MarcG
Active Member
Does anyone here understand total trailer (and cargo) weight limits, versus "tongue weight"? I'm looking at trailers and not sure I understand what that means and how to think about such limits.
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Does anyone here understand total trailer (and cargo) weight limits, versus "tongue weight"? I'm looking at trailers and not sure I understand what that means and how to think about such limits.
Yeah I saw those numbers, just not sure what they mean.. I’m pretty new to this whole towing stuff.This is pretty clear cut and posted several times in this thread.
Tongue weight is the amount of weight that rests on the ball (i.e. the very front of the trailer's tongue). Trailer weight is the total weight of trailer and all cargo. A property built and loaded trailer should have a tongue weight that is 10% of total weight (hence why the tongue weight limits are exactly 10% of total weight). This is achieved by a combination of the placement of the trailer's axel along the front / back axis (i.e. balance point front to back) and where cargo is loaded (for example, when loading a utility trailer, one needs to ensure that the cargo has its weight appropriately distributed front to back to maintain tongue weight being approximately 10% of total weight).Yeah I saw those numbers, just not sure what they mean.. I’m pretty new to this whole towing stuff.
Thank you for the explanation! Much appreciated.Tongue weight is the amount of weight that rests on the ball (i.e. the very front of the trailer's tongue). Trailer weight is the total weight of trailer and all cargo. A property built and loaded trailer should have a tongue weight that is 10% of total weight (hence why the tongue weight limits are exactly 10% of total weight). This is achieved by a combination of the placement of the trailer's axel along the front / back axis (i.e. balance point front to back) and where cargo is loaded (for example, when loading a utility trailer, one needs to ensure that the cargo has its weight appropriately distributed front to back to maintain tongue weight being approximately 10% of total weight).
Found the answer to my question in the Model X service manual:Thank you for the explanation! Much appreciated.
Other question specific to the tow bar installation: do we know what are the torque specs on the 8 bolts (4 per side) should be?
Great write up and pics. How about to topping it off with a video showing the dash alerts when using a bike rack and/or trailer?Oh, and make sure you have deep sockets in both 10mm and 15mm to remove the bumper and original crash bar (and to install the tow bar).
Sharing some pics of my install:
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I don't have a refresh but I'm assuming he'll get the same error that my legacy P85D gets with a bike rack stating 'Park Assist Unavailable' and a chime every time I slow to about 5mph.Great write up and pics. How about to topping it off with a video showing the dash alerts when using a bike rack and/or trailer?
Ask and you shall receive! But first, some photos of the bike rack:Great write up and pics. How about to topping it off with a video showing the dash alerts when using a bike rack and/or trailer?
Most welcome! The chimes only appear in reverse, not in forward even when coming to a stop, so I’m okay with it as is.Nice, and thx! So the only thing you appear to be experiencing is a warning chime with the bike rack mounted. If Tesla decides to continue to only offer the hitch in Europe, I can deal with an occasional chime.
I think the rack design will vary on if you receive warnings or chimes in drive. His only appears to warn on backing up because his hitch sits above the bumper more where my legacy car with a diff design rack doesn't sit as high above the sensor so I receive a chime everytime I come to a stop and I disabled the backup warning tone.Nice, and thx! So the only thing you appear to be experiencing is a warning chime with the bike rack mounted. If Tesla decides to continue to only offer the hitch in Europe, I can deal with an occasional chime.
I think the rack design will vary on if you receive warnings or chimes in drive. His only appears to warn on backing up because his hitch sits above the bumper more where my legacy car with a diff design rack doesn't sit as high above the sensor so I receive a chime everytime I come to a stop and I disabled the backup warning tone.
Great photos, thanks. I also have a Plaid and am interested in installing a hitch. I would be using mine to tow a Kendon motorcycle trailer so wiring for lights is essential. Please keep us updated if you find a solution.Most welcome! The chimes only appear in reverse, not in forward even when coming to a stop, so I’m okay with it as is.
I was chatting with a buddy from France who has a Model 3 with the official trailer hitch from Tesla from delivery, and he says connecting anything to it disables all assists such as Autopilot (and the chimes of course) so I like our solution better.
Now the only question is how do I wire up a trailer for lights and electric brakes.. need to do some digging into that, perhaps using the CAN bus?