Weight Distribution, Sway, and Tongue Weight

[leslie]

I am VERY interested in an anti sway setup like the Andersen mentioned in this thread, but I have one nagging question....
I intend to find a commercial scale to determine my tongue weight.
After installing a rear bumper bike rack, I may discover that I am tongue weight shy. HOW DO YOU ADD TONGUE WEIGHT???

One day, I MIGHT install a generator over the hitch, but there are LOTS of stuff on the wish list ahead of that.

What do you do to add tongue weight???

Thanks, guys. Happy Trails........

I am new to RVing, and I thought one of the more experienced RVers would answer this question. This is what I understand: The wheels/axles act as a fulcrum. Items that are stored in your camper that are in front of the wheels/axles increase tongue weight. Moving items to a position behind the wheels/axles can reduce the tongue weight. Heavier items, such as canned foods, should be placed in the camper as low as possible. The kitchen storage is close to the axles.

I have read in some RV books that it is also important to balance the weight side to side.

[jerrybeaird]

Thanks surfsup, I appreciate it.  Did you torque the brackets all the way to 90 lbs?

[fasteddieb]

As good a place as any for this...

To review, our Flex has a maximum tongue weight of 450 lbs. The 21BHS listed 440 lbs tongue weight, but ours weighed almost 630 lbs loaded normally.

With about 4,500 lbs loaded weight, 450 lbs would be a nice goal, 10%, even with our reinforced hitch.

I was thinking about moving the spare tire rearwards. It's now pretty far forward, underneath and kind of near the entry door. I looked and there's no room under the trailer in the rear due to the waste storage tanks.

But I started thinking about mounting it on the back - that would be a fairly heavy item moved as far as possible to the rear.

Just so happens we are visiting a friend in Malabar who has an older travel trailer. Guess what?



Bear in mind, the rig seems to tow great - just concerned about being so far over Ford's recommendation.

[jtelles3993]

Thanks surfsup, I appreciate it.  Did you torque the brackets all the way to 90 lbs?

ND, yep I torqued to 90 with no issues. I also installed the set screw and followed the 1.5 turns past hand tight. Aluminum frame is plenty tough for setting up these brackets. I'm not concerned about installing the coupler bolts with the Andersen because it doesn't pry downward like a typical trunion WDH.

[jerrybeaird]

Thanks surfsup, I plan on installing mine tomorrow.  You make a good point on the side bolts, It makes a lot of sense, so I am going to hold off on those.

[djsamuel]

[quote timestamp="1426825449" author="@nd1979" source="/post/8187/thread"]I just had an Andersen delivered to my door after reading this thread and a gazillion others it seems.  I have read that some people have had their brackets slide and used a bolt of some sort instead of the set screw ( after drilling a hole).  

Has anybody done this or has it been a problem?  I will be installing the hitch when I am back in town and I am also wondering if the recommended 90 lbs of torque on the bolts on the brackets is too much for the aluminum frame and did everybody use the set screws or actual bolts.

Any thoughts?

I am also thinking of adding the 1/2 inch bolts to the trailer hitch like charliem did to be on the safe side.

Thanks![/quote]I just used the setscrew on my installation.  After over 5,000 miles, no slippage at all.  Just be sure to tighten the brackets with them already positions at the angle they would be if "pulled forward" under chain tension.  I believe the instructions mention this.  Worked great for me.

[jtelles3993]

ND, Fyi, I had a location issue with the brackets but instead of moving my tanks, I lengthened the chains. Took about 8" more chain.

[djsamuel]

[quote timestamp="1426992908" author="@surfsup" source="/post/8294/thread"]ND, Fyi, I had a slight fit with the brackets but instead of moving my tanks, I lengthened the chains. Took about 8" more chain.
[/quote]Same here.  I didn't need to lengthen 8", but still lengthened them to clear the tanks.  Andersen said that was fine.

[jtelles3993]

Yep, you can only remove 3 links. However, I called Andersen and they said you could add @ 24", which is way more than is needed on the CLs. Mine didn't require 8" either, but at that location they were much easier to work with.

[jerrybeaird]

Thanks djsamuel, I really appreciate it.  It sounds like with the proper installation, as you stated, it should be just fine.  I have towed the  TT twice now, without problems but I just want the extra margin of safety that many suggest with a WD and the Anderson seems the way for me to go.  

[jerrybeaird]

I was typing and just saw both of your replies about the need for more chain. A big thanks, as I don't want to relocate the tanks either.

[leslie]

As good a place as any for this...

To review, our Flex has a maximum tongue weight of 450 lbs. The 21BHS listed 440 lbs tongue weight, but ours weighed almost 630 lbs loaded normally.

With about 4,500 lbs loaded weight, 450 lbs would be a nice goal, 10%, even with our reinforced hitch.

I was thinking about moving the spare tire rearwards. It's now pretty far forward, underneath and kind of near the entry door. I looked and there's no room under the trailer in the rear due to the waste storage tanks.

But I started thinking about mounting it on the back - that would be a fairly heavy item moved as far as possible to the rear.

Just so happens we are visiting a friend in Malabar who has an older travel trailer. Guess what?



[img style="max-width:100%;" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7599/16861350356_2ab3db5906_z.jpg"]

What do you think? Cosmetically with a cover we think it would look fine. Is there appropriate structure that could hold that sort of weight cinched in tight to the trailer? Some of the weight could rest on the bumper, if that would help. Just wondering.

Bear in mind, the rig seems to tow great - just concerned about being so far over Ford's recommendation.

I like fasteddie's idea about moving the spare tire to the back bumper. Does anyone know the weight of the tire?

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/8283/thread" timestamp="1426981035" author="@fasteddieb"]
I was thinking about moving the spare tire rearwards. It's now pretty far forward, underneath and kind of near the entry door. I looked and there's no room under the trailer in the rear due to the waste storage tanks.

[/quote][font size="3"]Eddie,

Some thoughts on moving your spare:

For lack of better data let's assume the present tire location is half way between the axles and the ball, and the tire/wheel weighs 40#. Removing the tire will lighten the tongue by 20#. Hanging the tire on the rear bumper will lighten the tongue an additional 20# for a total of 40#. Is that worth it? Maybe it is. It certainly would be easier to get to the tire than the present location.

I don't think there is any structure strong enough in that back wall. It's all 1"x1" tubing. Not much to hang a bouncing 40# tire. Maybe you can conjure some mount that would tie to the bumper and get the tire CG close in over the bumper. Don't know what that might look like.
[/font]

[jtelles3993]

[quote source="/post/8283/thread" author="@fasteddieb" timestamp="1426981035"]
What do you think? Cosmetically with a cover we think it would look fine. Is there appropriate structure that could hold that sort of weight cinched in tight to the trailer? Some of the weight could rest on the bumper, if that would help. Just wondering.

Bear in mind, the rig seems to tow great - just concerned about being so far over Ford's recommendation.[/quote]

I can't see why something like [a href="http://www.awdirect.com/spare-tire-carrier/website_exclusive/?gclid=CjwKEAjw876oBRCYr86w6KGfpkgSJAACIidwXVg0SvbrkDXqi_kUwzuUtzErBq-GzFk-hfuHjBqZ1hoCshPw_wcB&epc=AWSEPLA&CID=AWSEPLA&ef_id=VIJIPwAAATl1sbve:20150323163907:s"]this[/a] or [a href="http://www.ruralking.com/universal-rv-tire-carrier.html?fee=2&fep=83743&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CjwKEAjw876oBRCYr86w6KGfpkgSJAACIidwzRc3GhalAp3-pN1SW0wBWlTc9zQ2aYNCOndsx-MLnRoCAFrw_wcB"]this[/a] on the rear bumper wouldn't work just fine?

[fasteddieb]

Thanks, Charlie!

Since I'm technically in an overloaded conditon, lightening up by 60 lbs would be a nontrivial step in the right direction.

Thanks Surfsup,

But have not some questioned the load-carrying ability of the bumper? Though I admit it sure gives the appearance of being strong enough to support 40 lb, especially if cinched in tight.