WHAT IS TONGUE WEIGHT
Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer places on your hitch. It should be 10–15% of your trailer’s total weight for safe towing and ideal truck and trailer performance.
Example: 10,000 lb trailer → 1,000 to 1,500 lbs tongue weight
calculate your tongue weight
WHY TONGUE WEIGHT MATTERS
The Sway Maker
TOO LITTLE TONGUE WEIGHT
Creates significant
instability
Intuitive reactions make the
situation worse
The Rig Wrecker
TOO MUCH TONGUE WEIGHT
Increases driveline component wear
Increases stopping distance
Reduces fuel economy
Real world impact: Stopping distance
In a real-world test, the truck towing a trailer with too much tongue weight (20% tongue weight) took 22% farther to stop.That’s an increased braking distance of 49 feet.
GET A WEIGH SAFEREAL WORLD IMPACT: Vehicle Damage Cost
Too much tongue weight doesn’t just feel heavy — it quietly destroys your truck. Every mile puts extra stress on critical components, and the repair bills stack up fast.
In our road test, just one stop with excessive tongue weight pushed axle temps up by 55% and left the truck working far harder than it should.
Over time, the damage adds up:
Suspension: 30–50% faster wear → $700–$1,500
Brakes: 30–50% faster wear → $300–$800
Wheel Bearings: 25–40% faster wear → $400–$800
Transmission/Driveline: 20–30% faster wear → $2,500–$5,000
Tires: 25–35% faster wear → $600–$1,200
Total potential cost over 5 years: $2,500–$6,600+
👉 You’d never haul 1,000 lbs in your truck bed without knowing it — so why tow 1,000 lbs of tongue weight blind?
GET A WEIGH SAFE
LEARN MORE ABOUT TONGUE WEIGHT
Want to dive more into tongue weight and proper towing technique? Here are some additional resources.
Our blog
Weigh Safe Makes the Invisible, Visible
Shop Weigh Safe and Tow with Confidence
Price range: $149.00 through $239.00
Sleek and strong - rated at 12,500lbs GTW - with a built-in tongue weight gauge
-
Price range: $304.00 through $484.00
The hitch that started it all - features a built-in tongue weight scale
-
Price range: $424.00 through $604.00
Our flagship aluminum hitch coated with black Cerakote for improved aesthetics
-
Price range: $324.00 through $474.00
Measures tongue weight with a high towing capacity - up to 22,000 lbs GTW
-
Price range: $99.00 through $159.00
Durable fixed mount that measures tongue weight
-
