Front and Rear Axle Weight Limit

[Duck9300]

Hello all new to the forum here. 2018 Dodge Journey Crossroad w/ 3.6 in it. I was just wondering if anyone had any information on how much weight the front axle and the rear axle of the vehicle already have on them with no one in the vehicle and no luggage or anything. Just seeing whether it would be smart to put heavier people in the front or back when towing with a ~1100-1300 lb trailer (that's the total weight of the trailer and what will be in it). Example would be 2 250-270 lb people and then 2 150-180 lb people in the actual vehicle. Or if it would even really matter since it doesn't seem to be maxing out any of the weight limits set in the owners manual.

 

Just not sure how much the front end w/ the engine etc weighs in comparison to the back end of the vehicle itself. Sorry if this is too specific or what nots.

 

Thanks for any info

[jkeaton]

2500 lbs max including trailer, vehicle, people and cargo. I really don't think it matters whether the heavier people are in the front or back. 

[NavalLacrosse]

Agreed with Jkeaton,
TLDR;  moving people around the cabin will not have an effect that you'll notice, just don't exceed the tongue weight (250.lbs). Use weight distribution hitches if you are really worried:

 

Do not exceed the rated Tongue weight- (which is an abysmal 250.lbs)

The biggest issue is going to be have with a trailer of 1500 lbs gross-weight trailer will be tongue weight. if it vastly exceeds 250.lbs while going over bumps, it will 'lift' the front wheels during dynamic loads- severely reducing the ability to steer. (imagine a dip on the road while travelling 45mph: when the your trailer hits it- and you may have reduced traction for steering for 1 second, and your trailer's left-right sway gets to choose your direction for you before you regain full control.) This phenomenon can be corrected using a 'weight distribution hitch ($$)' far better than adjusting the weight of the people in the cabin.
 

now for math about moving people around the cabin:

(all the math is on a sticky note here at my desk- and I used the method of summing moments to make the following calculations:)

The weight of people in the car, as described, will provide no noticeable difference of steering performance: 
moving the weight difference of 240 lbs together from rear seat to front seat (max difference in weight of 4 total passengers switching seats) will only add an additional 70lbs to the front axle. if The Dodge Journey (assuming balance 50/50, which it's not. it's nose heavy SUV with a likely 60/40 distribution, but lets go 50/50 for conservative estimates.) has 2500 lbs per axle while sitting empty. Moving, and exchanging the heavy people from the rear to front of the cabin will have a max 2.7% increase of weight on the front axle.

 

so, no. it doesn't matter where people sit.
 

[Armando G]

That's what I was going to say... but I got 2.69% 

[OhareFred]

Huh.  I got 2.697%....but I was never that good at math....

[NavalLacrosse]

My calculation must be off... I didn't account for the slosh of oil in the V6 engine. Guess my number are off.
Throw them all out.