Payload question
 

So, straight to the point.

1. If the manufacture states a dry hitch weight of 776#, what is the calc when using a WDH? 20% which equates to 621#?

2. Without hitting a weigh scale, is there a calculation I can use once I add 2 6V batteries and 2 30# propane tanks (124# and 108# exclusively)?

3. If I were to store my generator and fuel for the dirt bikes in the back of the TT, will that reduce the hitch weight and is there any way to calculate this without going to a scale?

I am suppose to be picking up the new TT next weekend, but since I usually bring dirt bikes on my camping trip, I am trying to figure out how NOT to overload my trucks payload of 1495. As it is, I'll probably have to have the wife drive her jeep with at least one of the dogs (dogs each weighing 105#).

Not sure it matters for this discussion, but the truck is a 13' EB Screw 6.5' with Max Tow and TT is a PrimeTime Tracer 3120. Truck sticker as stated has a max payload of 1495.

Cheers!

1. First of all, if your empty trailer has a 776 lb tongue weight, empty it must weigh around 6000 lbs.

By the time you load it up it will be pushing 7500 lbs with around 900 lbs of tongue weight.

Your WDH will redistribute some of the tongue weight forward to the truck's front axle, and some back to the trailer's axles.

The link to the site below has info on determining your tongue weight with a WDH. What is on the tongue, or redistributed forward/aft depends on how well your WDH is set up, and you'll really need to go to your local CAT scales to weigh the rig to see the actual weights.

2. Where are the batteries and propane tanks? If they're up on the tongue, then tongue weight is increased by almost all of their weight.

3. Yes, if you load stuff in the rear of the trailer it will reduce the tongue weight.

You can weigh the tongue yourself, as explained on this site:

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-d...ue-weight.aspx


Easiest is to use a Sherline tongue weight scale. I see some for different max weights (1000, 2000, 5000) currently on eBay for $135+12 shipping.

But, you can use their method with a bathroom scale to get good results.

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That trailer has a shipping weight of 7241 plus cargo carrying capacity of 2298 for a GVWR over 9,500 pounds. So assume the wet and lightly loaded trailer on the road will gross between 8,000 and 9,000 pounds. If you can keep the weight down to 8,000 pounds, that's up to 1,200 pounds tongue weight. And yeah, with a properly adjusted WD hitch, about 20% of that 1,200 pounds will be distributed back to the trailer axles. So that leaves about 1,000 pounds on the truck axles.


With you and one dog in the truck and two dirt bikes in the bed, you're going to be overloaded with that trailer when wet and loaded for the road.

Trying to tow too much trailer with too little tow vehicle is always a challenge. But the only formula I know about is trailer GVWR times 0.15 = max tongue weight that trailer will probably have. And a properly-adjusted WD hitch will distribute that tongue weight about 20% to the front axle, 20% to the trailer axles, and leave 60% on the rear axle of the truck.


Any weight you add behind the rear axle of the trailer will reduce tongue weight, but I don't think anyone has come up with a simple formula to show how much.

If you plan to haul gasoline in a TT, I hope that TT is a toy hauler that includes a special fuel tank built into the trailer. Otherwise, you'll be illegal and a candidate for the Darwin award.

Here's the floorplan of the Prime Time Tracer 3120RSD:
http://primetimerv.com/images/floorp...lg/3120RSD.jpg


Hmmmmmmm. Nope, it's not a toy hauler. Since the TT is not a toy hauler with a fuel tank, then consider having a welding shop add a receiver hitch to the back of the trailer, then add a cargo carrier to the back of the trailer, and haul the fuel (and generator) on that cargo hauler. That's what I did for years when dry camping at Texas Motor Speedway for race weekends.


Here's the type of cargo carrier I have:


No matter how you slice and dice it, you're going to be overloaded with that trailer, you and a 100-pound dog in the cab, and two dirt bikes in the bed.

Never EVER go by the makers dry "brochure" weights.

Get the actual unloaded weight off of the trailer itself, it's yellow sticker. Then figure on another 1300 - 1500 lbs after fully loaded. Then take the 13% of that weight to get an 'average' tongue weight.

Read my previous post on this.

Are you sure you have the Max Tow package? Your 1495 lbs payload is really low for a Max Tow package truck. In fact my loaded out XLT Screw 4WD 5.0L has a payload of 1582 lbs, nearly 100 lbs more payload, with the standard tow and suspension package.

Looks like 3/4 or 1 ton area to me.

Your questions have been answered and you're going to do what you're going to do. You're way overloaded, but no weight police will stop you.

All I can say is PLEASE do not transport fuel in your TT. That goes for a generator with fuel in it. You get a leak or it tips over or EVEN IF NOTHING happens to it, you're never getting that stink out. It will make you and your dog sick.

Definitely have the max tow, but it's a loaded FX4 so payload is low. My buddy has the same except short box and his is slightly higher.

I'm going to have a bracket added to the rear of the trailer for the bike and fuel. As for the generator, I'll have to wait and see how payload checks out but I suspect I'll have enough for the generator to be carried in the box.

Yellow sticker is 6907 which is what I've been basing numbers on

I have to ask - I've never gone to the scales (never towed anything more than a few thousand pounds) but assume the cost is minimal, especially as compared to the cost of buying your truck and TT. So is the "without hitting a weight scale" comment due to cheapness, lack of scales near your house, or Darwin's law?

None of you above guesses. It's because I don't own the trailer at this time, only have a deposit on it. I've taken it for a dry tow, but it was as DRY as it was the day it was shipped to the dealer. The questions were posted BECAUSE I wanted to make and educated, informed decision on the purchase which I would suggest is completely contrary to any Darwin comment that has been made a few times. I am relatively new to RV'ing, having purchased a TT last year that I towed 4 times before realizing it was not the ideal unit for my wife and I, and our needs. I've no friends who are experienced RVers, and therefore this forum seemed like a good start.

For those who have contributed positively, I definitely appreciate it. For example, the generator and/or fuel in the trailer... a) had no idea it was illegal and b) had no intention of just throwing it in the TT (was going to build a fastened fiberglass box) but thinking it through more, probably not the best ide. I also appreciated the suggestion on having a carrier added to the rear of the TT which as mentioned, I am exploring that more throughly.

Also, I don't need folks telling me the specs from a web site. I have those specs and I've also looked at 3 models of the same TT on a RV lot, ALL WITH DIFFERENT DRY WEIGHTS. Therefore, I think I'll base preliminary numbers on the actuals, not a general assumption.

So, based on the feedback from some of the more useful posts, the game plan is:

1. When I race, I am travelilng no more than 3 hours or my house. Therefore, the wife will bring the bikes on a open trailer, and I will tow the trailer.
2. If it works out that I can add a bike carrier to the back of the trailer, then I will bring one bike if my wife does not ride.
3. I am well within my towing and payload limites if not bringing the bikes and generator which will be for all trips that are not for a race.

Cheers!

Even if you could add a carrier to the back of the trailer for the dirt bikes you don't want to. It will cause the trailer to sway.

Also i have the same truck as you,(FX4 6.5' bed w/ Max tow pkg). I have 1693lbs of payload. My trailer is 6500lbs(dry). I had my setup weighed when we were loaded for a 4 day trip and the trailer was 7500lbs. The truck weighed in at 7560lbs with the trailer attached. I'm only 140lbs from my trucks GVWR. And all i had in the bed of the truck was fishing gear and my little Weber Q grill. Your trailer is 7241lbs before adding anything. You are definitely within your tow rating but unfortunately your gonna be over your trucks GVWR and possibly your rear axle rating.