Why is Tongue Weight Important When Towing Your Boat?

The towing process is a delicate one. Too much or too little pressure on the tongue of your boat trailer can cause problems. That's why tongue weight is so important. Moreover, if you don't have enough tongue weight, your trailer could become unbalanced and start to fishtail. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to an accident.

Why is Tongue Weight Important When Towing Your Boat?

The difficult aspect about boats is that you can't put them on the trailer in a way that gives you a good tongue weight (10-15% of GTW). It's not as simple as moving the boat forward or backward on the trailer to get around this problem. The weight of the boat tongue must be just right, or it'll create problems when towing. If there's too much pressure on the tongue, it could cause the trailer to sway from side to side. 

On the other hand, if there isn't enough pressure on the tongue, the trailer will be unbalanced and could start to fishtail. The best way to avoid these problems is to make sure that your boat tongue has the proper amount of weight. This can be accomplished by using a Tongue Weight Scale. This scale will help you ensure that your tongue weight is where it needs to be - not too much and not too little.

Tongue weight is important because it helps keep your trailer balanced. If the tongue weight is too light, the trailer will be unbalanced and could start to fishtail. On the other hand, if the tongue weight is too heavy, the trailer will sway from side to side. 

Also, since boats already have a motor and engine, you won't be able to relocate them. All of this adds up to why the tongue weight is usually low when towing a boat. To compensate for this, you'll need to put anything goods you're bringing on board the boat into the bow to help raise the tongue weight. Coolers, beach towels, snacks, and water toys should all be loaded in accordance with your desired location for the tongue weight and your existing tongue weight.

What Happens To Boat Trailers With Too Little Tongue Weight?

When your tongue weight is too low, it causes the trailer to sway and fishtail at high speeds. If your tongue weight is too high, however, the tow vehicle can become difficult to steer. To prevent this, aim for a tongue weight of 7-10 percent of the total trailer weight. The truth is that too little tongue weight is just as dangerous as too much tongue weight.

If you're having trouble getting your tongue weight where it needs to be, there are a few things you can do. The first is to add or remove weight from the trailer itself. This can be done by adding or removing cargo. If you're carrying a lot of gear, you may need to remove some of it to lighten the load. On the other hand, if you're not carrying enough gear, you'll need to add more.

Another way to fix your tongue weight problem is by moving the location of your boat on the trailer. This can be a difficult task, but it's sometimes necessary to get the tongue weight where it needs to be. You may need to experiment with different locations until you find the sweet spot.

The final way to fix your tongue weight problem is by adjusting the position of your trailer hitch. If your trailer hitch is too far back, it will cause the trailer to sway. On the other hand, if your trailer hitch is too far forward, it will cause the tow vehicle to become difficult to steer. The best way to find the perfect position for your trailer hitch is by using a tape measure. Measure from the center of the ball mount to the center of the coupler. This distance should be between 13 and 15 inches.

Tongue weight is an important aspect of towing your boat. If the tongue weight is too low, the trailer will sway and fishtail.

What Happens If Tongue Weight Is Too Heavy?

Having too much tongue weight makes it hard to control your car, especially when you turn or a brake. If the tongue weight is too light, the trailer might swing while you're driving. Moreover, the trailer could detach from the car. If you don't have proper tongue weight, then it's likely that your trailer hitch isn't properly adjusted. 

Let`s imagine the situation when you are driving and your trailer starts swinging. If the tongue weight is too heavy, it will be really hard to control the car and you can easily have an accident. The same thing can happen if the tongue weight is too light and the trailer detached from the car. So, as you can see, it is really important to have proper tongue weight when you are towing your boat.

Should My Trailer Be Level When Towing?

Make sure the trailer is level by checking it out. If the hitch ball isn't high enough, raise or lower it, as needed. If you can't keep the tow automobile from drooping in the rear, spring bars rated for a greater amount of weight may be required.

Besides, you will require to know how much your trailer tongue weighs. The best way to determine this is to put the boat in the water and use a bathroom scale or similar object under the tongue. You could also go to a truck stop and use their weigh station.

When you're checking the level of your trailer, it's important to make sure that the tow vehicle is level as well. This can be done by using a tape measure. Measure from the ground to the top of the tow vehicle's headlights. This measurement should be equal on both sides. If it's not, then you'll need to adjust the trailer hitch.

How Can I Know the Tongue Weight of My Vehicle?

In case you are a driver who frequently changes vehicles or trailers, it is important to know how to calculate the tongue weight of your trailer. This will save you a lot of time, and it will also help to prevent any accidents that might occur on the road. There are two methods you can use to find out your trailer's tongue weight. The first is to use a bathroom scale. The second is to use a tongue weight scale, which can be found at most auto parts stores.

If you're using a bathroom scale, place the scale on level ground and back the trailer onto it until the coupler is resting on the scale. Then, unhitch the trailer from the tow vehicle and disconnect any sway bars. With the trailer still resting on the bathroom scale, have a friend get inside the trailer and move around until the trailer is level. Once the trailer is level, have your friend note the reading on the bathroom scale. This is your tongue weight.

If you're using a tongue weight scale, follow all of the instructions that come with the device. In general, however, you'll place the scale on level ground and back the trailer onto it until the coupler is resting on the scale. Then, unhitch the trailer from the tow vehicle and disconnect any sway bars. With the trailer still resting on the tongue weight scale, have a friend get inside the trailer and move around until the trailer is level. Once the trailer is level, the tongue weight scale will give you a reading. This is your tongue weight.

Now that you know your tongue weight, you can adjust as needed. If your tongue weight is too low, move some of the heavier items from inside the boat to the front of the boat. If your tongue weight is too high, move some of the lighter items from the front of the boat to the back of the boat. Once you've made your adjustments, re-weigh the tongue to see if it's within the proper range.