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Tongue weight vs ball weight

Bahcml
Explorer
Explorer
Confusion reigns! We bought an equalizer hitch for our trailer. Supposedly it is a hitch that has a tongue weight of 750 to 1000 lbs. However, the instructions that came with the hitch says 1000 lbs max weight distributing tongue weight and 500 lbs max weight carrying ball mount. Our trailer's hitch weight is 615 lbs. Are we over weight for the hitch we received?
6 REPLIES 6

valhalla360
Nomad
Nomad
Both are the weight on the ball.

The ball isn't going to snap off the hitch at the higher weight. The issue is if there are 4 bolts (2 front and 2 back):
- Without the WDH, the rear 2 bolts must support the entire weight and the front 2 bolts act as a pivot point (though there should never be pivoting) because the ball is further from the pviot point compared to the rear bolts, the rear bolts must support more than the actual ball weight.
- The WDH, creates an opposing moment arm, so the front bolts carry some of the ball weight significantly reducing the force on the rear bolts and allowing a much higher ball weight.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

Bahcml
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you very much!!

Old-Biscuit
Explorer
Explorer
Bahcml wrote:
It is the published weight.



That is a DRY weight based on DRY trailer weight based on a 'empty' trailer.


WET tongue weight will probably be closer to 800# PLUS

Your WDH is good to go
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

Bahcml
Explorer
Explorer
It is the published weight.

Lwiddis
Explorer
Explorer
"hitch says 1000 lbs max weight distributing tongue weight and 500 lbs max weight carrying ball mount."

This is pretty standard from manufacturers for light duty truck receivers too. My Tahoe is 1000/600.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

Old-Biscuit
Explorer
Explorer
1000# rating is when using WDH
500# rating is w/o WDH bars connected....just on the ball

Is the 615# weight ACTUAL weight or a published/brochure weight (DRY weight)?
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31