How Much Weight Should Be on a Trailer’s Tongue?

The recommended tongue weight for most bumper-pull (conventional) trailers is 10–15% of the trailer’s total loaded weight; for fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers, it’s typically 15–25%. These ranges help ensure stable towing, reduce sway, and protect vehicle components. Below, we explain why tongue weight matters, how to measure it, and how to adjust your load to hit the right target.

Why Tongue Weight Matters

Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer exerts on the hitch ball or pin. If it’s too light, the trailer can sway or fishtail at speed, especially in crosswinds or during evasive maneuvers. If it’s too heavy, you can overload the tow vehicle’s rear axle, reduce front-axle traction and steering/braking effectiveness, and exceed hitch or receiver limits. Getting the percentage right is a critical part of safe, stable towing.

Recommended Tongue-Weight Percentages

Different trailer and hitch types have different target ranges based on how the load is carried and how forces transfer to the tow vehicle. Use the ranges below as general guidance, and always confirm with your trailer and hitch manufacturer’s specifications.

• Bumper-pull (conventional) trailers: 10–15% of loaded trailer weight, with 12–13% a common sweet spot for highway stability.
• Boat trailers (bumper-pull): 5–10% is typical, often 7–10%, because engines sit aft; many boat-trailer makers specify the lower end to account for stern-heavy designs.
• Fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailers: 15–25% (around 20% is common), because pin weight is carried over the tow vehicle’s rear axle, improving stability.
• Weight-distributing (WD) hitches: Maintain the same tongue-weight percentage; the WD system rebalances load to the tow vehicle’s axles but doesn’t change the ideal percentage.

Staying within these ranges helps minimize sway and prevents overloading the tow vehicle or hitch. Always keep total weights under the trailer’s GVWR, the tow vehicle’s ratings (GVWR, GAWRs, GCWR), and the hitch/receiver’s limits.

How to Measure Tongue Weight

You can measure tongue weight with purpose-built scales or common household tools. Follow the steps below to get an accurate number.

1. Load the trailer as you will tow it (including water, fuel, gear, and typical cargo placement).
2. Park on level ground, chock the trailer wheels, and uncouple from the tow vehicle (support the tongue jack safely).
3. Use a tongue-weight scale (preferred) placed under the coupler/jack foot to read the weight directly; or use a vehicle scale: weigh the tow vehicle alone, then with the trailer coupled (but jack raised), and take the difference at the hitch to estimate tongue weight.
4. Calculate the tongue-weight percentage: Tongue Weight ÷ Loaded Trailer Weight × 100.
5. If using a bathroom-scale and lever method for lighter trailers, follow a verified lever setup to keep within the scale’s capacity and compute the reading per the lever ratio.

Recheck after any load changes; even shifting gear by a small amount can move the percentage outside the safe range.

How to Adjust Load to Hit the Target

If your measured tongue weight falls outside the recommended range, adjust cargo placement and equipment to correct it. Use the guidance below to dial in stability.

• If tongue weight is too low: Move cargo forward of the trailer axle(s), fill forward tanks first, or relocate heavy spares/tools forward.
• If tongue weight is too high: Shift cargo rearward (but still ahead of the axle centerline), drain forward tanks partially, or redistribute heavy items.
• Keep heavy items low and centered to reduce sway; avoid rear overhang loading that can magnify pendulum effects.
• For WD hitches, adjust spring-bar tension after load changes to restore front-axle weight per hitch instructions.

Make small adjustments and re-measure. The goal is to reach the target percentage without exceeding any weight rating on the trailer, hitch, or tow vehicle.

Common Mistakes and Safety Notes

Missteps with loading and hitch setup are a leading cause of trailer instability. Review the pitfalls below to avoid issues on the road.

• Running below 10% tongue weight on a bumper-pull trailer, which greatly increases sway risk.
• Exceeding hitch/receiver tongue-weight ratings (note that ratings may differ when using a WD hitch).
• Neglecting tire pressures and load ratings on both trailer and tow vehicle; underinflation worsens sway and heat buildup.
• Ignoring axle and gross weight ratings; correct percentage doesn’t excuse overloads elsewhere.
• Skipping a level-ride check; a trailer nose-up or nose-down can destabilize towing and skew axle loads.

A systematic pre-trip check—weights, hitch setup, tire pressures, brake controller settings, and lighting—helps ensure the recommended tongue-weight percentage translates to real-world stability.

Quick Example

To visualize the numbers, consider a typical scenario.

• A 5,000 lb loaded bumper-pull trailer should have 500–750 lb on the tongue (10–15%).
• A 12,000 lb fifth-wheel might target around 2,000–2,400 lb pin weight (roughly 17–20%).
• A 2,500 lb boat/trailer package would often aim for 175–250 lb tongue weight (7–10%).

These examples illustrate how the same principles scale across different trailer types and sizes.

Bottom Line

Plan for 10–15% tongue weight on bumper-pull trailers (12–13% is often ideal), 5–10% on many boat trailers, and 15–25% pin weight on fifth-wheel/gooseneck rigs. Measure, adjust, and verify against your specific equipment’s ratings for the safest results.

Summary

The tongue of a conventional trailer should carry 10–15% of the trailer’s loaded weight, boat trailers often 5–10%, and fifth-wheel/gooseneck hitches 15–25%. Measuring accurately, adjusting load placement, and respecting all vehicle and hitch ratings are essential to prevent sway, maintain control, and tow safely.

What percent of trailer weight should be on the tongue?

The recommended tongue weight for a bumper pull trailer should be 10% to 15% of the total loaded trailer weight, while for a gooseneck or fifth-wheel trailer, it should be 15% to 25% of the loaded trailer weight. Maintaining the correct tongue weight is crucial for safe and stable towing, as insufficient weight can lead to dangerous trailer sway, and excessive weight can cause the tow vehicle’s front end to lift, impairing steering.
 
For Bumper Pull Trailers: 

• 10-15%: of the total loaded trailer weight.
• This ensures a balanced connection, proper weight distribution, and stability.

For Gooseneck and Fifth Wheel Trailers: 

• 15-25%: of the total loaded trailer weight.
• These types of trailers inherently carry more weight on the trailer’s tongue, which is why they have a higher recommended percentage.

Why Tongue Weight Matters:

• Stability: Proper tongue weight keeps the trailer stable. 
• Control: It prevents the trailer from swaying, which is dangerous and can lead to loss of control. 
• Safety: It also prevents the tow vehicle from becoming unbalanced and losing steering control. 

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

Proper tongue weight is 10 to 15 percent of your loaded trailer weight. For example, if your trailer is 10,000 lbs when loaded, the ideal tongue weight would be 1,000 (10%) to 1,500 lbs (15%). For trailers that aren’t towed with hitch balls, like fifth wheels and gooseneck trailers, you’ll instead look at pin weight.

What is the 60/40 rule on trailers?

The 60/40 trailer rule is a weight distribution guideline for safe towing that states 60% of the load’s total weight should be placed in front of the trailer’s axle, with 40% behind it. This distribution prevents dangerous trailer sway and instability, ensuring better control by keeping the majority of the weight over or forward of the axles. When loading, place heavier items closer to the front of the trailer and secure all cargo to prevent shifting.
 
Why the 60/40 Rule is Important

• Prevents Trailer Sway: Loading the trailer with too much weight behind the axle creates an imbalance that can lead to trailer sway or “fishtailing,” which is a terrifying and dangerous condition where the trailer starts to steer the tow vehicle. 
• Improves Stability: A properly balanced load provides stability for both the trailer and the tow vehicle, reducing strain on the engine and suspension. 
• Enhances Driver Control: With 60% of the weight forward, you maintain better control over your vehicle and trailer combination. 

How to Apply the 60/40 Rule

1. Load Heavier Items First: Place the heaviest items as far forward as possible. 
2. Distribute Weight Evenly: Distribute the weight side-to-side to prevent uneven load distribution. 
3. Secure Your Load: Once the weight is distributed, secure all items to prevent shifting during travel. 

What to Do If Sway Occurs
If you experience trailer sway:

1. Don’t Panic: Stay calm and keep your hands on the steering wheel. 
2. Slow Down: Take your foot off the gas and allow the vehicle to slow down naturally. 
3. Apply Trailer Brakes: Engage the trailer’s brakes to help correct the sway. 
4. Pull Over Safely: Once you have control, find a safe place to pull over and adjust your load to follow the 60/40 rule. 

What is the 80/20 rule for towing?

The 80% towing rule is less of a “rule” and more of an idea: don’t pull a trailer with a GVWR that is more than 80% of your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity. That leaves 20% of your towing capacity left for other cargo like passengers, baggage, etc.