robertsunrus

Hi, a few points so you can see where I'm coming from.


(1.) I own my trailer and have no payments.


(2.) We are retired. [old people]


(3.) I bought a travel trailer and we travel per se' not camp.


(4.) On a trailer forum that I belong to they have huge discussions on hitches. Andersens work for some and are a failure for others. They also destroy some couplers due to the pressure of the ball being forced against the back side of the coupler inside.


(5.) Hensleys and Proprides are great hitches and do their best work with huge trailers. Mine is only 25' long.


(6.) I use an Equal-I-zer 1000/10,000 lb. rated hitch. I have used this hitch for over 12 years and with all original parts. I have towed in weather conditions where most people would have stayed at home.


" In 12 years of using an Equal-I-zer brand hitch, In all kinds of weather conditions, for many tens of thousands of miles, My trailer only once, swayed violently out of control. It was parked in my driveway during a 5.0 Earthquake."

atwowheelguy

Is this unusual, having a higher GAWR on the front than the back axle, 4050 vs 3850?

Mine is 3450 front and 3850 rear. Just curious.

Simnut

Someone suggested I could put a plow on it when I raised the same question.

Ever notice that the front and rear GAWR's don't total up to the GVWR? My GVWR is 7350, higher than yours but yet my payload is only 1147. I am at my max with a wet TT of 5000. Yet you can pull 6800 and be within limits. This is such a confusing realm ...yet it is so simple. I go by my weight limits...as do you....stickered on the door. Anyone of those are over loaded....it's illegal. Payload is not your limitations....it's one of mine, along with the rear axle.

Something else to add to the confusion. Quote:

If I do as they say....my GCWR is way over what they say it is for my truck.

Curb weight of my truck: 5716
Allowable payload: 1147
Driver and Passenger: 340 (some say curb weight includes driver but)
Allowable Trailer weight: 7600
______
Total 14803

My GCWR: 13500

Now....you weigh your trailer alone...it's say, 7600 lbs. Hook it to your truck, the trailer axles now carry around 6700 or so, depending on your tongue weight. That tongue weight is now carried by the rear axle......so you take that weight off the trailer weight. You can't weigh the same weight twice. I'm supposed to be able to tow 7600 lbs.....take the tongue weight off.....6800 lbs. My payload is 1147, less 800 is 347 lbs left. Just enough for driver and passenger. Oh, but hang on........my rear axle is overloaded. Dang it! Have to do the math all over again. See what I mean? lol

I have yet to get a reply from Ford when I asked them to show me how to I can pull a trailer THEY say I can pull. Maybe it's because they can't? I don't know. lol

Don't get me wrong...we love our truck/trailer setup. We , like you...are all within the limits our rig is rated for. It all comes down to the door sticker and easy ONCE you have your setup...well...setup. It's so hard to predict what you can or can't do with your truck regarding towing. Don't go by the vehicle and RV dealer or Ford advertising.

Just my opinion/rant. LOL

acdii

Funny thing is, and what I was trying to point out in the Read This thread. There are no laws regarding legal weight limits on personal vehicles. Unless they can physically exceed 20,000 pounds per axle, 34,000 per tandem, no LEO will even consider pulling you over to weigh you.

There are exceptions to this that were pointed out, but for the most part, when towing an RV trailer, and as long as there is no glaring obvious instance of being overweight, you will be ignored.

Where legality rears it's evil head is Liability! This is where those weight ratings on the white sticker come into play. Cause a wreck, injure or kill someone while being above those weights, and Civil court will own you, but otherwise, you have nothing to fear, well, except when something breaks, then that is totally on you .

robertsunrus

Hi, is it possible that you read your rating sticker wrong? Or is it possible that Ford misprinted your rating sticker? Mine is 3750 lbs for the front axle and 4050 for the rear axle. My GVWR is 7650 lbs. and my payload is 1745 lbs. Your truck's ratings just seem wrong.

Simnut

I think I'm reading it right

robertsunrus

Hi, yes you are. Now I know this isn't how it works, But comparing your truck to mine, the numbers don't make sense to me. If I add my axle ratings of 3750 / 4050 I get 7,800 lbs. total. This is 150 lbs above my 7,650 Lb. GVWR.


On your truck if I add the axle ratings of 4050 / 3850 lbs. I get 7,900 lbs. That's 100 lbs more than mine and yet your GVWR is 300 lbs. less than mine.

GTA150

I still think his truck was originally ordered (or accidentally) with the snow plow option.

Simnut

I think I have yet to see a total axle weight rating add up to the GVWR. Confusing ain't it? lol This is why predicting what a truck can legally tow or haul is difficult. The only sure way is to hook up or load and hit the scales.

Dang...a thought just came to mind for my setup up. I should invent a carrier for the FRONT of my truck for cargo! lol. My front axle would handle it NO problem! Oh, hang on.....my payload screws me up for that idea!

Simnut

But it would still overload my payload rating

You saying that gave me the idea I mentioned above...but.........