A boat trailer with low tongue weight can cause instability during towing, leading to swaying or fishtailing. This can make it difficult to control the vehicle, especially at higher speeds or during turns. Additionally, insufficient tongue weight may result in the trailer lifting off the hitch, increasing the risk of accidents. It's crucial to ensure proper tongue weight for safe towing.
Cause the trailer to fishtail
Too little tongue weight can lead to an out of control swaying condition causing the tow vehicle and trailer to fishtail, leave the road, overturn, or hit other vehicles on the road. The ideal tongue weight is 9 to 15 percent of the gross weight of the entire trailer.
The tongue of the trailer presses down on the trailer hitch, and that is tongue weight. How hard it presses down is a function of the weight in front of the trailer wheels, and how much of the weight is not offset by the weight behind the wheels. If the tongue weight is too great, the rear of the towing vehicle goes down. Too light, and the boat trailer will swing side to side.
5 to 15
Tongue weight refers to the downward force exerted at the hitch of a trailer when towing a boat. It is crucial for maintaining stability while towing; ideally, tongue weight should be 10-15% of the total trailer weight. Proper tongue weight helps prevent swaying and improves handling, ensuring safer towing conditions. Too little or too much tongue weight can lead to trailer instability and potentially dangerous driving situations.
Too little tongue weight can lead to an out of control swaying condition causing the tow vehicle and trailer to fishtail, leave the road, overturn, or hit other vehicles on the road. The ideal tongue weight is 9 to 15 percent of the gross weight of the entire trailer.
Too little tongue weight can lead to an out of control swaying condition causing the tow vehicle and trailer to fishtail, leave the road, overturn, or hit other vehicles on the road. The ideal tongue weight is 9 to 15 percent of the gross weight of the entire trailer.
5 to 15%
5 to 15%
5 to 15%
5 to 15%
5 to 15%