Am I within the safe zone towing this travel trailer with my truck with the following data. For the life of me I can't figure it out. All weights in pounds. Thanks in advance for any help.

Ford F150 2011 Super Crew 4x4 short bed V6 3.5 L EcoBoost
Towing capacity 9700
3:55.1 Axle Ratio
GVWR: 7200
Front GAWR: 3750
Rear GAWR: 3850
Combined weight (occupants & cargo: 1480

Travel Trailer
Actual Dry Trailer Weight: 4500
Water: 383
LP Gas: 135
Sub total: 5018

GVWR: 7290
Minus: 5018
Can still load: 2272

 

You're fine.

 

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping I was! See, bought the trailer first ( long story). That's a bit scary ( and dumb) when your not very good at math. I appreciate the answer even though I don't know how it works.

 

Here's some more detail:

Truck's tow capacity 9700#
versus
Trailer weight of 5018#
No problem. Even if 5018# doesn't include food, clothes and other gear in the trailer, I really doubt you'll come close to 9700#.

But that's typical for these trucks. Usually the problem has more to do with payload:

Truck's payload 1480#
(This is what's on the yellow door jamb sticker?)
versus
??? Weight of driver, passengers, gear in truck, and trailer tongue weight.

This can get tight. Lets say your trailer, fully loaded, actually weighs 5500#. For good handling and reduced sway you want at least 12% of that on the tongue, so 660#. Subtract that from the truck's payload (1480#) and you get about 820# remaining for the weight of driver, passengers and gear in truck.

So, is 820# good enough?

Another way of looking at this is to load up your truck with all the people and gear you camp with and weigh it. Subtract that GVW from your truck's GVWR (7290#) will give you the max tongue weight your trailer should have.

Some people don't trust Ford's weight ratings and always have much more truck weight capacity than Ford says is necessary. Others say Ford is overly cautious in its ratings and that you can exceed them to a certain extent. Me, I just try not to exceed the manufacturer's ratings.

 

I believe I actually am beginning to understand this. Thanks a bunch for taking the time! I think the figure of 820 that you came up with is pretty darn close to spot on. So, highway here we come

 

Know what you mean about buying the Cart before the horse, Had a 99 Cherokee and a pop up, Then Bought a 17ft hybrid, my poor Cherokee tried her best, My 4.6l with 3:55 still seems a little under power but the tuner helps.
have fun pulling that trailer, I heading out in about 11hrs for a trip

 

Thanks a bunch! Have a great trip and be safe. See you when you get back.

 

Brulaz has touched on the real issue - your trailer falls within the max trailer towing rating, but the issue for you is more about payload. Your gvwr is 7200, this is the maximum weight that your truck is supposed to have on its four tires. You need to take the weight of your truck and add the 1480lbs you said that you have for cargo and passengers, then subtract that from the 7200lb. This will tell you how much capacity you have for a trailer's tongue weight. I don't know what the new trucks weigh, but I suspect that you are at or over your gvwr with the cargo you have already.

 

So truck : 5720 + payload 1480 equals 7200 pounds. Subtracted from 7200 leaves nothing. So I can't tow anything?

 

According to the letter of the law, I guess you can't. But most people would anyway.