Tongue weight by trailer type

travel trailer / RV

10–15% tongue weight

A conventional bumper-pull travel trailer or RV should carry 10–15% of its loaded weight on the tongue. That downforce on the hitch ball is what keeps the trailer tracking straight instead of swaying.

utility trailer

10–15% tongue weight

An open utility trailer follows the standard bumper-pull rule: 10–15% of the loaded weight on the tongue. Because the deck is open, where you place the load has a big effect on tongue weight.

enclosed cargo trailer

10–15% tongue weight

An enclosed cargo trailer uses the same 10–15% band as other bumper-pull trailers. The closed box makes it easy to load too much toward the rear, so tongue weight deserves a check.

horse trailer

10–15% tongue weight

A bumper-pull horse trailer follows the standard 10–15% rule. Live, shifting load makes stability especially important, so keeping tongue weight in range matters more than usual.

boat trailer

5–7% tongue weight

Boat trailers run a lower tongue weight — 5–7% of the total loaded weight — because their axles sit farther aft and the engine biases the load rearward. Aim for about 6% on a single axle, 5% on a tandem.

gooseneck trailer

15–25% pin weight

A gooseneck carries far more at the hitch than a bumper-pull: 15–25% of the loaded trailer weight as pin weight, commonly planned around 20%. That pin weight sits in the truck bed and eats into payload.

fifth-wheel trailer

15–25% pin weight

A fifth-wheel RV puts 15–25% of its loaded weight on the kingpin, usually planned at about 20%. Because that pin weight rides in the truck bed, it is the number that most often uses up your truck’s payload.