`The more I research this topic the more confused I get...I could use some help with translation.

I have a 2013 F150, Super Crew Cab 4x4, 145" WB short bed, 5.0 V8 with 3.55 rear end. Book says maxloaded trailer weight I can tow is 7,700 lbs.

Am I safe towing a 25' Airstream travel trailer that has a dry weight of 5,850 lbs and GVWR of 7,300 lbs. Typically I put about 400 lbs max in my current travel trailer and a max of 450 lbs in my bed. Passengers are about 385 lbs.

I have a good weight distribution hitch already.

Am I safe and ok if I buy this airstream?

Thanks

 

First thing I would look at is the tongue weight. So approximately 10-15% of trailer GVWR will be resting on the tongue. Subtract that fron your payload sticker. How much do you have left for cargo in the bed, passengers, etc?

How close are you to your max trailer capacity, but more importantly- GCWR?

Don't use dry weights for anything. They are useless.

Edit: at 15% of GVWR of TT it is 1095lbs of tongue weight- hypothetically. 400lbs in the bed and 385lbs passengers is 1880lbs. Does the 385lbs include you? If so, subtract the 150lbs they account for. Now match that to the payload rating. Are you over? If so, how much? I won't be hypocritical- I am over mine, but only you can decide if you are comfortable with that. I have towed a lot, but only recently a TT. Mine is 5900 GVWR and to me- that airstream is pretty close to the max I would consider on a half ton with those 3.55's. I towed mine with a 5.4 and 3.55's and it was OK, but not stellar. There are guys here with WAY more experience than me that will chime in.

Also- do you have a tbc? Just based on length, I would say yes, but it's the weight that might get you on that one.

 

yes I am included in the 385 lb passenger weight.

What is tbc?

 

in this case he may be referring to a Trailer Brake Controller but it could be something else

 

What is your payload capacity? You'll likely have at least 800 lbs of tongue weight (12-15% of loaded trailer weight). Plus 800 lbs of passengers and gear in the bed. So at a minimum your yellow sticker on the door jam would need to show an available payload of over 1,600 lbs. If you're good there, the next check is the Gross Combined Weight Rating (max weight of the truck and trailer combined). Weigh your truck ready to camp. Add the weight of the ready to camp trailer. If that total is less than your GCWR, you're good to go. Typically half ton trucks run out of payload long before they hit max trailer weight.

 

The max cargo wt is 1425 lbs. So if I understand what you are saying:
1425 cargo wt minus 837 lb tongue wt is 588 lbs available for passenger and bed cargo.

Is that correct? Does a good weight distribution hitch alleviate the 837 lb tongue weight?

 

easiryder, sorry to thread jack but this is the first time I've seen this. Are you saying that my payload capacity of 1272lbs...includes the 150lb driver?? So w/o factoring in the 150# I have 1422lbs of payload according to the sticker???

If so, I'm awesome on the TT I've looked at.

 

If I am not mistaken, the payload capacity on your door sticker assumes a 150lbs driver and tank of fuel in the truck already. So in my case for example, I would add the difference of my weight (240-150=90) when calculating my payload that I am using.

I am fairly certain this is the case.

 

Yes, that's correct. I think a properly set up WDH will transfer roughly 20% of your actual tongue weight to the trailer axles- that may be the case, if someone else has a more accurate amount they will chime in

 

Yup, trailer brake controller.