Trailer tongue weight

[Bdomini]

I have a 2015 Spyder RT and a 6x12 utility trailer. I will be using the 6x12 to transport my bike from NY to FL and back. The trailer weighs 970# and the Spyder about 1000#. I'll just round it all up to 2000# total. Is there anyone out there who has experience trailering an RT on a 6x12? If so how far back do l need to secure the Spyder to attain the recommended tongue weight of 10%-15% of total weight of 2000#(200#-300#)? Thank you in advance.

[MisterP]

Center the load over the axle. The tongue weight should be fine. If concerned, get a 300 lb scale and check it.

[Peter Aawen]

......Is there anyone out there who has experience trailering an RT on a 6x12? If so how far back do l need to secure the Spyder to attain the recommended tongue weight of 10%-15% of total weight of 2000#(200#-300#)? .....

I'm sorry Bdomini, but unless that 'someone' has EXACTLY the same trailer as you with the same tires running at EXACTLY the same pressure & with EXACTLY the same pre-load on the trailer bearings as well as having an 'A' arm & hitch that's EXACTLY the same dimensions as yours, plus the tub vehicle has EXACTLY the same height tow ball/tongue and EXACTLY the same weight Spyder that is EXACTLY the same dimensions & weight balance as yours, then their experience is at best only going to be a very rough guide for your Spyder placement; and a difference in any of those &/or a difference of just a few inches in placement fore & aft or as little as just a few lbs in weight balance positioned over the trailer axle could make a big difference in the down-load on the towball/tongue. :opps:

So as has already been mentioned, if you are concerned, & you probably should be if you can't reasonably well judge that 10-15% of your trailer total loaded weight (can anyone really??) then you probably should check the download weight, cos getting that wrong can badly impact on how well the trailer tows, & getting it really wrong can be pretty bad news for both the tug vehicle AND the trailer & load... and possibly also bad news for some of the vehicles &/or people around you when it all goes pear shaped!! :yikes:

Getting the hitch download right isn't all that hard, try loading the trailer & then putting the hitch end of the drawbar on your bathroom scales & moving the Spyder back & forth until the balance/download is right - most bathroom scales read up to 280 or so lbs don't they?? Besides, very few 'non specialist' tow hitches that might be mounted on the back of your tug will really be up to carrying much more than about 300lbs download anyway.... :thumbup:

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I'm sorry Bdomini, but unless that 'someone' has EXACTLY the same trailer as you with the same tires running at EXACTLY the same pressure & with EXACTLY the same pre-load on the trailer bearings as well as having an 'A' arm & hitch that's EXACTLY the same dimensions as yours, plus the tub vehicle has EXACTLY the same height tow ball/tongue and EXACTLY the same weight Spyder that is EXACTLY the same dimensions & weight balance as yours, then their experience is at best only going to be a very rough guide for your Spyder placement; and a difference in any of those &/or a difference of just a few inches in placement fore & aft or as little as just a few lbs in weight balance positioned over the trailer axle could make a big difference in the down-load on the towball/tongue. :opps:

So as has already been mentioned, if you are concerned, & you probably should be if you can't reasonably well judge that 10-15% of your trailer total loaded weight (can anyone really??) then you probably should check the download weight, cos getting that wrong can badly impact on how well the trailer tows, & getting it really wrong can be pretty bad news for both the tug vehicle AND the trailer & load... and possibly also bad news for some of the vehicles &/or people around you when it all goes pear shaped!! :yikes:

Getting the hitch download right isn't all that hard, try loading the trailer & then putting the hitch end of the drawbar on your bathroom scales & moving the Spyder back & forth until the balance/download is right - most bathroom scales read up to 280 or so lbs don't they?? Besides, very few 'non specialist' tow hitches that might be mounted on the back of your tug will really be up to carrying much more than about 300lbs download anyway.... :thumbup:
Peter have you noticed that a lot of people on this forum don't bother reading any other POSTs...........please read post #2...............would have saved you a bit of typing ....:D:D:D.Mike :bbq:

[Peter Aawen]

Yeah Mike, it does astound me that some don't get the difference between one or two colourless & non-descriptive sentences that don't really explain much at all beyond 'do this' vs a few descriptive paragraphs that make some effort to outline the fairly important why's & wherefore's of an answer in a little detail... ;)

But then, we all know that some people can work with the 'do this' answer quite well, while there are others out there who not only want to know a bit about the why's and wherefore's, there are just as many that really need to know the why's & wherefore's before they can come to grips with the problem & its solution well enough to take action. That's just one of the basic platforms of passing on knowledge; try to present it in a variety of ways so you not only give those with different learning needs a chance to pick it up, but also by repeating it in a slightly different or more fully detailed manner, you'll make sure that those who might've thought they got the idea the first time around get a chance to consolidate the knowledge &/or possibly even a chance to correct any mis-understanding they may have had about what was being passed on! :thumbup:

As for saving typing, once you learn to touch type at whatever speed/wpm, a bit of practice helps keep your speed up anyway - and besides, if you're feeling a tad lazy, there's always 'voice to text' software. :D :ohyea:

[Macgyver55]

I have a 2015 Spyder RT and a 6x12 utility trailer. I will be using the 6x12 to transport my bike from NY to FL and back. The trailer weighs 970# and the Spyder about 1000#. I'll just round it all up to 2000# total. Is there anyone out there who has experience trailering an RT on a 6x12? If so how far back do l need to secure the Spyder to attain the recommended tongue weight of 10%-15% of total weight of 2000#(200#-300#)? Thank you in advance.
i would be more concerned with what are you pulling it with ? also you want a drop down ball mount so the trailer sits level you can also lower the tow weight by backing the bike on the trailer engine weight to the rear Dont put any cover on the bike ! the cover will rub like sand paper best of luck on the trip:thumbup:

[Bdomini]

I will be towing with a 2013 Kia Sorento SX, V6, AWD. It has a tow rating of 3500#.

[Elembytes]

I have a 7X12 (If memory serves correctly) and I tow my 2012 and now my 2015 RT Limited on it. I don't pull all the way forward just forward of the axle and strap it down. I have never had any issues pulling the trailer for 3 hours or what ever. Trailer tracks fine and no issues. That was my .02 cents worth! ;)

[bluestratos]

10-15% is the sweet spot, more than that may put too much load on the pull vehical hitch, but if the hitch is rated for 1000# for example you can load the hitch higher. Less than 10% and you will find the trailer tail wags.
You can put the load slightly ahead of the axle and you should be fine. That will prevent tail wags but if you want to be sure use a scale to double check. Check on the internet on the way to do this correctly.

[kbwitt]

To get true tongue weight would it have to be at ball height or ground ok?

[MisterP]

Peter's elaborate prose reminds me of a story, all in good fun.

An Aussie was driving through a large sheep ranch one day, and saw a huge flock off in the distance. As he got closer, he saw the shepherd standing near the road, so he decided to impress him with his use of technology.

The driver pulled off the road and approached the shepherd. "G'day," he said. "If I can accurately count your herd of sheep, will you give me one?"

The shepherd shrugged and said "Sure, why not?"

The driver reached into his car and retrieved a laptop and satellite phone. After tethering the laptop to the phone he downloaded a real-time full-color image of the area. He digitized the photo, then used a mathematical algorithm of his own design. After a few seconds the laptop chimed and he turned to the shepherd. "This flock contains 14,643 sheep over 1,217 hectares." With a smug look, he closed the laptop and reached for a nearby animal.

"Very impressive," admitted the shepherd. "I think I know who you are. If I can identify you, will you give me back my property?"

The driver replied "I'll take that bet, because we have never met. There is no way you can know me."

"Your name is Peter," replied the shepherd, "and you post on the Spyderlovers forum."

"That's not possible," stammered the driver.

"It's quite simple," said the shepherd. "You told me what I already know and gave me more information than I asked for. It is a common syndrome on that and many forums." The shepherd stopped for a moment, the smug look now on his face.

"And," he continued, "give me back my dog."

[USAFE7RET]

Please, do not back your spyder onto the trailer, thereby towing it backwards. Your windshield will thank you for it.

[Bdomini]

Please, do not back your spyder onto the trailer, thereby towing it backwards. Your windshield will thank you for it.
If I were to have to back it on the trailer for some reason, I would remove the windshield.

[bluestratos]

I block the scale up to the hitch height then set the tongue on it. This gives the true tongue weight. Problem is that if there is a load on the trailer it is hard to get it up but a jack will take care of it.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

If I were to have to back it on the trailer for some reason, I would remove the windshield.
That works. I've done it twice.