marauder11

Here are the numbers of my trailer i am looking at buying.
All weights in pounds
Truck
2012 F150 Eco Boost 3.73 Max Tow (where besides the hitch does it tell me i have max tow)
GVWR 7650
Payload 1746
GCWR( from manual) 17100
Rear Axel 4050

Trailer Ratings are
Dry 6450
Hitch weight 960 ( can this be the dry hitch weight or is it the max hitch weight. I was told to go 10% for hitch weight. Will get dealer to weight the dry hitch weight )
Trailer payload is 3174 ( current rv has 1200 pounds of gear in it )

Thoughts is this a do-able trailer for my truck.
Will have 500 pounds of passengers that's full numbers. Not sure if they actually allow 150 pound in trucks number for driver already. Usually carry a 100 pound generator

So the way i am looking at this is:
Estimating trailer weight of 7650.
7650 X 15%= 1147.5 Hitch weight

1746-1147.5 =598 Left

So with wife and kids we are 500.




Hope this makes sense

smokeywren

If you don't have the window sticker, there are some hints. Max Tow included the trailer tow mirrors and the integrated trailer brake controller. Do you have those?


GVWR is 7650 instead of the normal 7100 or 7200 and less than the 8,200 GVWR of the HDPP. You have that 7,650.


If you don't have the window sticker, you can go to Ford.com and download it for your VIN.



GCWR doesn't mean much, You will exceed the GVWR of the truck long before you get close to the GCWR. The important spec is GVWR. GVWR minus the wet and loaded weight of the truck tells you the max hitch weight you can have without being overloaded.

Dry trailer weight is a useless spec. You need the wet and loaded weight of the trailer. The dry hitch weight is also useless. You need the wet and loaded hitch weight. Dry trailer plus trailer payload = 9,417 max gross trailer weight.


Average wet and loaded tongue weight is 13% of the gross weight of the trailer. So if you load that trailer to 9,000 pounds, that's tongue weight of 1,170 pounds. Add 110 pound for the weight of a good WD hitch and your hitch weight will be about 1,270 pounds.

Your estimate of trailer weight is low, but using 15% for hitch weight is not far off. You got 1,147 and a more realistic number is the 1,270 above.

1746 - 1270 = 476. A bit less than your estimate of 500.

My prediction? In the middle of your third RV trip, the CAT scale will show that you're overload a bit over the GVWR (and payload capacity) of your F-150.

marauder11

You gave a great response. Want to thank you for the time.

I have gone away from this unit do to the dry weights being so high. Actual when looking at the sticker in the unit was 6930 pound dry weight and a 960 pound hitch was to much.



I know you thought my 1200 pound of added cargo was not enough. I have actually used a scale when i bought my trailer and have weighed the unit this past year.It is right under 1200. So i will still use this number.

The new unit i looked at comes in at 6100 dry and a 720 hitch weight. I know actual loaded weights are best bet i can load it up with my gear to go to the scale. I never haul water or anything in my holding tanks. We have a seasonal site with services.



So i used 6100 plus 1200 =7300 for weight
7300* 12% hitch weight is 876

Seems more reasonable to me

humblerb

Your tow vehicle is very similar to my set up. Our first trailer was approaching 9,000# wet. We were at the max of our truck specs. Plus, trailer was way too uncomfortable for me. When buying our second trailer, we stayed at 6,000# Max Dry weight from sticker.
Our gear is 1200# - 1300#, depending on how much beer we need.
The 6900# trailer you were looking at, would indeed be 8,000# - 8200# loaded. So you are looking at 1050# or so of TW.
As Smokey said, there is a chance when you got your actual weights from a scale, a good chance you are slightly over. That can be rectified by removing part of your 1200# (generator?, "just in case" gear, "you never know" gear).
You don't say if you are a new tower or not.
The comfort level between our first and second trailers, was like the difference between an F150 and F250 to me.
The second trailer you are looking at would be much more comfortable for me.

marauder11

Been towing for 20 years. I Agree the first trailer was a bit of a pipe dream. i knew better. I am shooting for that low 6k dry weight.

acadianbob

You have a Max Tow. Mine is Max Tow and my numbers are 7,700 and 1,820.

marauder11

Yes i do have max tow. Its a 2012 XLT XTR. It doesn't have tow mirrors from factory thou. Read a few guys with same thing. My GVWR 7650
Payload 1746

smokeywren

Then according to he 2012 Order Guide (dated 12/01/11) you don't have Max Tow Pkg. Max Tow Pkg (60P) for an XLT included:
"Side mirrors, black manual telescoping trailer tow w/power glass (includes heat, turn signal & puddle lamps)".


However, those mirrors are plug&play so maybe the dealer robbed the pickup of the tow mirrors to satisfy another customer, then installed the regular non-tow mirrors from that guys pickup on yours.


Or maybe if you bought the F-150 used, the previous owner didn't like those elephant ears and replaced them with regular smaller side mirrors.


You don't want to tow any trailer that's taller or wider than your tailgate unless you have tow mirrors. For even the smallest TT, you need the tow mirrors.


My 2012 came with small mirrors, and I replaced them with the tow mirrors for a 2012 XLT.
https://accessories.ford.com/exterio...er-mirror.html


$400 for the kit, which included both tow mirrors. Easy install after you locate the screw in the armrest that holds the door panel on the front doors. Instructions say dealer install only, but that's nonsense. Any reasonably-handy guy and most gals can do it in about 15 minutes per side. The wiring is plug&play.

marauder11

Bought the truck with 100km on it. I can assure you it is a Max tow. I am not the only one who didn't get tow mirrors from factory that i have heard about

smokeywren

Are you in Canada? Canadian order guides are different.