My wife and I are looking to buy a 3 horse w/LQ trailer that weighs 10,500#. From reading this board, I know that the total trailer weight is only part of the equation, but how do I find out the tongue weight? We are trying to decide on a tow vehicle and I want to make sure it can handle the trailer and all the additional cargo (horses, gear, water, hay, etc).

Thanks in advance!

A guesstimate number is to figure 25% of the loaded trailer weight is on the hitch.

10,500 + 3(horses@1000) + 1500 of stuff (easy to do) = 15,000 pounds

25% of 15,000 = 3750 pounds at the hitch. This doesn't include the 1/4 cord of firewood and the two passengers. It all counts when you're on the scales.

It cost me $8 to pull my rig on a truckstop scale & get a certified axle loading...
(steer axle, drive axle & trailer axles)

Hosspuller - first off I want to say thank you for all the great information you provide. I have been reading this forum for a few weeks now and your posts have been so helpful. My wife is an endurance racer and we are trying to determine if a 2008 Silverado 3500 DRW Crew Cab Diesel will be enough truck for us. Your example confirmed I was doing my calculations correctly and it appears the 3500 my be just shy of being enough truck. My calculations are below. Any feedback would be truly appreciated!

Truck
6972 - 2008 Silverado 3500 DRW Crew Cab Diesel w/full tank of diesel
600 - 4 passengers
300 - luggage
480 - hay carried in truck bed
8352 - TOTAL TRUCK WEIGHT

Trailer
10240 - 3 horse w/LQ
1700 - 200 gal water
1000 - gear
3000 - 3 horses
15940- TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT

24,292 Actual GCW (Total Truck + Total Trailer)
23,500 GCWR (2008 Silverado 3500 DRW)
-792 Variance

3985 Tongue weight (25% of 15940 trailer)
12337 Actual GVW (8352 tot. truck + 3985 tongue weight)
11400 GVWR (2008 Silverado 3500 DRW)
-927 Variance

MTvector ... Congratulations ... on understanding the whole concept of vehicle weights. Your load calculations are spot on. I would not be concerned about the small variances over the ratings. A bit of water dumped and/or cargo shifted in the trailer will bring everything within the comfort zone. A scale is a true friend in your endeavors.

Hosspuller - thanks for validating my figures. If it wasn't for your posts I wouldn't know my tongue weight from my shoe size!

Now on to the next thing I don't understand... What is the reason/process for weighing your rig?i assume you take 3 separate measurements - front axel, rear axel and trailer axels. But what do you do with those numbers when you have them? Do you use them to confirm that any given axel isn't overloaded and or can you use them to determine you exact gross combine weight for the rig?

Thanks again,
mtvector

The scale I was on had three sections. While it was meant for a regular tractor/trailer...
I just pulled foward till the front wheels of my truck were just on the first section, the rear wheels of the 3500 DRW were on the second section, and all four tires of the trailer were on the last section.

There was a telephone at the scale, to call the desk and tell them you wanted a weighing.
For $8 bucks I got a nifty certificate showing the three weights.

Some scales you simply drive through and the system reads each axle weight.

If you look at the door jamb of your truck, there will be a weight rating for each axle GFAWR (Gross Front Axel Weight rating)or GRAWR

You want to make sure the scaled weights don't exceed the numbers. For the trailer tires, just divide the total weight by two to get an approximate axle weight or by four to get a tire load weight.

Got it, thanks. I will take the rig to a scale the first time I get it loaded up.