as a starting point, then verify with your owner’s manuals and a scale.

• Conventional bumper‑pull (cargo, travel, utility): 10–15% of GTW, with 12–13% often offering the best stability.
• Boat trailers: 7–10% of GTW is common due to rear‑mounted engines; aim closer to 8–10% for highway stability.
• Fifth‑wheel and gooseneck (pin weight): 15–25% of GTW, with many rigs near 20% for stable towing.

These ranges align with common industry practice and towing standards. Always prioritize the limits and recommendations in your vehicle, hitch, and trailer documentation.

How to Calculate Your Target Tongue Weight

Use your trailer’s loaded weight (GTW) and multiply by the recommended percentage to find the target tongue weight. Then confirm that number falls within all relevant ratings.

1. Find your actual GTW: Weigh the fully loaded trailer on a certified scale (not just the empty weight or brochure “dry weight”).
2. Multiply by your target percentage: For bumper‑pull trailers, use 0.10–0.15; for fifth‑wheels/goosenecks, use 0.15–0.25.
3. Check limits: Ensure the result does not exceed your hitch’s tongue/pin rating (weight‑carrying vs. weight‑distributing), the receiver rating, your tow vehicle’s payload capacity, axle ratings (GAWR), and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
4. Example: If GTW is 5,000 lb, target tongue weight is 500–750 lb (ideally ~600–650 lb). Verify your hitch and vehicle payload can support that.

Run this calculation every time your loading changes meaningfully—new gear, full water tanks, or a relocated spare can shift tongue weight more than you might expect.

How to Measure Actual Tongue Weight

Once you have a target, measure your real tongue weight with one of these methods to confirm you’re within range.

• Dedicated tongue weight scale: Place the coupler on the scale (without weight‑distribution bars engaged) and read the result directly.
• Public truck scale (CAT scale): Weigh the tow vehicle alone, then with the trailer on the ball (no bars engaged). The increase on the tow vehicle is your tongue weight. For extra accuracy, capture individual axle weights before and after.
• Bathroom scale and lever setup: For lighter trailers, a lever-and-fulcrum method can approximate tongue weight; follow a reliable lever ratio and safety procedure.

Measure with the trailer loaded as you will tow, on level ground, and with the weight‑distribution hitch disengaged. A WDH redistributes axle loads but does not change true tongue weight.

Adjusting Tongue Weight Safely

If your measurement is outside the recommended range, adjust how the load sits on the trailer or how the trailer sits on the chassis.

• Shift cargo: Move heavy items forward to increase tongue weight or rearward to reduce it; secure all items against movement.
• Boat trailers: Slide the boat forward/back slightly on the bunks or adjust the winch post to fine‑tune.
• Use a weight‑distribution hitch (WDH): It won’t change tongue weight, but it will rebalance load across axles and can restore front‑axle weight on the tow vehicle.
• Account for fluids: Full water/propane tanks can add significant forward or rear weight; plan your fill levels with tongue weight in mind.
• Avoid rear‑biased add‑ons: Bike racks, generators, and spares at the rear can quickly make tongue weight too light and promote sway.

Make small adjustments and re‑measure. Large shifts can overshoot the target and create new handling issues.

Red Flags and When to Use a Weight‑Distributing Hitch

Certain handling clues and ratings thresholds indicate your setup needs attention or a WDH.

• Too light: Noticeable sway at highway speeds, especially in crosswinds or during passes; steering feels vague.
• Too heavy: Excessive rear sag, reduced headlight aim, longer braking distances, or bottoming over bumps.
• WDH indicators: If your measured tongue weight exceeds the receiver’s weight‑carrying (WC) rating but is within its weight‑distributing (WD) rating; if the trailer weight approaches or exceeds about 50% of the tow vehicle’s curb weight (a common manufacturer threshold, often around 5,000 lb); or if front‑axle weight drops significantly when hitched.

Consult your tow vehicle and hitch manuals for exact requirements—many manufacturers mandate a WDH above specific trailer or tongue‑weight limits.

Quick Reference Examples

These examples illustrate typical target ranges for common trailer weights. Always verify with your actual scale numbers and ratings.

• 3,500 lb bumper‑pull: 350–525 lb tongue weight (aim ~420–460 lb).
• 5,000 lb bumper‑pull: 500–750 lb tongue weight (aim ~600–650 lb).
• 7,500 lb bumper‑pull: 750–1,125 lb tongue weight (aim ~900–975 lb).
• 12,000 lb fifth‑wheel/gooseneck: 1,800–3,000 lb pin weight (aim ~2,200–2,600 lb).

If your target exceeds your vehicle’s payload or hitch rating, you must reduce weight, redistribute cargo, upgrade equipment, or select a different tow vehicle.

Summary

For most bumper‑pull trailers, set tongue weight at 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight, with 12–13% often delivering the best stability. For fifth‑wheel and gooseneck rigs, target 15–25%. Measure your actual tongue or pin weight with the trailer fully loaded, confirm it fits all vehicle and hitch ratings, and adjust load placement or use a weight‑distribution hitch as needed. This approach keeps your rig stable, legal, and safer on the road.

What is the ideal tongue weight?

The ideal tongue weight for a bumper pull trailer is 9 to 15 percent of its total loaded weight, while gooseneck trailers should have a tongue weight of 15 to 30 percent of their total loaded weight. Too little tongue weight can lead to trailer sway, while too much can impair vehicle control and damage the vehicle’s components. Always check your vehicle and hitch manufacturer’s specifications for the exact recommended tongue weight range. 
Why Tongue Weight Matters

• Stability: Proper tongue weight helps keep the trailer stable and prevents dangerous swaying. 
• Vehicle Control: It ensures the tow vehicle has good control, especially during turns and braking. 
• Vehicle Health: It prevents excessive stress and damage to the tow vehicle’s components. 

How to Calculate Tongue Weight

1. Load the trailer fully: as you would for normal travel, including water tanks and cargo. 
2. Use a scale: placed under the trailer’s tongue to get a weight reading. 
3. Calculate the ideal range: by multiplying the total loaded trailer weight by the appropriate percentage (9-15% for bumper pull, 15-30% for gooseneck). 

Adjusting Your Load 

• Too light: Move cargo forward on the trailer to shift more weight to the tongue.
• Too heavy: Shift cargo to the back of the trailer to reduce the downward force on the tongue.

Important Considerations

• Manufacturer Recommendations: Always consult the owner’s manuals for your tow vehicle and trailer to find the exact recommended tongue weight range. 
• Gross Trailer Weight: The weight percentage is based on the Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), which is the total weight of the trailer and its load. 

What happens if your tongue weight is too heavy?

Maintaining this balance is essential for safe towing as it enhances stability and control. If the tongue load is too light, it can lead to trailer instability and swaying. Conversely, an excessively heavy tongue load can strain the towing vehicle, compromising steering, handling, and braking performance.

Is 500 tongue weight good?

What’s the Proper Tongue Weight? Most experts agree that an acceptable tongue weight for any trailer is somewhere between 9 and 15 percent of the gross trailer weight (GTW). There’s good reasoning behind these numbers, too. It all comes down to trailer towing safety.

How heavy is the average tongue?

The average length of the human tongue from the oropharynx to the tip is 10 cm. The average weight of the human tongue from adult males is 99g and for adult females 79g.