How do I know ? Hitch weight issue ...

[birol]

That the tongue weight is propery for Finally ? I do not want to overload the hitch too much ? With the propane tank there I can not even lift it up anymore, looks too heavy. How do I ensure (at home) that the hitch weight is ok ?

[Garrett]

I sat the tongue on a jack stand then slowly crank the wheel jack onto a bathroom scale.  There is another way to check it if it is over the capacity of the scale using a board between two jack stands, one of which is on the scale.  Then you have to multiply your scale reading by two.  Unless you have really gotten carried away with loading the front of your PU you are far more likely to be light than heavy.

[tlhdoc]

Use a bathroom scale to weigh the tongue.  

[Ab Diver]

There are several ways to get the tongue weight measured for your trailer.
 
1) Actual measurement at the tongue, using a Sherline "Trailer Tongue Scale".
http://www.sherline.com/lm.htm
 
2) Using a bathroom scale to measure the tongue weight. Since most bathroom scales don't read high enough to measure the tongue weight of today's heavier pop-ups, you need to use a combination of one scale, a piece of 2x4, and a block of wood (or brick) the same height as the scale. (or two scales if you have them, one at each end of the 2x4) Place the scale/wood/brick under the tongue so it is centered over the 2x4, and use another piece of wood cut to the appropriate length for the tongue to *rest* on, so the tongue remains as close to level as possible. Slowly lower the tongue jack down on the second piece of wood, which is standing up (vertical) in the middle of the (horizontal) 2x4 across the scale/brick. Lower the tongue *just* enough so the weight comes off the tongue jack. You do NOT want to raise the jack high enough that the tongue could fall off the wood. The measurement you see on the scale will be 1/2 the tongue's actual weight. If using two scales, add their reading's together to get the tongue weight.
 
3) Taking the measurement at a "truck stop" type of scale. While you are at it, get ALL of these measurements:
 
A] Front Axle Weight of Tow Rig (trailer hitched)
 
B] Gross Weight of Tow Rig  (trailer hitched)
 
C] Gross Weight of Tow Rig (trailer unhitched with tongue jack resting on ground just in front of the scale, NOT on scale itself) This will give you your actual Tow Rig Gross Weight, AND your trailer's Actual Tongue Weight: (*B* minus *C* equals Tongue Weight). Then, by subtracting *A* from *C*, you will get the weight on your Tow Rig's Rear Axle.
 
D] Combined Vehicle Weight: the weight of BOTH the tow rig and trailer at the same time.
 
E] Weight of just the trailer's axle on the scale.  To get your trailer's Actual Gross Weight, add your Trailer's Tongue Weight to the Trailer's Axle Weight.
 
Using these measurements, you can get all the weight's needed:  tow rig front axle weight, tow rig rear axle weight, tow rig gross weight, trailer gross weight, trailer tongue weight, trailer axle weight, and "combined tow rig and trailer" weight. Then see how these numbers fit in with your tow rig and trailer's specs. Do not exceed any specs for your tow rig or trailer. Move, relocate, and if necessary, leave stuff at home so no particular rating is exceeded.
 
Note: the tongue weight of your trailer should be between 10-15% of your trailer's gross weight rating. Whether you need a weight distributing hitch, or can even use one at all, will depend on your individual tow vehicle and trailer manufactures' specifications. If you determine that a weight distributing hitch is needed (and allowed), measure everything one more time at the truck scale with the hitch in place and the trailer properly hitched up.
 
Hope this helps. If I forgot anything, somebody please correct me.