What Is Tongue Weight on a Hitch?

Tongue weight is the downward force a trailer applies to a tow vehicle’s hitch or hitch ball. For most bumper‑pull (conventional) trailers, it should be about 10–15% of the trailer’s loaded weight; for fifth‑wheel and gooseneck trailers, 15–25% is typical. Keeping tongue weight within the tow vehicle and hitch ratings is essential for stable handling, effective braking, and preventing dangerous trailer sway.

Why Tongue Weight Matters

Tongue weight directly affects how a tow vehicle steers, brakes, and tracks at speed. Too little or too much can quickly turn a routine tow into a safety risk.

• Too little tongue weight (often below ~10% for conventional trailers) can cause trailer sway, especially in crosswinds or when passing trucks.
• Too much tongue weight can overload the tow vehicle’s rear axle, reduce front‑axle steering and braking grip, and increase stopping distances.
• Correct tongue weight helps the trailer track straight, improves braking stability, and reduces fatigue on suspension components.

Balanced tongue weight keeps the towing combination within design limits, improving safety and reducing wear on tires, brakes, and suspension.

Recommended Tongue Weight Ranges

Manufacturers generally specify ranges to keep trailers stable under real‑world conditions. The exact target can vary by trailer type and design.

• Conventional (bumper‑pull) trailers: 10–15% of gross trailer weight (GTW). Many aim near 12% as a practical middle ground.
• Fifth‑wheel and gooseneck trailers: 15–25% of GTW, reflecting their pin weight characteristics and different geometry.
• Boat trailers may trend toward the lower end of the conventional range due to weight distribution along the hull, but still typically fall within 8–15% depending on the manufacturer’s guidance.
• Note: A weight distribution hitch (WDH) does not reduce actual tongue weight; it redistributes some of that load across the tow vehicle’s axles and the trailer axles for better balance.

Always consult your tow vehicle, hitch, and trailer manufacturer specifications for the exact recommended range and limits.

How to Measure Tongue Weight

Tools and Methods

Several practical options help you determine tongue weight accurately at home or at a public scale.

• Dedicated tongue weight scale: A compact scale placed under the coupler or jack that reads tongue weight directly.
• Bathroom scale with a lever method: For lighter trailers, a rigid beam and fulcrum can multiply the reading so a household scale can be used safely.
• Public truck scale (e.g., CAT Scale): Weigh axle loads with and without the trailer on the hitch to calculate tongue weight precisely.
• Hitch-mounted ball scales: Some ball mounts incorporate a gauge that displays tongue weight while hitched.

Choose a method that fits your trailer’s weight and your access to equipment; public scales offer high accuracy for heavier setups.

Step-by-Step: Calculating Tongue Weight at a Public Scale

Public scales let you measure tongue weight using axle weights. This method works for virtually any tow vehicle and trailer combination.

1. Weigh the tow vehicle alone (no trailer attached) to get the front and rear axle weights. Record both values.
2. Hitch the loaded trailer and weigh again, capturing the tow vehicle’s front and rear axle weights while the trailer axles are off the scale.
3. Subtract the unhitched axle weights from the hitched axle weights; the increase (usually mostly on the rear axle) equals the tongue weight.
4. Alternatively, record total tow vehicle weight unhitched and hitched (with trailer axles off the scale). The difference is the tongue weight.

This approach provides a repeatable baseline and also shows how weight distribution changes front and rear axle loads when you use or adjust a WDH.

How to Adjust Tongue Weight Safely

If your measured tongue weight is outside the recommended range, rebalancing the load typically brings it into spec without hardware changes.

• Shift cargo: Moving weight forward (toward the coupler) increases tongue weight; moving it rearward decreases tongue weight.
• Reposition major items: Generators, coolers, batteries, and water tanks significantly influence tongue weight; secure them to prevent shifting.
• Level the trailer: Set proper hitch height so the trailer tows level or slightly nose‑down; excessive nose‑up attitude can reduce effective tongue weight and promote sway.
• Use a weight distribution hitch when required: It does not reduce tongue weight but helps restore front‑axle load for steering/braking and may be required by the hitch rating at higher weights.
• Recheck after changes: Weigh again after moving cargo or adjusting hitch setup to verify the new tongue weight.

Small adjustments can produce large changes in tongue weight; always secure cargo and confirm the new setup with a measurement.

Know Your Ratings and Limits

Safe towing depends on respecting the lowest applicable rating among your equipment and vehicle.

• Hitch ratings: Maximum tongue weight (TW) and gross trailer weight (GTW), often listed separately for weight carrying (WC) and weight distribution (WD) use.
• Tow vehicle payload: The tongue weight counts against payload along with passengers and cargo.
• GVWR and GAWR: Do not exceed the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating or individual axle ratings.
• Trailer GTWR and GVWR: Keep the trailer within its design limits when loaded with gear, fluids, and accessories.
• GCWR: The combined rating for tow vehicle plus trailer must not be exceeded.

When in doubt, the most restrictive number governs. Check door‑jamb labels, owner’s manuals, and hitch stickers for authoritative figures.

Example: Quick Calculation

Consider a 4,000 lb loaded trailer (GTW). Targeting 12% tongue weight suggests 480 lb on the hitch. If your hitch is rated to 500 lb TW in weight-carrying mode and your vehicle has 1,100 lb of payload, that 480 lb uses nearly half your payload; subtract passengers and gear to confirm you remain within limits. If your hitch allows 800 lb TW with a WDH, you may need the WDH as you approach higher loads, but your actual tongue weight target still stays in the recommended percentage range.

Common Signs Your Tongue Weight Is Off

Observable behavior can hint at an imbalance even before you measure.

• Persistent trailer sway at highway speed or when passed by large vehicles (often too little TW).
• Light steering feel, longer stopping distances, or pronounced rear sag (often too much TW or insufficient load distribution).
• Uneven tire wear or frequent suspension bottoming when towing (possible overloading or poor balance).

These symptoms warrant immediate inspection, remeasurement, and load adjustments before further travel.

Key Takeaways

Tongue weight is the downward force a trailer exerts on the hitch: aim for roughly 10–15% of loaded trailer weight for conventional trailers and 15–25% for fifth‑wheels and goosenecks. Measure it with a dedicated scale or at a public truck scale, adjust by shifting cargo and leveling the trailer, and ensure you stay within all hitch and vehicle ratings. Proper tongue weight is one of the most effective safeguards against sway and instability when towing.

What does 200 lbs tongue weight mean?

Tongue weight is the amount of weight a trailer puts on the towing vehicle’s trailer ball. The tongue is the part of the trailer that sticks out ahead of the cargo area; it’s typically two rails that form a V shape, but sometimes it’s just a single rail.

How much tongue weight on a 10,000 lb trailer?

That trailer has a max weight of 10,000 lbs. It connects via a hitch, with approx 1,000lbs of tongue weight. Add in another 1,000lbs of payload in the tow vehicle (passengers, stuff in the flat bed etc).

What is the tongue weight of a 3,000 lb trailer?

Tandem-Axle Trailers with 3500-, 5200- and 7000-lb. Axles

Size	Empty Weight	Tongue Weight
8.5 x 18	3000	450
8.5 x 20	3200	480
8.5 x 22	3400	510
8.5 x 24	3600	540

What should the tongue weight be on a 7000 lb trailer?

Tongue weight should be about 10% to 15% of the total weight of the trailer or gross trailer weight. Too much tongue weight can impair driver control over the vehicle, and too little can lead to sway in the trailer.