easiryder

Ok, based on the responses here and on other forums, here is what I understand.

With my cargo capacity of 1425 lbs, tongue weight of 837 lbs, and with a 20% transfer of weight by the WDH I have the following math equation: 1425 - 670 ( 80% of tongue ) = 755 lbs of available cargo payload in the cab and bed.

I am assuming I have to subtract the weight of the weight distribution hitch from the 755 lbs. I have not seen anywhere that the 1425 available cargo payload includes the 150 lb driver.

Is my thinking hat on straight, or do I still have this wrong?

easiryder

My bad, just read the fine print on the Ford Towing guidelines and weight of 150 driver is included. The math above remains the same, so am I thinking right?

smurfs_of_war

Yup, you're on the right track. With this TT GVWR, how does your F150 GCW look against the listed GCWR? That is the threshold where you will start burning things up like your transmission and engine. I am assuming the GCWR is in that 15000 mark, right?

easiryder

If I am reading the Ford 2013 Towing guidelines correctly, the truck GCWR is 13,500.

smurfs_of_war

Yikes. I suspect you have a GVWR of 7200 right? If so- that TT will put you over if you're fully loaded. Better confirm that. You would be surprised how much "stuff" finds its way into the TT over time and I think the actual loaded weight might surprise you.

easiryder

Trailer GVWR is 7,300 lbs. Based on what I usually put in my prevous trailer, the most i carry is 650 Lbs,added to the dry weight with full propane tanks, the weight of the trailer is around 6.550 lbs. Max cargo in the truck with driver, passengers, and stuff is 750 lbs. IS that still a "yikes" ?

smurfs_of_war

Give me a couple to sort this out on paper. FWIW, I use GVWRs to figure this out because that's a worst case scenario, and we all know that can happen without us realizing it

Boulevard

The 3.55 equipped truck is rated at 7500 pound pull. The 3.73 rated truck is rated at 9100 pound pull.....its the EXACT same truck....you aren't going to hurt anything on that truck pulling 7000 pounds. If you are still nervous about weight than run with the water/grey/black tanks empty.. that's what is giving the trailer such an increase in the GVWR. On an average 25 footer you can expect to carry an additional 1300 pounds in fluids which is factored into the GVWR for the trailer....loose the fluids...loose 1300 pounds....no 'Yikes'.

smurfs_of_war

I somewhat disagree. Not on the liquid, but on the weight. I have done it on paper. This is just paper- you need actual weights.

Truck GVW with 100% accurate WDH setup given the weights provided- 7142lbs- good to go if its a 7200lbs GVWR. *EDIT* I forgot the WDH in this figure, so with that, you might be a little over. I wouldn't lose sleep over that.

Trailer weight given the dry weight plus 300lbs for "options" that don't reflect on the dry weight and 400lbs of cargo- 6550lbs.

GCWR given- 13500
GCW given figures- 13692 <- if you get weighed, you are in trouble. This weight gets worse depending on the load in the trailer and where its placed reflecting on payload.

These are with bare minimums. Without actual weights, it's impossible to tell. These are figures based on the info here, but just say, for whatever reason, you do load the trailer right up. Then you are over both the GVWR on the tow vehicle and a thousand plus pounds over GCWR. For my money- that's more than I would be comfortable with on a half ton with those gears and options. That's just me. Exceeding tow vehicle GVWR is one thing, but going over GCWR is another. My TT is 5900 GVWR- likely more around 5300 live, and it's pushing the numbers game on tow vehicle GVWR- in fact I am actually over on GVW when loaded and hitched, but I have ample room in GCWR and tow cap. It's not really about how much the truck can handle. It's about what the driver can handle and how much it's gonna hurt if you get weighed, say in BC, for example. GCWR is also the figure that determines the maximun combine weight that the drivetrain and braking can handle before things start to melt down.

Not trying to start an argument, but just giving my thoughts. I just don't want to see the guy torch his trans or something. FX4 must be a beefy trim package. I am definitely open to correction and critique

One more small edit- I don't play the numbers game at all unless it's getting that close to max tow rating- you can quickly google the fun out of anything. For all it matters, I size my TV based on about 65-70% of my max tow ability using the GVWR of the trailer and call it a day. I am at 61% now. I hook and go and don't give it a second thought. This is how I sized my TT and my now second TV. It's maybe not right, but I went through the same frustrating scenario the OP is right now and it just pissed me off

easiryder

All input is appreciated, I'm just wanting to stay on target and seek out the best knowledge from all the smart guys out there.

What I understand there are 2 issues:

1- Towing/Braking with the trailer GVWR of 7,300 and a dry weight with all options and empty tanks of 5,503 lbs, I can pack another 1,000 lbs inside the trailer and I am safely below the 7,700 lb Ford towing limit

2 - Truck payload- Payload on the truck is 1425 lbs. With weight distribution hitch, I can still carry 755 lbs of people/cargo in the truck and be at or below Ford limits.

I know I am close, but still below minimums. I've trailered enough to know my limitations. I just wanted an outside opinion to help me understand all the numbers and tell me I am ok. I don't want to get into wishful thinking.

With all that said...do my numbers make sense and ok?