Trailer load distribution calculator
Tongue weight is a lever problem: where the load sits relative to the axle decides everything.
%
Tongue weight
16.67%
- Tongue weight
- 200.0
- Total trailer weight
- 1200.0
- Where the load should sit
- 3.150
- Move the load forward by Negative means move it back.
- -0.350
- Tongue weight at the target percentage
- 120.0
Show the working
- Load weight = 800
- Empty trailer weight = 400
- Hitch to axle distance = 3.5
- Load centre from the hitch = 2.8
- Empty trailer tongue weight = 40
- Target tongue weight = 10
- load_tongue = 800 * (3.5 - 2.8) / 3.5 = 160
- Tongue weight = 160 + 40 = 200
- Total trailer weight = 800 + 400 = 1200
- Tongue weight = 1200 > 0 ? 200 / 1200 * 100 : 0 = 16.6667
- Tongue weight at the target percentage = 1200 * 10/100 = 120
- needed_load_tongue = 120 - 40 = 80
- Where the load should sit = 800 > 0 ? 3.5 * (1 - 80/800) : 0 = 3.15
- Move the load forward by = 2.8 - 3.15 = -0.35
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
Scenarios & local history
Compare a saved scenario
Recent calculations
The formula
- tongue weight from a load = load x (axle distance - load distance) / axle distance
Sixty percent of the load ahead of the axle is the traditional rule, and it lands close to 10 to 12% tongue weight.