Baystate Jeepers

Anyone have one I can use? At over $100 (from a few minutes of Googling) it doesn't make much sense to buy if one of you nice guys have one I can use. Pulled up to NH with too much, then back to MA without enough, it would be nice to put it on the scales and set some blocks on the deck and not have to worry about it anymore.

I used a bathroom scale.

Measuring the tongue weight to determine the best place to put your rig works well on paper, but I found that going by feel is best.
If the regular tow'ers on here don't have the real scale, I would try NEOW. One of those guys might.

I had read somewhere that if you go to a truck stop or a weigh station you can set your tongue weight. If I remember correctly it involves taking several measurements with and without the tow rig on the scales. I can't seem to find the article right now though. If you can find it though it may be a plan B to getting a tongue scale.

Joe I agree with you for the most part. After years of loading trailers with scissor lifts and tons of heavy tools, we'd usually just hook it up and drag it, that was also with 3/4 ton trucks. I want to make towing on my little 1/2 ton as easy as possible, despite the fact I'm about 1,000 pounds less than my max tow rating. Considering my combined trailer/rig weight won't really change, I think it's worth putting it on the scales and finding where my 10% tongue weight is. Also thinking about adding a set of air springs to the rear axle. I was pretty well balanced when we made the ride to Swanzey, but it was pretty funny watching my trailer threatening Cadillacs next to me rolling down 495 Sunday night on a light tongue.

Josh, good point about the truck scales. Pretty simple process: weigh the rig, add it to the trailer weight, then set the tongue of the trailer on the scales until you reach 10%.

I usually just pull forward until the back of the truck goes down a few inches and it looks nice and level! Admittedly the first few times I towed I tried changing the position a little bit forward and back and going by feel. Once I knew where it "felt" the best, I just keep putting it in the same spot. I never calculated how much weight I was actually putting on the hitch. As long as I'm within capacity, what really matters is how well it handles on the road.

Marky wrote:I usually just pull forward until the back of the truck goes down a few inches and it looks nice and level! Admittedly the first few times I towed I tried changing the position a little bit forward and back and going by feel. Once I knew where it "felt" the best, I just keep putting it in the same spot. I never calculated how much weight I was actually putting on the hitch. As long as I'm within capacity, what really matters is how well it handles on the road.

Ditto.... I did like Marky but started by getting 2 people ( aprx 450Lbs) to stand on the back of the Kia and measured the the just over 3" drop of the bumper.Then hooked up the trailer and pulled the heap on till I got the same drop and went from there. I actually pulled forward about 2 inches more so I could store stuff on the rear of the trailer which helped with the weight distribution as well.

I like to pick up the tongue and do shoulder shrugs to determine the weight.

Sometimes I like to slip the tongue too.

I would just do a test drive and pay attention to how you loaded the Jeep... Make stops every few miles and adjust to see how it handles.

JW

The scales on Rte 93 are always on. NB and SB located between exits 3 & 4. Go in when they are closed (to commercial traffic), pull onto the scales near the building. The display is always on.

FWIW...I just posted this on NEOW (looking for a tongue weight scale) We'll see if anyone responds.

Someone posted on NEOW...

Bathroom scale

http://hildstrom.com/projects/tonguescale/index.html

Having driven Tractor for some 21 yrs. I agree with the concern of balance of the load. I have a simple way of balancing it ! In between your tandems on your trailer are a set of spreader bars to which the ends of the leaf springs are attached . Hook to your tow vehicle on level ground and look at your spreader bars. Its the three pivot point bar your springs split the load with and allow the springs to flex and follow the road. When you load your jeep ,you should be looking about the same angle as empty ,slightly front higher. That will put enough weight on the tongue and keep the trailer straight behind you. You may have to adjust a little here and there but Im sure you'll be a happy camper. I put a spot of paint on the deck , and put that spot under the hub of the front wheel and rarely have to move the Jeep. Hope that helps. FjR68