How To lighten tongue weight

[scubaman]

I can only have a max of 500# on my tow vehicle's tongue weight. I was wondering if anyone has tried to swap out the metal propane tanks for composite and the regular battery for lithium to lighted up the hitch weight.
I figured replacing two tanks and the battery would save over 100#s.

[jsb5717]

Welcome aboard! I think we'll need more info. What trailer and tow vehicle are we talking about? At 500# max tongue weight it's likely that you don't have enough truck for the job in more areas than tongue weight. You'll find sound advise here with good data.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by scubaman

I can only have a max of 500# on my tow vehicle's tongue weight. I was wondering if anyone has tried to swap out the metal propane tanks for composite and the regular battery for lithium to lighted up the hitch weight.
I figured replacing two tanks and the battery would save over 100#s.

It would help if you shared some info on what btrailer you are wanting to tow and with what vehicle. The liquid propane will weigh much more than the tank. If you are so close that you're trying to shave off 100 lbs to meet the hitch capacity then there are really 2 solutions in my mind. 1. get a more capable tow vehicle (500 lb hitch tells me you have a very small suv) or 2. reduce the size of the trailer.

The tongue weight is a calculation of the overall weight of the trailer. With a travel trailer it's commonly 13% of the trailer weight. Reducing the tongue weight alone will induce sway and handling issues.

[scubaman]

I'm looking at a Coachmen LTZ 192RBS. The published hitch weight is 454#, I assume without battery or filled propane(2 tanks). The dry weight is 4100#
Since my Subaru Ascent is rate at 5000#max weight and 500# tongue weight I figured swapping out the propane tanks for composite and changing to a lithium battery would keep it under 500. Any thoughts??

[JRTJH]

With no idea of what tow vehicle and what trailer you're considering, you could be "so far out of the ball park that it's totally incomprehensible or it could be "barely adequate in some situations".... That said, it's likely that if 100 pounds "makes or breaks the safety" you're in over your head and will be unsafe more often than "barely under the wire".....

Now, that comment made, here's a comparison for you to consider:

Two EMPTY 20 pound propane tanks weigh around 19 pounds each (38 total) and two 30 pound steel tanks weigh around 25 pounds each (50 total)

Compared to composite tanks, two 20 pound tanks weigh 12 pounds each (24 total) and two 30 pound composite tanks weigh 17 pounds each (34 total)

TOTAL SAVINGS: on a pair of 20 pound tanks, you'd shave off 14 pounds and on two 30 pound tanks, you'd shave off 16 pounds.

Two GP 24 lead/acid batteries weigh about 41 pounds each (82 total) and two lithium batteries weigh around 18 pounds each (36 total) for 54 AH size.

TOTAL SAVINGS on a pair of batteries 82-36=46 pounds.

Consider that you'll also need to change out the converter/charger with lithium batteries, typically around a $350 conversion cost...

So, total weight reduction of about 14 pounds for two composite 5 gallon tanks and 46 pounds for the batteries for a total of around 60 pounds of weight reduction....

Now, for cost of that conversion: 20 pound composite tanks are around $125 each and the 54 amp hour batteries are around $500 each. So the cost to "save 60 pounds will cost you around $1600.... At that rate, I'd ask you if saving that amount of weight is worth that kind of investment ????

To be "outlandish" for a moment: It might be cheaper to plumb in a helium tank and replace the air in the front passthrough compartment to "lift the trailer"... Chances are it's cheaper and we all know that Keystone used the "Helium technology" to get their Cougar Half Ton trailers "light enough" to be towed by a half ton truck....... Yeah, I know, the comment is totally "tongue in cheek"....

Now, back to the original question: What kind of rig are we talking about??? The answer is likely much more "involved" than composite propane tanks and lithium batteries......

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by scubaman

I'm looking at a Coachmen LTZ 192RBS. The published hitch weight is 454#, I assume without battery or filled propane(2 tanks). The dry weight is 4100#
Since my Subaru Ascent is rate at 5000#max weight and 500# tongue weight I figured swapping out the propane tanks for composite and changing to a lithium battery would keep it under 500. Any thoughts??

My thought is get a real tow vehicle & not try to use your economical commuter to tow with.
There are 2 numbers that are ABSOLUTELY useless when matching a rv with a tow vehicle, #1 the max tow weight rating of your vehicle & #2 any number for the RV derived from the dry weight, payload posted on your vehicle & GVWR of your rv should be used.
I'm no mathematician but I'm fairly sure removing 100# from 2' back of the ball will not reduce 100# off the ball.
The only way to remove tongue weight is with a weight distributing hitch which has already been discussed with you in a previous thread, not recommended for a unibody vehicle.

[sourdough]

This conversation was discussed in this thread:

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=45294

The Subaru isn't, and was never meant to be, a tow vehicle for a tandem axle RV.....no matter how many composite tanks and helium filled batteries/tanks you put on it.

Just saw a guy pulling out of the park pulling a tiny Rpod; maybe the Subaru could pull that but even it would be a bad idea IMO.

[QCMan]

That trailer is a 5900 pound gvw trailer with what will be over 750 pounds of tongue weight. You need to get real about what you can tow and stop dreaming. You are still in dangerous territory!

[flybouy]

I've been away from the computer for a few hours but I thought this all sounded familiar. Did you think you would get different answers if you asked again?

[Sarge2]

Guess it's always worth a shot... lol

[flybouy]

The great thing about math is that if you do it correctly, you'll get the same answer no matter how many times you work the problem.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by flybouy

The great thing about math is that if you do it correctly, you'll get the same answer no matter how many times you work the problem.

15 yard penalty for piling on for Flyboy!

[flybouy]

Not piling on! A technical maybe.

[notanlines]

There is one thing that scares me more than towing a double axle RV with a Subaru: Towing a single axle RV with just a hint of cross-wind. I don't know if there is enough sway control to cover that experience at about 60 MPH.
George, I'll just go ahead and self-impose 15 yards, personal foul.

[markcee]

Originally Posted by notanlines

George, I'll just go ahead and self-impose 15 yards, personal foul.

After further review, the play stands!

[Mic]

practice talking alot

one can lose alot of weight form the tongue by talking alot.


.

[Sarge2]

Originally Posted by markcee

After further review, the play stands!

You guys are brutal... lol I give...

[dutchmensport]

scubaman,
To be completely honest and not sarcastic at all, but in all real and true sincerity, your tow vehicle is not adequate to tow that trailer. I'm sorry, but that's just reality. Every vehicle is designed for a specific purpose. Unfortunately, yours is not designed to tow a trailer any larger than a small utility trailer that might carry a lawn mower and a gallon gas can.

You can probably comfortably tow a pop-up camper, a T@B, teardrop, an R-pod, Scamp, or something like the Airstream Nest. (basically, any travel trailer with a single axle). But anything with a dual axle will be too much for your tow vehicle.

If RV ownership is your dream, you need the correctly sized tow vehicle. If not you are putting your equipment in jeopardy of severe failure. Not to mention the safety factor and risks you'll be putting yourself, your family, and other drivers on the road in.

Once on the road, it's not a game or a toy any more. it's reality. And reality does not give you a second chance if you screw it up.

[Kebees42]

If you get tongue too light it will be swaying all over the road and become dangerous.

[CaptnJohn]

Subaru tow,,, LOL! You tow that behind a small class C not the other way...