Tongue Weight Chart
Tongue weight is quoted as a percentage and measured in pounds, and the conversion is where people lose track of it. This chart gives the target range for common trailer weights, alongside a reference for the five ratings that constrain a tow rig.
Generated from the same data the calculators use — a chart and a calculator on this site cannot disagree.
Target tongue weight by loaded trailer weight
| Trailer weight | Conventional 10% | Conventional 15% | Fifth wheel 15% | Fifth wheel 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 lb | 200 lb | 300 lb | 300 lb | 500 lb |
| 3,000 lb | 300 lb | 450 lb | 450 lb | 750 lb |
| 4,000 lb | 400 lb | 600 lb | 600 lb | 1,000 lb |
| 5,000 lb | 500 lb | 750 lb | 750 lb | 1,250 lb |
| 6,000 lb | 600 lb | 900 lb | 900 lb | 1,500 lb |
| 7,000 lb | 700 lb | 1,050 lb | 1,050 lb | 1,750 lb |
| 8,000 lb | 800 lb | 1,200 lb | 1,200 lb | 2,000 lb |
| 10,000 lb | 1,000 lb | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb | 2,500 lb |
| 12,000 lb | 1,200 lb | 1,800 lb | 1,800 lb | 3,000 lb |
| 15,000 lb | 1,500 lb | 2,250 lb | 2,250 lb | 3,750 lb |
| 18,000 lb | 1,800 lb | 2,700 lb | 2,700 lb | 4,500 lb |
The five ratings and what each one limits
| Rating | Limits | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| GVWR | The loaded tow vehicle alone, including tongue weight | Certification label, driver’s door jamb |
| GCWR | Tow vehicle and trailer together | Manufacturer towing guide |
| GAWR | Each axle individually, front and rear separately | Certification label, driver’s door jamb |
| Payload | Occupants plus cargo plus tongue weight | Yellow tyre and loading label |
| Hitch rating | Trailer weight and tongue weight at the receiver | Stamped on the receiver itself |
How to read this chart
Tongue weight rests on the tow vehicle, so it counts against payload exactly like cargo in the bed. On a half-ton pickup this is usually what runs out first, well before GCWR.
Below 10% on a conventional hitch the trailer becomes prone to sway, and sway at highway speed is difficult to recover from. Too little tongue weight is more dangerous than slightly too much.
Fifth wheel and gooseneck ranges are higher because the pin sits over or ahead of the rear axle rather than behind the bumper, which carries the load far more favourably.
These are targets for a loaded trailer. Dry weight from a brochure excludes propane, water, batteries and everything you pack, which together commonly add 500 to 1,500 pounds.
Sources
- Conventional hitch convention of 10–15% of loaded trailer weight
- Fifth wheel and gooseneck convention of 15–25%
- Vehicle certification and tyre loading labels
Reference values. Confirm against your vehicle’s certification label, towing guide and hitch rating, and verify with a scale.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage should tongue weight be?
10 to 15% of loaded trailer weight for a conventional hitch, 15 to 25% for a fifth wheel or gooseneck. Aim for the middle rather than the edges of either range.
Does tongue weight count against my payload?
Yes, in full. It presses down on the hitch and therefore on the tow vehicle, where it is indistinguishable from weight in the bed.
How do I change tongue weight?
Move cargo relative to the trailer axles. Forward increases it, aft reduces it. The tongue weight calculator on this site works out how far a given weight must move.
Which rating stops most people first?
Payload, on half-ton pickups. Advertised tow ratings assume a single 150 pound driver and nothing else, so passengers and accessories consume the margin quickly.