Which scale for tongue weight?

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Greg A
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Tongue

I agree Mark, it's specialized and pricey. I will be surprised if you keep the wheel on the tongue, especially on a 13. My wheel gathered dust in the garage and I always used the flat foot on the tongue. Provides a much more stable setup and I could always pick up the tongue on my 13's and just swing the trailer if needed.

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Spokane Sue
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Wheel on Tongue

Greg, So do you think the wheel is an unneeded option?

Hoping your adventures are wonderful,
Sue
2017 13' Bunk Bed/Big Bed
Subaru Outback 2011

Greg A
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Wheel

Sue,

Depends on your situation, I would never get if for me, but everyone has different needs. I'd get both a wheel and a flat foot, and play with both until you decide which one works better for you. They're very easy to change out.

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Spokane Sue
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Thanks, Greg. I saw Mark's

Thanks, Greg. I saw Mark's remark about his back and because of various medical issues over the years, I'm no longer able to pick up heavy stuff (though I'm hoping some exercise and weight lifting will give me back that ability) so I think you're right about getting both for now.  

Hoping your adventures are wonderful,
Sue
2017 13' Bunk Bed/Big Bed
Subaru Outback 2011

mk evenson
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No wheel?

Greg, re this, "... I could always pick up the tongue on my 13's and just swing the trailer if needed." I was off work for 4 months and retired early due to disc injuries. I am thinking a wheel would save my back. I may be wrong?

Mark

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Greg A
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Try it

Mark,

Due to your back issue you may want to try it with the wheel. Seems most people over the years get rid of the wheel, or never get it, and go with the flat foot, but may work out for your situation. I'd start out with it and see where you decide to end up.

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ManWithaVan
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Wheel or No Wheel

Mark, with your injuries I would not get the wheel, and here is why...

If you get the wheel and you are miss-aligned with your Tow Vehicle you will be tempted to "Muscle" the trailer into position using the wheel.

The problem with this plan is that you wil be using a twisting motion to force the tongue onto the hitch ball and a twisting motion can be harder on your back than the lifting motion you are trying to avoid.

Here is a better plan...

Simply get better at backing up your Tow Vehicle to your Trailer. This is probably why most people get rid of the wheel and use the flat foot. People naturally get better at backing up to their trailer over time and they find they don't need the wheel. Additionally, the flat foot helps add stability to your trailer when camping.

I guarantee you, that if I can take a Full-Sized Van (with no chance of seeing the hitch) and back it up under the hitch every time, you can get your Tow Vehicle properly aligned under your tongue too.

If you still have trouble getting under your hitch properly, you could get one of these...

    

    Hitch Mate

It's even cheaper than getting the wheel, and it will save your back !!!

As Always,

Happy Scamping !!!

rriebow
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Wheel vs. foot

This discussion meandered from the original tongue weight question, but since we are now talking about the wheel...

I never really understood why the wheel was on some horse trailers.  There is no way I could even move a trailer an inch, no matter how small the trailer.  This is how I line up the TV and trailer perfectly.  Ha ha ha, everyone does it differently!  I get in and out of the TV a lot and make my directional corrections starting at about 4 feet out.  Once I get to within inches,  I gauge the distance by leaving my TV driver door open and eyeball the ground against the door.  Much easier to see a two or three inch movement that way.  I want the hitch over at least 2/3 of the ball--it will slip on it once you lower it.  If it doesn't fall on it all the way, you can either kick the tongue a bit or take the TV in and out of park to wiggle it.  

Rhonda Riebow

mk evenson
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"kick the tongue"

Rhonda, thanks for the comment. I wish I could remember if my horse trailer had a wheel or not. It held 5 horses, which we had, but I am getting too old to remember. Oh well!

Mark

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mk evenson
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Pushing Scamp

ManWithaVan, thanks for the suggestion. I am really not concerned so much with aligning my TV with Scamp hitch for hook-up. I have pulled a large horse trailer and a mobile blood bank draw station and hooked up without ordeal. Of course I was younger , and could see then. LOL.

My Scamp will sit on a side piece of concrete next to my driveway, in a residential neighborhood. The angle of approach will be 25-45 degrees. My thinking for the wheel is simply to tuern the Scamp a bit towards the driveway. Jack wheel is $25 from Scamp. If not needed or otherwise ill advised, I will remove.

Mark

Thanks for making us feel so welcome.
If you have a choice, Please buy, "Made in America"

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