What is tongue weight mean for a trailer

Tongue Weight (TW) - the downward pressure placed on the ball by the coupler. On smaller trailers the TW can be measured using a bathroom scale and a box.

that is the amount of weight that actually sets on the trailer ball when its hooked to a hitch or the amount on the end of the tongue of the trailer,this tells how good the weight is distributed throughout the trailer,and it makes a big difference in the way a truck will pull a load,depending on how much weight is on the tongue also determines how much the truck will set down when the weight is put on it,good luck.

Good . It is very important, for two reasons. First, it is an indication that the center of gravity is actually in front of the trailer axles. Boy, oh, boy, is that important! If it is not, the trailer will be wild as a buck dynamically. Everybody should experience that once, without wrecking, just to see what it is like.

Second, it is important because it pushes down on the rear axle and, by a see-saw kind of action, reduces weight on the front axle. If u get a little much, ur front wheels will slide more easily. It is quite hard to drive like that.

Tongue weight should be 14 to 18% of the gross weight of the trailer. Weigh your trailer with a load on it at a truck scale. Back the wheels off of the scale and unhook the trailer from the tow vehicle. Set the tongue of the trailer on the scale. The weight should be between 14 to 18% of the gross weight.

For all the reasons listed above, and for the best towing control and with the least stress on the tow vehicles suspension.

l disagree with above recommendation of 14 to 18%. My opinion, 10% max, and with boats you want closer to 7%.

My experience, tongue-light trailer will sway too much, tongue-heavy trailer will shake the tow vehicle.