B - 4
TOWINg
B - 5
B
the tongue.
The tongue weight should be in between 10% - 15% of the trailer’s total
weight, but must not exceed the manufacturer’s maximum recommended
hitch weight of the tow vehicle or hitch. To determine tongue load, unhitch
tow vehicle and place the tongue hitch post on a scale. The trailer must be
properly loaded as determined above, with your allowable personal cargo
and variable weights.
Use a scale, such as a bathroom scale, that has a lower weight limit
than your tongue load to check the tongue weight by using the following
method (see illustration).
Place a piece of wood of approximately the same thickness as the bath-
room scales on the ground in line with the trailer hitch jack as shown. It
should be so spaced that a short piece of pipe or other round piece will lay
exactly one foot from the centerline of the jack extension. Place the scales
so that another round piece can be exactly two feet from the centerline of
the jack extension in the other direction. Place a 4 x 4 on the two round
pieces and screw the jack extension down on the top of the 4 x 4 until the
tongue of the trailer is supported by it. Multiply the scale reading by three.
This will be the tongue weight of your trailer. If you exceed the capacity of
the bathroom scales, increase the two-foot dimension to three or four more
feet, but always multiply the scale reading by the total number of feet between
the wood and scales.
Note: Be sure trailer is level when you read scales.
2 FT.
1 Ft.
Pipe
Pipe
Bathroom Scale
Wood Support
Summary of Contents for 2013 International
Page 18: ...A A 12 Warranty and Service NOTES ...
Page 30: ...Towing B 12 B ...
Page 34: ...Towing B 16 B NOTES ...
Page 68: ...Exterior D 22 D NOTES ...
Page 122: ...APPLIANCES H 8 H NOTES ...