Finally bit the biscuit and purchased a Sherline (0 -1000 lb.) for weighing the hitch on our 177.  Got to play with it today and the only thing needed to do at this point is to go to a public scale so the total weight of the R-Pod and TV can be recorded.

Interesting, the label weight (empty) states 2415 lb.  We do not have (ordered it this way) A/C, convection/microwave oven, or entertainment system.  Empty weight was recorded as 360 lbs. on the hitch.  Next the 30 gallon FW tank was filled, and weight dropped to 270 lbs.  Drained water out of tank and hitch weight went back to the original 360 lbs. 

Will feel better after getting the weight of the 177 weighed as 270 lb. tongue weight seems like it may be a little "light" if I want that 11% + figure that OG has wisely recommended.  Then again, will want to load up as if we are going on a trip so the weight will be realistic.  Comments from all you engineering gurus? They are welcomed here.

Aft of axle 'X' becomes a negative number.

I was very happy to hit the scales and see how well it worked.

Just got back from the county weigh scales, here are the results:

truck - front axle 2800#

  "     - rear axle  2170#  includes 1 passenger @ 165# and 2/3 fuel tank

177  - 2620#  (includes 2 batteries @ 88#, 2 full propane tanks @ 74# + 60# incidentals)

                     does NOT include water

       -  + tongue weight of 360#

Total weight of 177 (w/o water) 2980

So now I have a dilemma that I never realized before  - by filling the FW + HW tanks the increase in weight will be 288 lbs bring the total weight to 3268 with a tongue weight of only 270 when FW tank is full only gives a bit over 8% tongue weight according to my calculations!  I did not add the 35 lbs into the black water tank (which is what I have as a minimum when camping) so the final outcome would be slightly off, but not by that much.

I wonder if the scale could have been off as I have hauled said 177 for the past 10 years over 34,000 miles with and '08 and '13 Explorer for 26,000 miles for 8 years and now most recently with an F-150 for the past 2 and have not had any issues - only using a Curt friction bar on all three vehicles. 

Wondering if I should get a 'second opinion' at another scale but figure the scales at the county should be correct as it came off the weighmasters truck.

Thanks OG

Yes, after the initial weigh in we unhooked the 177 off the hitch and weighed the rear axle.  Came out to 360# less, exactly what I got for hitch weight at home with the Sherline.

Going back 10 years we picked up our 177 and brought it home across the U.P. of Michigan in a bad snowstorm, lots of snow on the roadbed and our top speed never got above 50.  Was towing with a 2008 Explorer w/o the friction bar.  A couple months later we were finally able to go on a weekend trip, full fw tank and trailer loaded.  All was good till we hit 35 mph, tail wagging the dog.  Tried it a couple more times with the same result; i was clueless at the time.  We went home, rather bummed.  Talked to some friends about it and were told to get a friction bar.  Purchased it and the problem was rectified. 

Having a longer wheelbase on the F-150 vs. the Explorer will help here but when weather improves I will give it a go "carefully" to see if the problem repeats itself w/o the aid of the friction bar.  Right now, it is snowing like a banchi, c'mon spring!

Certainly there is the option of moving things out of the bed of the truck and into the front of the 177 to get the weight where it ought to be.  Since we normally boondock we also carry a couple of 5 gal. containers of water to supplant our FW tank, an additional 80 lbs. toward the front end should certainly help in the endeavor.

Was able to make it to the scale at the recyclers today in the midst of some wet snow, 35 miles away.

Here are the results:

truck and 177  8260#

truck    5280#

177   2980#

Curious thing here is that the 177 weight was exactly the same at both scales, however the truck weighed in 310# lighter at the first location and the kicker is that I had about 4 less gallons of fuel and also took out my golf clubs at the 2nd location.  So . . . . someone must have read the scale wrong at the first location as I could read the digital readout at the scales today, plus it was verified by the attendant there as well. 

Maybe I will put my bag of golf clubs back in if it will indeed lessen my trucks weight by 310 lbs!