Help Me Stay Realistic On Tow Weights
#1
2016 F-350 Lariat
Thread Starter
Help Me Stay Realistic On Tow Weights
What I have:
2013 F-150 Crew King Ranch
TRUCK STICKER
Front GAWR 3900
Rear GAWR 3850
GVWR 7350
FORD GCWR 13,500 – PER TOWING GUIDE
3.55 AXLE
157” WHEEL BASE
MAX LOADED TRAILER WEIGHT - 7,500 LBS
ACTUAL TRUCK WEIGHT FULL OF FUEL w/Driver and Passenger
FRONT 3550
BACK 2750
TOTAL 6300
Went to use the handy weight calculator available on this forum (thanks to the guy who developed it - and those that contributed).
I am looking for a travel trailer - approx 27-30 feet. Would like 1 if not 2 slides. It's just the wife and I. No need for bunkbeds. Would like 2 chairs besides the dinette. I am aware I may need to come down in my expectations!
If your trailer fits the above, please share your info for the following, so I can see just where I would fall within the weight calculator.
Since I don't have any trailer weights to go by yet, I'm hoping you will share some of your basic real time info, so I can look them up and get some ideas.
NEED FROM YOU:
Your Trailer Info (Per Your Sticker):
MAKE
MODEL
YEAR
Front Axle Weight:
Rear Axle Weight:
Total Gross Weight:
Trailer GVWR
I'm hoping a few of you will have your numbers available so I can get an idea.
According the Calculator I have 1050 pounds of payload available, if I've done it right so far.
Thanks everyone.
2013 F-150 Crew King Ranch
TRUCK STICKER
Front GAWR 3900
Rear GAWR 3850
GVWR 7350
FORD GCWR 13,500 – PER TOWING GUIDE
3.55 AXLE
157” WHEEL BASE
MAX LOADED TRAILER WEIGHT - 7,500 LBS
ACTUAL TRUCK WEIGHT FULL OF FUEL w/Driver and Passenger
FRONT 3550
BACK 2750
TOTAL 6300
Went to use the handy weight calculator available on this forum (thanks to the guy who developed it - and those that contributed).
I am looking for a travel trailer - approx 27-30 feet. Would like 1 if not 2 slides. It's just the wife and I. No need for bunkbeds. Would like 2 chairs besides the dinette. I am aware I may need to come down in my expectations!
If your trailer fits the above, please share your info for the following, so I can see just where I would fall within the weight calculator.
Since I don't have any trailer weights to go by yet, I'm hoping you will share some of your basic real time info, so I can look them up and get some ideas.
NEED FROM YOU:
Your Trailer Info (Per Your Sticker):
MAKE
MODEL
YEAR
Front Axle Weight:
Rear Axle Weight:
Total Gross Weight:
Trailer GVWR
I'm hoping a few of you will have your numbers available so I can get an idea.
According the Calculator I have 1050 pounds of payload available, if I've done it right so far.
Thanks everyone.
Last edited by USCG-Retired; 10-28-2014 at 10:28 PM.
#2
As you review the wide variety of trailer configurations out there, be aware that payload is likely to be your limiting factor.
Also out of your payload comes weight of the hitch and any items you place anywhere in the truck.
Don't go by the dry tongue weights listed for trailer. That weight does not include trailer options, battery, propane tanks, etc. Nor does it include what you load in the trailer.
Tongue weights tend to be in the 10 to 15% range of the total trailer weight.
I usually figure about 500 to 1,000 pounds of extra weight above the dry weight.
Good luck. Have fun. Be safe.
Also out of your payload comes weight of the hitch and any items you place anywhere in the truck.
Don't go by the dry tongue weights listed for trailer. That weight does not include trailer options, battery, propane tanks, etc. Nor does it include what you load in the trailer.
Tongue weights tend to be in the 10 to 15% range of the total trailer weight.
I usually figure about 500 to 1,000 pounds of extra weight above the dry weight.
Good luck. Have fun. Be safe.
#3
2016 F-350 Lariat
Thread Starter
Very good points that are easy to forget.
I've owned a travel trailer before and I know we were way way overweight.
Since then, I've owned a 32' 5th wheel that I towed with a F-350 dually. Also a 40' motor home. I know I was within my weight limits then.
We have been without an RV for the last 4 years. Getting back into the lifestyle again as I near retirement (yet again).
I just don't want to repeat the same mistakes again.
I've owned a travel trailer before and I know we were way way overweight.
Since then, I've owned a 32' 5th wheel that I towed with a F-350 dually. Also a 40' motor home. I know I was within my weight limits then.
We have been without an RV for the last 4 years. Getting back into the lifestyle again as I near retirement (yet again).
I just don't want to repeat the same mistakes again.
#4
Senior Member
Honestly Chief, you don’t have much room to work with having only 1050# of maximum payload available. Sure you can pull a TT down the road just fine, but 1-2 slides might be a stretch. You’re going to have to shoehorn a smaller trailer in to fit your numbers. I took that approach and ended up being disappointed in the compromised trailer not to mention head out at 100% GVWR everytime I tow.
Here’s my numbers for comparison:
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/my-cat...umbers-256875/
Here’s my numbers for comparison:
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/my-cat...umbers-256875/
#5
Take a look at the Surveyor 264 by Forest River. 1 slide, about 28 feet long, should work with your truck, good floor space.
#6
Senior Member
Some of the best trailers are made in Oregon. Artic Fox and other brands by Northwood and the brands made by Outdoors RV (another company related to Northwood). The only problem is that they tend to be heavy with heavy frames. They can be used off-road on logging roads. They are also well insulated and can be ordered with double-pane thermal windows. A lot are sold up in Canada. http://www.outdoorsrvmfg.com/
We've got an Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 240RKS. It's 7500# loaded (8100# GVWR) with 15% (1130#) of that on the tongue. Last time I weighed it was 130# over the rear GAWR, 200# under the GVWR, and 20# under the hitch receiver rating. We got it with the two rocker/recliners instead of the couch. More weight than you want, I think, but a nice couples trailer. These companies make smaller trailers that might work for you.
Lance trailers are made in California and are also well constructed and well insulated. But they are smaller (less head room inside), lighter with a light-weight frame, have less ground clearance, and cannot go off-road as easily as the Oregon trailers. They might be more what your truck can handle though, and you will get better gas mileage with them. http://www.lancecamper.com/travel-trailers.php
We've got an Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 240RKS. It's 7500# loaded (8100# GVWR) with 15% (1130#) of that on the tongue. Last time I weighed it was 130# over the rear GAWR, 200# under the GVWR, and 20# under the hitch receiver rating. We got it with the two rocker/recliners instead of the couch. More weight than you want, I think, but a nice couples trailer. These companies make smaller trailers that might work for you.
Lance trailers are made in California and are also well constructed and well insulated. But they are smaller (less head room inside), lighter with a light-weight frame, have less ground clearance, and cannot go off-road as easily as the Oregon trailers. They might be more what your truck can handle though, and you will get better gas mileage with them. http://www.lancecamper.com/travel-trailers.php
The following users liked this post:
A7B2FX4 (10-29-2014)
#7
Grumpy Old Man
So 1,000 pounds for max hitch weight. Average hitch weight for a tandem-axle TT is 12.5% of gross trailer weight, so that's max trailer weight of 8,000 pounds if your TT has average hitch weight.
Allow for at least some weight in the pickup for campfire wood and other stuff, and I'd look for a TT with a GVWR of less than 8,000 pounds.
I am looking for a travel trailer - approx 27-30 feet. Would like 1 if not 2 slides. Would like 2 chairs besides the dinette.
Specs for 26RLSwe:
Shipping Weight 6120
Carrying Capacity 1580
(GVWR 7,700)
Dry Hitch weight 730 (11.9% of dry trailer weight)
Length 29' 11"
Last edited by smokeywren; 10-29-2014 at 07:23 PM.