Ok I know this has been beaten to death so bare with me but I need help from the TT guru's. I'm a pilot and build race cars so I'm no idiot but this trailer stuff confuses me. I know it can, but is it safe or what is needed to be safe since I'll have my family with me. I have a 2016 F150 Super Crew 4x4 With trailer tow package. 145" wheelbase 5.0 3.55 gears. The trailer I'm looking at is the Forest River Hyper Lite 24 HFS. Total of about 27' long. Weighs 5634 dry. 644 tongue weight.

Decal on the door of truck says 7000 GVWR and 1636 max cargo.

Question is what is needed? I've tried to read through all the reads and it's confusing to me for some reason. Lots of opinions as well of course. I am in S Florida/Ga area so not much mountainous terrain and only towing for an average of an hour or two distances. Just want it to be level and safe. any insight would be awesome. Thanks.

 

You weigh the truck with everyone/thing in it you plan to have with your while you tow to see how close you are to the GVWR. Subtract that weight from the 7000lbs and that is what you have left to haul. You take the 13% of Gross weight of the trailer and that will be your max tongue weight then add 100lbs for your hitch. If the max tongue weight plus hitch is under what you have left of your GVWR than you should be close.

 

Thank you. Sorry but still just doesn't make any sense. Truck tow rating is 9100 pounds. The GVWR is 7000. There is only 400 pounds worth of passengers. Truck is empty other than that. I don't understand how if I subtract 400 from 7000 I can only haul 6600 pounds. I a, def missing something lol. I must be getting old lol

 

If you take to 400 plus hitch weight of 100 would equal 500. Subtract that from the payload of 1638 and that leave you 1138 left. A 7500 lbs loaded trailer should have a 15% tonuge weight of 1125. So a loaded trailer weighing 7500lbs would be the max with weight distribution hitch. So a dry weight trailer of 6000 lbs would be the heaviest to go.
But to be fair, I only haul cargo trailers so other will chime in with a more detailed answer.

 

Ok. That seems to help me understand. Trailer is only 5600 pounds. Not towing but two four wheelers and basics. Don't think it will be a problem.

 

You caught that you need a weight distribution hitch, right?

 

Yes thank. Narrowed down to either the blue ox 1000 with trunnion bars or the equalizer. The dealer sells several but he sells these and they were recommended on the forum here as the better ones. Reese too but he doesn't sell Reese.

 

Sorry should have specified the amount of weight on the hitch. Not what you can pulled. It seems the limiting factor is payload and ow much tongue weight you can put on before you are overloaded.

 

The number you are missing there is the GCWR (gross combined weight rating) which is max weight of truck and trailer. The 9600 tow rating is a bit misleading on an F-150. Yes the engine will pull it but a 9600 lb trailer will have more tongue weight than the truck can handle when you add people and cargo and wd hitch on top of it. You should be fine with the weight you're talking about though.

 

Thanks everyone. I really like this particular trailer and the price is a no brainier so I'm leaning towards it. If it's over weight then I was considering the livin lites but price jumps dramatically since it's all aluminum.