Weight and Balance
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11773
Printed Date: 27 Jun 2025 at 9:33am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Weight and Balance
Posted By: lgblau
Subject: Weight and Balance
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 5:53pm
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Okay, Please see if I have this right. According to the scales, my TV and TT weight 8120. The TV rear axle and the TT weight 5600. The TT hooked up to the TV weighs 2900, and the TT by itself is 3390. The tongue weight is 490. Now, the TV alone weight is 4800 leaving me about 1400 lbs of cargo capacity of which 400 is for my wife and I, and 490 is for the tongue. So, where should I place the 400 or so remaining lbs. i really would appreciate your guidence. TIA ------------- Leonard🌵 2017/179 2017 Ram 1500 |
Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 6:08pm
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Not sure where you are headed with this. I can tell you my tongue weight is 100 lbs less than yours. My extra stuff is in cargo bed. Coolers, awnings, tools etc. None of which adds up to 400 lbs. What's making your tongue so heavy. Are your tanks full? Maybe someone has better answer than me. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 6:12pm
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No...The tanks are empty. I did buy, or rather, my wife bought a big 12” mattress. I think that is about 60lbs. Nothing else. ------------- Leonard🌵 2017/179 2017 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 6:17pm
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I did not weigh the TV bed stuff. Maybe it will not weigh that much. I have 2 chairs, a grill, a portable satellite, and a case of water. ------------- Leonard🌵 2017/179 2017 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 7:23pm
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I don't know, still confused by tongue weight, and the fact you have standard stuff. Maybe I am being a stickler. As long as you can tow with no adverse stuff, I think ok. Most 179s around 350, my 178 is 380 with genset and rack. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 9:37pm
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I wonder if the guy at the scales got some of the weights wrong. Do you suggest a reweigh. ------------- Leonard🌵 2017/179 2017 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 11:11pm
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I agree with Mike. Distribute the weight so that you can tow without sway and without too much weight on the tongue. The tongue weight out to be 10% to about 15% of your trailer weight. So if your trailer weight is 3390, you want a tongue weight of 339 to 508.5 lbs. Any weight you add to the trailer ought to keep the tongue weight at 10 go 15%. If you add 100 pounds of stuff to the trailer, try to position it so it adds 10 to 15 pounds to the tongue. This isn't really hyper-critical; it's a guideline. That's the target. Get close and if you experience sway, move something from the back to the front. Going over a scale is good and can provide valuable information, but it's not necessary most of the time. I'm not bragging, but I've never weighed my Pod. I guess I could be wrong, but I'm sure I'm under my capacity and the balance is within tolerances based on on the road handling. It sounds like you are trying to get right up to your tow capacity. (I don't understand why you say you say you need to figure out where to put 400 pounds). Generally, you want to stay as far below your tow capacity as you can without sacrificing necessities or things you want to take. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 1:59pm
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What I meant is....If I were to max out the axle at 3300 lbs would it be best to place the weight at the rear in lieu of adding it forward as tongue wt. ------------- Leonard🌵 2017/179 2017 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 2:57pm
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It depends on where the weight is now. You want 10 to 15% of the trailer weight on the tongue. To the extent possible, I wouldn't suggest maxing out the weight on the axle. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 2:58pm
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Just take the total weight of your trailer with all your cargo, plus water? And make sure that you have 10 to 15% on the tongue of your vehicle.
With a full tank of water plus all my mods I'm running close to 600 lb on my tongue and I'm working on a weight loss plan right now, by removing one of my propane tanks up front (40 lbs) and moving my spare to the back hitch (65 lbs) instead of under mounted on the bal carrier. I bought the crane scale off eBay for $35 and I rig it up to weigh my tongue so I know exactly how much I have on the tongue. ------------- http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS John&Sue,SLO,CA 2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost 
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Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 3:11pm
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Thanks Tars Tarkas & voisj. Now you guys are talking my language. 😎 ------------- Leonard🌵 2017/179 2017 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 3:45pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |