The tongue weight of a trailer should be what percent of the gross trailer weight rating

between 10 and 15 percent

Explanation:

How to put your load

- First load the heavy

The safe trailer starts loading correctly. Uneven weight can affect steering, brakes and swing control.

In general, 60% of the weight of the load should be in the front half of the trailer and 40% in the rear half (unless the manufacturer indicates something different). When you place the load, you want it to be balanced from side to side, keeping the center of gravity near the ground and on the axle of the trailer.

- Hold your load

After balancing the load, you must hold it in place. An untapped load can move when the vehicle is moving and cause trailer instability.

- Trailer weight

To avoid overloading the trailer, look for the recommended weight rating. It is located on the VIN plate in the trailer chassis, usually on the tongue. Confirm the Gross Vehicle Weight Classification (GVWR) before towing.

GVWR: is the total weight that the trailer can support, including its weight. You can also find this number as the Gross Trailer Weight (GTW). The weight of the tongue should be 10-15% of the GTW.