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How Tongue Weight Impacts Your Towing Capacity
You’ve likely heard terms like gross trailer weight (GTW), payload, and dry weight, but what about tongue weight? Tongue weight is essential in determining what you can safely tow with your vehicle. Here are some tips for the team at Duraflap Drill-Less Mudflaps to consider before you purchase a new truck or trailer, you need to understand how tongue weight will affect towing capacity.
What is tongue weight?
Tongue weight (TW) is the force pushing down on the trailer hitch by the load being hauled. Most trailers have a TW somewhere between 9 and 15% of the GTW. TW is a good thing because it creates more stability between the trailer and the truck. The trailer can sway on the road when the TW is light, meaning there’s not enough downward pressure on the towing hitch ball. However, it will make the vehicle difficult to steer if it’s too heavy.
How do you know what your trailer’s tongue weight is?
TW will be variable based on how the trailer is loaded–not just how much weight is placed in the trailer, but how the weight is distributed. Because of that, TW must be calculated after the trailer is packed. The best way to calculate your trailer’s tongue weight is by using a scale designed for the job. These scales are available for under $200.
If you find the TW is too heavy, you can reduce the weight by shifting items away from the hitch behind the axles. Conversely, if it is too light, move more weight in the trailer towards the hitch. You can also purchase special hitches to create greater TW and help reduce trailer sway.
Having the right hitch is also important!
Not all trailer hitches are the same. There are five basic classes of trailer hitches, each with a maximum GTW and TW.
| GTW capacity | TW capacity | |
| Class 1 | 2,000 lbs | 200 lbs |
| Class 2 | 3,500 lbs | 350 lbs |
| Class 3 | 5,000 lbs | 500 lbs |
| Class 4 | 10,000 lbs | 1,000 lbs |
| Class 5 | Over 10,000 lbs | Over 1,000 lbs |
Before purchasing a truck or trailer, you need to understand the types of hitches you can use with a particular model of truck. For example, you may be able to upgrade your tow package to handle lower classes of hitches. Still, if you want a heavy-duty hitch, you could find it’s not available as an upgrade, and you need a different truck entirely to get the tow package you need for the job.
Be fully prepared for camping season with new drill-less mudflaps from DuraFlap.
DuraFlap’s patented drill-less mudflaps use holes already existing in your vehicle’s body. Our mudflaps are easy to install (they can be installed without taking the tires off) and present no new holes that are prone to rust and corrosion.
Your new DuraFlap mudflaps will give you years of protection. Our exclusive “rain grooves” direct rain, snow, and road debris down and away from the vehicle. The flaps are constructed from ⅜” polyethylene/rubber blend material and feature anti-sail and anti-spray capabilities.
Give your truck a custom look by adding artwork to your mudflaps. Our online art catalog features over 100 designs, or we can create custom artwork based on your ideas or sketch. Your truck will represent your unique personality!