Trailer Tongue Weight Percentage Calculator

Tongue weight is the downward force exerted at the vehicle-trailer coupling point when your trailer is hooked up. Proper tongue weight (10-15% of gross trailer weight) ensures stable towing, prevents trailer sway, and maintains vehicle control.

Tongue weight should be 10-15% of the gross trailer weight. Less than 10% can cause dangerous trailer sway, while more than 15% puts excessive weight on your vehicle's rear axle and can affect steering and braking.

Use a tongue weight scale, bathroom scale with a board, or vehicle scale. For bathroom scale method, place the scale under the trailer jack or use a board between the coupler and scale to get an accurate reading.

Too low tongue weight (less than 10%) can cause dangerous trailer sway, fishtailing, and loss of control, especially at highway speeds or in windy conditions. This creates an unsafe towing situation.

Excessive tongue weight (over 15%) overloads your vehicle's rear axle, reduces front wheel traction for steering and braking, and can cause the front end to lift, making the vehicle difficult to control.

Move cargo forward to increase tongue weight or backward to decrease it. You can also adjust the trailer's axle position if it's adjustable, or redistribute the load within the trailer to achieve the proper 10-15% range.

Initial weighing should be done without a weight distribution hitch connected to get true tongue weight. You can then reconnect and reweigh to see how the hitch affects weight distribution across your vehicle's axles.

Check tongue weight when you first get the trailer, after completing any modifications or builds, and when fully loaded for trips. Weight distribution can change based on how you load cargo and equipment.