Hi All! I'll be towing a Scamp 13 with my Subaru Outback, which has a tongue weight limit of 200 lbs. One of the methods I've seen for measuring tongue weight is by using a bathroom scale on top of a chunk of wood. Any other suggestions?
Sun, 07/30/2017 - 11:33
#1
Measuring Tongue Weight
Yep, we use a bathroom scale sitting on 12 x 6 x 6 wood blocks for our 16 Deluxe. Ours is around 255 pounds. I setup ours such that the trailer is sitting level when I lower the trailer just enough so the hitch rests on the scale.
Always do this on level ground and have the wheels chocked for safety.
In Illinois here the local grain elevator will weigh the truck and trailer as needed for $3
Thanks! Do you use one block of wood, or do you suspend the scale between two blocks? I'd rather just use one.
We set the scale on a piece of wood/particle board and the wheel directly on the scale. No problem!!
<p>Roger and Michelle</p>
I saw this on Amazon.com. The Sherline LM 1000. Might be easier to stow with you when away from home. I'm in the same boat as I'll be picking up our new 13' Scamp in December and I only have a Class 1 Hitch (2,000lb tow weight, 200lb tongue limit), so I'll be carful how much weight is up front.
Thanks, Lorbeer TLC. I checked out this scale and it would definitely be easier to store. I'll see what my budget says...
Well now I feel like I've been missing something. I only use a block of wood to rest the tongue on while I raise the jack and slide the scale under it and then lower the jack again until the weight of the camper is on the scale. I don't understand the purpose of the block of wood in the actually weighing, so I'd love to know the reason behind that! I admit my scale platform is a bit bent after the last weighing, so maybe that comes into play.
Now that I think more about it I may be answering my own question. Is it an accuracy issue with the weight at the jack not being quite the same as the weight right over the ball? How close is it?
I'm so very glad for the information I learn on this forum. After feeling a little silly that the laws of physics had eluded me, I conducted an experiment so that I knew the whole story. I placed the bathroom scale under the coupler (on a 5 gallong bucket and some wood) and then placed the scale under the jack. The weight difference was about 20 pounds lighter when measured at it's rightful location under the coupler.
That is great news for me since I'm working with the tongue weight guidelines of an Outback. (Woo hoo! I can pack things in the front cabinets!)
Hey, thanks for sharing the results of your experiment! I love these forums too - lots of information and knowledgeable people. Can't wait until I get my Scamp!
Where to place the scale?
The Sherline owners manual does a good job of explaining the placement of their product to correctly measure the tongue weight. I do not own one as I use the bathroom scale method. (The manual can be found on the manufacturers website.)
Safe towing everyone!
Thanks!