Date:         Fri, 3 Jun 2005 08:22:59 -0400
Reply-To:     Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: '88 Westy: Towing Capacity?
Comments: To: jhecht@alum.mit.edu
In-Reply-To:  <3u3f9p$18i6oc@smtp04.mrf.mail.rcn.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On 6/3/05, Joy Hecht <jhecht@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> What does "tongue weight" refer to in these figures?
> 
> 
> Joy
> 
> ****************************************************************
> Joy Hecht
> and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
> 
> For musings about life and the vanadventures:
> http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
> 
> ****************************************************************

Joy,

Tongue weight is the amount of down force applied to the trailer hitch
by the trailer.  You need enough "weight" to keep the trailer firmly
attached to the hitch ball, but if there is too much down force, you
will lighten the front wheels and get scary steering.  If you go to
ridiculous weight, you can bend or break the hitch itself...

Tongue weight is adjusted by placing heavy objects on the trailer
either closer to the front of the trailer or moving them back toward
the trailer wheels.

-- 
Don in Reidsville, NC
AMA, STOC #571, COG #6842
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
"Why do they call it a fixed income, if mine is always broke?"