Trailer tongue weight

[Garden Bay]

I have a 14' sea Nymph aluminum boat. I am rebuilding the trailer that came with it and was wondering if anyone can tell me where I should position the axles so that it has enough tongue weight and still is somewhat balances with a 9 h.p. outboard (haven't purchased yet just using a Minn-Kota) Currently without any outboard it is pretty near a neutral balance. There will be an anchor at each end of the boat which should even out that part of the equation. Thank You in advance for your answers.

[multibeard]

I was talking to a friend the other day. He said that in the last couple weeks 2 trailers had come off the ball from hitting a bump in the road in front of his house. Both of these trailers were loaded too heavy on the back causing the hitch to come off the ball when they hit the bump.

Make sure that you have enough tongue weight so this doesn't happen. The motor on the back can create a pretty good lifting force on the hitch when it hits a bump.

[Steve]

I have read that in general 10-155 of the total trailer weight should be on the tongue. I also always lock my tongue down with a padlock.

[Garden Bay]

Steve,
what does the 10-155 mean? A weight ratio?:confused: 10lbs on tongue for every 155 lbs gross?

[jpollman]

Garden Bay,

from what I've read the tongue weight should be between 10 and 15% of the gross trailer weight. Here is a chart to make things a bit easier. (I think that's what Steve was trying to say but missed the CAPS for the % sign :))

http://www.roadmaster-tow-bars.com/GTW_TW.htm