How we made this guide: picks and specs come from our catalog and fitment data, owner quotes come from verified reviews and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.
Tongue weight is the downward force a trailer coupler puts on the hitch ball of your truck, and pin weight is the same force on the king pin of a fifth wheel, or on the in-bed ball of a gooseneck. Both are measured in pounds and both have a rating on the hitch that you must stay under.
B&W's Tow & Stow manual recommends that your hitch's vertical towing weight rating be no more than 10% of your truck's max tow rating (max tow rating x 0.10). That rule sizes the hitch; the tongue weight itself is found on a scale. B&W's Tow & Stow ball mount starts at $389 in our range, and the ratings of every B&W hitch below come straight from the listings.
Quick answer
Tongue weight is what a bumper-pull trailer pushes down on the ball. Pin weight is what a fifth wheel or gooseneck pushes down on the bed. Find yours by weighing the loaded truck with and without the trailer, then compare the result with three limits: the hitch rating, the coupler rating and the limits in your owner's manual and on the door sticker.
Tongue weight and pin weight in plain terms
Picture the trailer as a see-saw resting on its axles. The part of the load that sits ahead of the axles pushes down on your hitch. On a bumper-pull trailer that push lands on the ball and is called tongue weight. B&W's manual calls the same number the vertical tow weight (VTW) or vertical towing weight rating (VTWR) when it is a hitch rating.
On a fifth wheel the push lands on a king pin, and on a gooseneck on a ball in the bed. Both sit over the rear axle, and the weight is called pin weight. The B&W listings use "vertical pin weight" for fifth wheels and "vertical tongue weight" for the Turnoverball gooseneck. The idea is the same. This weight rides on your truck, so it counts against the truck's payload as well as against the hitch.
B&W's Continuum manual says exceeding the tow or tongue rating of the coupler, the hitch, the truck or the trailer may damage towing components or cause a loss of attachment between the trailer and the truck. B&W's Continuum manual also lists trailer load distribution and tongue weight among the factors that affect towing stability, with speed, road and weather conditions and tires. It says to slow down if the trailer starts to sway. If you want the type-by-type picture first, start with our guide to types of trailer hitches.
How to measure tongue weight: the scale route
B&W's Tow & Stow manual gives a four-step weigh-in on a public scale. It has you drive the loaded rig to a public scale, such as one at a truck stop or quarry, for a small fee. Fill the tank and load everything you would carry on a real trip, passengers included.
- Find your gross combined weight (GCW). Weigh the fully loaded truck and trailer together, with all cargo, a full tank of gas and passengers.
- Find your gross vehicle weight (GVW). Weigh just the truck with a full tank, all passengers and everything in the cab and bed, with the trailer loaded and still attached but off the scale.
- Find your truck weight. Weigh the loaded truck with the trailer not attached, then subtract it from the GCW. That difference is your towing weight.
- Find your vertical tow weight (VTW), also called tongue weight. Subtract the truck weight from the GVW.
Here is an illustration with made-up numbers. A loaded truck alone weighs 6,400 lb. With the trailer attached and only the truck wheels on the scale, it reads 7,300 lb. The tongue weight is 7,300 minus 6,400, or 900 lb. These figures are invented to show the arithmetic, not typical values.
The same manual adds a warning: even if you are under your truck's maximum tow rating, a higher gross vehicle weight from more passengers or cargo can mean you cannot tow that rating, because the gross combined weight rating must not be exceeded. It also says not to exceed your truck maker's GVWR or GCWR. B&W says the GVWR is most likely on the sticker inside the driver's door, and the GCWR is in your owner's manual or available from your truck dealer.
B&W's Continuum manual also names a tongue weight scale as one way to get the number when you set up a weight distribution hitch, and tells you to refer to your vehicle's manual first. Its steps for that hitch are covered in our weight distribution hitch set-up guide, so we will not repeat them here.
The B&W documents we have on file describe a weigh-in for tongue weight only. For pin weight, follow the instructions in your trailer maker's and truck maker's manuals, and treat any figure you cannot trace to one of those as a guess.
It depends on the hitch: the ratings that matter
The number you measure only means something next to a rating. This table lists the B&W parts we carry exactly as their listings show them. A hitch rating is a ceiling for the hitch and never a target; the lowest limit in the chain sets what you can tow.
| B&W hitch | Type | Tongue or pin weight | Gross trailer weight | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tow & Stow, 2.5 in shank, 2-5/16 in ball | Adjustable ball mount | 1,800 lb | 18,000 lb | $389 |
| Tow & Stow, 2.5 in shank, 2 in ball | Adjustable ball mount | 750 lb | 7,500 lb | Same part |
| Continuum WDHK4500 | Weight distribution hitch | 600 to 1,600 lb tongue weight | 16,000 lb | $1,299 |
| Patriot RVK3255 | Rail-mounted fifth wheel | 4,500 lb pin weight | 18,000 lb | $799 |
| Companion RVK3600 | Fifth wheel for Ram pucks | 6,250 lb pin weight | 25,000 lb | $1,399 |
| Turnoverball GNRK1121, 2-5/16 in ball | Under-bed gooseneck | 7,500 lb tongue weight | 30,000 lb | $599 |
The Turnoverball listing adds "and not more than your truck's rating" to both numbers, and the Tow & Stow ratings drop with a smaller ball, as the 2 inch row shows. B&W's Tow & Stow manual lists separate ratings for 2, 2.5 and 3 inch shanks, so read the line for your receiver. Trucks differ, and we give no truck rating here: check your owner's manual and door sticker for the truck's own numbers.
Bumper pull ball mount
From $389 · A universal 2.5 inch shank mount with a 2 inch and a 2-5/16 inch ball; the rating follows whichever ball you tow on.
If you tow a bumper-pull trailer
Match three things before you hook up: the weight on the ball, the ball size and the shank. The Tow & Stow manual tells you to remove any reducer sleeve from the receiver and measure the opening, because a sleeve can lower the tow rating and add noise. It also recommends a minimum of 11 inches of clearance between the ground and the lowest part of the hitch, and says a level trailer helps keep handling steady.
“I was able to use the adjustability to get the trailer tongue high enough we were able to remove the jack leg.”
B&W Tow & Stow Adjustable Ball Mount, 2.5" Shank, 8.5" Drop, Dual Ball 2" x 2-5/16", Black (TS20043B) owner · 4 out of 5 stars
B&W's Continuum manual adds that tire condition affects sway: tires that are under-inflated, overloaded or damaged greatly lower the speed at which a trailer stays stable. The same manual says to inspect the hitch, receiver, coupler and frame before each use and not to use a hitch with cracks or damage. For more on the trade-offs with heavier trailers, see gooseneck vs bumper pull.
In the 200 reviews on file for the Tow & Stow, one mentions rust spots on the receiver insert and pins after a month, while another says it makes noise even with a silencer fitted. Those are counts from the reviews on file, not a rate.
Does a weight distribution hitch reduce tongue weight?
B&W's Continuum manual describes the job like this: the hitch transfers part of a coupled trailer's weight from the tow vehicle's rear tires to its front tires. It is rated by the trailer's tongue weight, 600 to 1,600 lb, and by a maximum trailer weight of 16,000 lb, and its listing shows a hydraulic hand pump with a pressure gauge operated from the driver's side. The manual does not describe it as a way to change how heavy the tongue is. It moves weight between the truck's axles, so measure your tongue weight first and treat the hitch as a tool for spreading it.
The manual says the truck and trailer must both be fully loaded during set-up, and that you should not use the Continuum with any vehicle or trailer that is not designed for a weight distribution hitch. A trailer tongue lighter than 600 lb is outside the stated range. For the full basics see what a weight distribution hitch is.
Weight distribution
B&W Continuum Weight Distribution Hitch, 2" Shank, 2-5/16" Ball, Standard Coupler (WDHK4500)
From $1,299 · Rated for 600 to 1,600 lb tongue weight and a 16,000 lb trailer, with a hydraulic pump you work from the driver's side.
If you tow a fifth wheel or gooseneck
On these trailers the pin weight is the number to watch. The two fifth wheel hitches on the table differ in rating and mounting: the Companion RVK3600 drops into the four factory pucks on a Ram with the factory fifth wheel prep package, and its listing gives 6,250 lb vertical pin weight; the Patriot RVK3255 is listed for fifth wheel rails and rated at 4,500 lb. Our fifth wheel hitches page lists both, and the install side is in our fifth wheel install guide.
Highest pin rating here
From $1,399 · 6,250 lb pin weight and 25,000 lb gross trailer weight, for Rams with the factory puck system.
From the reviews on file for the Companion, one of 33 says the handle would not latch to slide.
“Easy install and working as it should so far- 2 camping trips on the books!!”
B&W Companion 25K Fifth Wheel Hitch for Ram Pucks, 25,000 lb GTW, 6,250 lb Pin Weight, Powder Coat (RVK3600) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Lower pin rating
From $799 · 4,500 lb pin weight and 18,000 lb gross trailer weight, for trucks with fifth wheel rails.
One Patriot owner on the hitch's own weight when removing it:
“The weight of the hitch is awesome and very manageable to take out and put in my other hitch weighted twice as much and a two person job to put in”
B&W Patriot 18K Rail-Mounted Fifth Wheel Hitch, 18,000 lb GTW, 4,500 lb Pin Weight, Powder Coat (RVK3255) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
A gooseneck is rated the same way. The Turnoverball GNRK1121 lists 7,500 lb vertical tongue weight and 30,000 lb gross trailer weight with the 2-5/16 inch ball, with a separate 3 inch B&W ball for heavier loads. It is listed for the 2015 to 2026 Ford F150 and bolts to existing frame holes. Our gooseneck hitches include other trucks, and our gooseneck ball guide covers the ball itself.
Gooseneck for the F150
B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, 2015-2026 Ford F150, 2-5/16" Ball (GNRK1121)
From $599 · 7,500 lb tongue weight and 30,000 lb gross trailer weight on the 2-5/16 inch ball, and never more than your truck's rating.
How to stay inside the limits
- Weigh the rig loaded as you really tow it, with a full tank and the passengers who ride along.
- Write down your truck's GVWR from the driver's door sticker and its GCWR from the owner's manual, as B&W's manual advises.
- Compare the tongue or pin weight you measured with the hitch rating, the coupler rating and the truck's own ratings. The lowest one is your limit.
- Re-weigh after you change the load, add water or swap a hitch.
- Use only B&W pins on a Tow & Stow, since B&W's manual warns that other pins are not for this hitch, and keep the pins clean and lightly greased.
When you are choosing between families of hitch, our weight distribution hitches and the full B&W hitch range sit side by side, so you can compare ratings on one page.
Frequently asked questions
What does 500 lb tongue weight mean?
It means the coupler is pressing down on the ball with 500 lb. The hitch must be rated for at least that, and your truck's payload has to carry it too. It is below the 600 lb low end B&W lists for the Continuum, so that hitch would be outside its stated range.
What is the tongue weight of a 10,000 lb trailer?
It depends on how the trailer is loaded, so weigh it with the steps above. For reference, B&W's documents give no tongue weight figure for a trailer of that size. Your hitch, coupler and truck ratings must all cover what the scale shows.
How do I measure tongue weight at home?
B&W's documents describe a public scale, not a home method. The Tow & Stow manual's weigh-in: weigh the loaded truck and trailer together, weigh the truck with the trailer attached but off the scale, weigh the truck alone, then subtract. The Continuum manual also mentions a tongue weight scale. We have no B&W instruction for any other home method.
What is pin weight on a fifth wheel?
It is the downward force the king pin puts on the fifth wheel hitch. The Companion RVK3600 is listed for 6,250 lb and the Patriot RVK3255 for 4,500 lb, and your truck has its own limit on top of that.
Match your hitch to the load
Related guides
- How to Set Up and Adjust a Weight Distribution Hitch: Steps From B&W's Continuum Manual
- Types of Trailer Hitches: Receiver, Gooseneck, Fifth Wheel and Weight Distribution
- Gooseneck vs Bumper Pull: Capacity, Stability, Cost and Which Trailer Hitch Suits You
- How to Install a Fifth Wheel Hitch: Factory Puck Systems, Rails and What the Job Involves
- Gooseneck Hitch Ball: Size, Ratings, Flipping, Removing and What Turnoverball Means