What Is a Good Tongue Weight?

A good tongue weight is typically 10–15% of your loaded trailer’s weight for conventional bumper-pull trailers, and 15–25% (often 20–25%) for fifth-wheel and gooseneck setups. Staying in these ranges helps prevent sway, preserves steering and braking, and keeps you within the limits of your tow vehicle and hitch components.

Why Tongue Weight Matters

Tongue weight (TW) is the downward force the trailer exerts on the hitch. Too little TW can cause dangerous trailer sway, especially at highway speeds or in crosswinds. Too much TW can overload the tow vehicle’s rear axle, lighten the front axle (reducing steering and braking), and exceed payload or hitch ratings. Keeping TW in the recommended range is the foundation of stable, safe towing.

Recommended Tongue Weight Ranges

Different hitch types and trailer configurations call for different tongue (or pin) weight targets. The percentages below refer to the total loaded trailer weight (GTW), not dry/empty weight.

• Conventional bumper-pull trailers: 10–15% of GTW (many setups are most stable around 12–13%).
• Fifth-wheel trailers (pin weight): 20–25% of GTW is typical.
• Gooseneck trailers (pin weight): 15–20% of GTW is common.
• Special cases (e.g., some boat trailers): May run slightly lower percentages due to weight distribution, but target stability and verify by measurement and road testing.

Aim for the middle of the range for a starting point, then fine-tune based on measured weights and real-world stability. Always keep final TW within the tow vehicle, hitch receiver, and hitch ball ratings.

How to Calculate and Measure Tongue Weight

Quick calculation

Multiply the trailer’s loaded weight (GTW) by the target percentage. Example: If your loaded trailer weighs 5,000 lb, a good bumper-pull tongue weight is 500–750 lb (10–15%).

Reliable ways to measure

You have several options to measure tongue weight accurately, from DIY solutions for light trailers to certified scales for heavy rigs.

1. Dedicated tongue-weight scale: Purpose-built scales read TW directly at the coupler or jack for many bumper-pull trailers.
2. Commercial scale (CAT/public truck scale): Weigh the tow vehicle alone, then with the trailer on the ball. The increase in the tow vehicle’s weight (with the trailer jack off the ground) approximates TW for bumper-pull setups. For fifth-wheels/goosenecks, compare axle weights to determine pin weight.
3. Bathroom scale with lever method (light trailers only): Use a sturdy beam and fulcrum to reduce the load on the household scale, then multiply by the ratio to get TW. Suitable only for relatively low TW values per the scale’s safe capacity.

Recheck tongue weight after loading cargo, filling/emptying water tanks, or changing hitch height or equipment. TW can shift significantly with small cargo moves.

Adjusting Tongue Weight

If your measured tongue weight is outside the target range, small, deliberate changes can bring it into spec and improve stability.

• Shift cargo forward to increase TW; move it rearward to reduce TW. Secure all loads to prevent shifting in transit.
• Manage tank loads (RVs/boats): Water, fuel, and gear placement can change TW dramatically; know where tanks sit relative to the axles.
• Set hitch height correctly: A level or slightly nose-down trailer often tows more stably and keeps TW predictable.
• Use a weight-distributing (WD) hitch for heavier bumper-pull setups: It doesn’t change actual TW but transfers load back onto the tow vehicle’s front axle and can raise rated tongue capacity when used per the receiver’s label.
• Check axle and winch-post position (some trailers): On adjustable-axle trailers, repositioning assemblies changes TW. Follow manufacturer procedures.
• Balance left-to-right: Keep side-to-side load even to avoid instability and uneven tire loading.

Make adjustments incrementally and re-measure. Road-test at low speeds first, then on a safe, straight highway section to confirm stability.

Ratings and Equipment Limits

Even a “good” percentage isn’t safe if it exceeds component ratings. Verify your specific capacities and stay within the lowest-rated part of the system.

• Tow vehicle: Check maximum tongue weight (dead-weight and with WD), payload, rear/front GAWR, GVWR, and GCWR in the owner’s manual or door jamb label.
• Hitch receiver and ball mount: Respect the stamped ratings; many receivers list separate dead-weight and WD ratings.
• Hitch ball and coupler: Match sizes (e.g., 2 in, 2-5/16 in) and ensure the ball’s load rating meets or exceeds GTW and TW.
• Extensions/adapters: Many hitch extenders reduce capacity—often by 30–50%—per the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Suspension aids: Air springs or helper springs can level sag but do not increase ratings; measure weights regardless.
• EVs and crossovers: Some have lower tongue-weight limits relative to advertised tow ratings; follow the manual closely.

Your safe, legal maximum is the lowest rating in the chain—vehicle, receiver, ball mount, ball, coupler, and tires. Never exceed it, even if the percentage is “ideal.”

Common Signs Your Tongue Weight Is Off

Recognizing symptoms helps you diagnose whether TW is too low or too high before a problem escalates.

• Too low: Sway at speed, susceptible to crosswinds or passing trucks, light feel on the hitch, trailer “porpoising.”
• Too high: Excess rear sag, light/floaty steering, longer braking distances, headlight aim too high, front axle weight reduction noted on scale tickets.
• Either issue: Uneven tire wear, overheating trailer brakes, or frequent trailer brake intervention from stability systems.

If you experience these, measure TW, verify axle weights, adjust load placement, and consider a WD hitch with sway control for bumper-pull trailers.

Summary

A good tongue weight is 10–15% of loaded trailer weight for bumper-pull trailers and 15–25% (commonly 20–25%) for fifth-wheel and gooseneck rigs. Measure TW with a proper scale or at a truck scale, adjust cargo and hitch setup to hit the target, and always stay within the lowest-rated component in your towing system. The right TW is the single most important factor in stable, confident towing.