New to Towing, Is this going to work?
05-12-2016, 10:29 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New to Towing, Is this going to work?
I just picked up a new 2.7L SCREW that is an absolutely fantastic truck. This summer a bunch of buddies and I are going to an event and I am to pull a bunkhouse. I want to make sure this will work...
The trailer is a Summerland 2600, a 28' bunkhouse. According to the specs, the trailer weighs 4,743 pounds, with a tongue weight of 545 pounds.
The trailer will use a weight distribution hitch -- and the truck will only have two 250# guys in it and a generator.
With about 1400# of GVWR available it will be tight (500 for people, roughly 125 for fuel, 100 for generator and say 200 for hitch and say 600# tongue weight). But won't the weight distribution hitch help a bit?
Pulling the weight shouldn't be an issue, I just never thought GVWR would be this big an issue.
Am I screwed? Can I pull this off?
The trailer is a Summerland 2600, a 28' bunkhouse. According to the specs, the trailer weighs 4,743 pounds, with a tongue weight of 545 pounds.
The trailer will use a weight distribution hitch -- and the truck will only have two 250# guys in it and a generator.
With about 1400# of GVWR available it will be tight (500 for people, roughly 125 for fuel, 100 for generator and say 200 for hitch and say 600# tongue weight). But won't the weight distribution hitch help a bit?
Pulling the weight shouldn't be an issue, I just never thought GVWR would be this big an issue.
Am I screwed? Can I pull this off?
05-12-2016, 10:40 PM
#2
1400# is your payload, not your GVWR, but I get what you are saying. You are fine. If you are really concerned about being over even 1 lb, maybe move that fuel for the generator to the trailer, if possible. Otherwise, just go for it.
05-13-2016, 12:04 AM
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your trailer weight is probably dry weight. Expect to add about 1K Lbs to that. Your tongue weight will come about to be about 700lb. Your payload already factors the driver and a full tank of gas, so !25lbs of your weight will be included in the payload. So here's the math.
375lbs for people
700lbs for loaded tongue weight
100lbs for WHD
You have headroom of about 225lbs for cargo and other stuff. Instead of carrying your generator and fuel in your truck bed, you can put them in the TT t reduced the weight. Whatever you place in the TT will account for about 10-15% of actual weight as tongue weight.
I am pulling 26' 5000lb dry with similar tongue weight as yours and have no issues towing. With 400lbs passenger weight, I had to beef up rear suspension, but the truck has no problem running up and down steep grades. Which axle do you have? I have 3.73 which is a huge help. If you have 3.31, you may have a bit of trouble pulling anything above 6000lbs.
375lbs for people
700lbs for loaded tongue weight
100lbs for WHD
You have headroom of about 225lbs for cargo and other stuff. Instead of carrying your generator and fuel in your truck bed, you can put them in the TT t reduced the weight. Whatever you place in the TT will account for about 10-15% of actual weight as tongue weight.
I am pulling 26' 5000lb dry with similar tongue weight as yours and have no issues towing. With 400lbs passenger weight, I had to beef up rear suspension, but the truck has no problem running up and down steep grades. Which axle do you have? I have 3.73 which is a huge help. If you have 3.31, you may have a bit of trouble pulling anything above 6000lbs.
05-13-2016, 12:33 AM
#4
500 lbs for people
700 lbs for tongue weight
100 lbs for WDH
50 lbs for "stuff" in the truck
is 1,350 lbs right there. Any after market additions for your truck? Step bars, bed cover, generator, etc? You will probably be just over your GVWR.
But I think you can "pull it off".
700 lbs for tongue weight
100 lbs for WDH
50 lbs for "stuff" in the truck
is 1,350 lbs right there. Any after market additions for your truck? Step bars, bed cover, generator, etc? You will probably be just over your GVWR.
But I think you can "pull it off".
05-13-2016, 07:45 AM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you so much for all the feedback. If the payload factors in a driver and gas (the gas I listed was for the truck itself) then there is some play there, but sure as heck not much.
Wanted to answer some of the questions. The truck has the 3.55 gears and the only add-ons it will have is a bedliner and hard tonneau cover that I'll likely take off.
Appreciate the help and open to any advice on how not to screw this up!!
Wanted to answer some of the questions. The truck has the 3.55 gears and the only add-ons it will have is a bedliner and hard tonneau cover that I'll likely take off.
Appreciate the help and open to any advice on how not to screw this up!!
05-13-2016, 09:43 AM
#6
You are smart. You are asking the right questions. You can make this work with some thought and smart actions. If you are at the limit, don't drive fast. Limit your speed to 60 mph.
Have fun. Be safe.
Have fun. Be safe.
Last edited by acadianbob; 05-13-2016 at 09:47 AM.
05-13-2016, 10:35 AM
#7
Senior Member
Your trailer weight is probably dry weight. Expect to add about 1K Lbs to that. Your tongue weight will come about to be about 700lb. Your payload already factors the driver and a full tank of gas, so !25lbs of your weight will be included in the payload. So here's the math.
375lbs for people
700lbs for loaded tongue weight
100lbs for WHD
You have headroom of about 225lbs for cargo and other stuff. Instead of carrying your generator and fuel in your truck bed, you can put them in the TT t reduced the weight. Whatever you place in the TT will account for about 10-15% of actual weight as tongue weight.
I am pulling 26' 5000lb dry with similar tongue weight as yours and have no issues towing. With 400lbs passenger weight, I had to beef up rear suspension, but the truck has no problem running up and down steep grades. Which axle do you have? I have 3.73 which is a huge help. If you have 3.31, you may have a bit of trouble pulling anything above 6000lbs.
375lbs for people
700lbs for loaded tongue weight
100lbs for WHD
You have headroom of about 225lbs for cargo and other stuff. Instead of carrying your generator and fuel in your truck bed, you can put them in the TT t reduced the weight. Whatever you place in the TT will account for about 10-15% of actual weight as tongue weight.
I am pulling 26' 5000lb dry with similar tongue weight as yours and have no issues towing. With 400lbs passenger weight, I had to beef up rear suspension, but the truck has no problem running up and down steep grades. Which axle do you have? I have 3.73 which is a huge help. If you have 3.31, you may have a bit of trouble pulling anything above 6000lbs.
How many times do we have to go over this?
The following users liked this post:
Ricktwuhk (05-13-2016)
Trending Topics
05-13-2016, 01:43 PM
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ND
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Payload does NOT include any weight for the driver. It DOES include a full tank of fuel.
How many times do we have to go over this?"
Depending on the year of his truck it may. According to my 2011 manual: "Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight assumes a towing vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10-15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15-25% (5th-wheel trailer) and driver only (150 pounds)."
How many times do we have to go over this?"
Depending on the year of his truck it may. According to my 2011 manual: "Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight assumes a towing vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10-15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15-25% (5th-wheel trailer) and driver only (150 pounds)."
05-13-2016, 03:17 PM
#9
Senior Member
That sounds like a reference to GCVWR, not payload capacity.
