Hi guys,

Could someone set me straight on my trucks payload. The yellow door sticker on my truck says combined weight of cargo and occupants should not exceed 1361lbs. I'm trying to figure out what my available hitch weight will be before I buy a trailer and I'm getting conflicting advice. Some say that the sticker weight is the number available after a full tank of gas and a 170lb driver. Others say you need to subtract the weight of the driver and gas from the number. Which is correct?
Also, I had an RV salesman tell me not to worry about tongue weight yesterday. He said that a weight distribution hitch takes the weight and puts it back onto trailer axels. It is my understanding that I want about 12% of the trailers weight on the hitch to be safe, so what this man is saying is completely wrong!
Any advice you have is appreciated.
Thanks

 

I always thought the available payload was without occupants, so you total the weight(s) of the people(person) and gear that subtract from the available total payload.
The WD hitch does not eliminate the tongue weight of the trailer completely, but it does reduce it by redistributing it to the trailer axles, and also will move it from your drive axle to your steer axle. Each truck/trailer combo will be unique, and even the same combo can be set up differently with the same hitch, as in the case of the Equalizer hitch and the # of washers used to preload the WD bars.

 

The RV salesman is very knowledgeable about what to say to get you to buy an RV, nothing more. You could show up in a Smart car and they'll tell you that 30' TT will work just fine.

Scale your truck with you in it and a full tank of fuel (the transfer station scales or truck scales are a good spot). Then subtract that amount from the gvwr listed on your spec sticker (on my 1999 truck it is on the drivers door pillar). That amount will be your available payload capacity (NOT payload rating, available payload capacity). Then factor in other passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight.

 

Just as bchauler suggested,The easiest thing to do is load the truck up with the family, full tank of fuel and whatever gear you would load in the truck for a camping trip . Then go hit your local Cat scale and have it weighed. Take that weight and subtract it from your trucks GVWR. Whatever is left is what you have available for trailer tongue weight.

When looking at trailers the rule of thumb is to figure tongue weight to be 12% of the trailers GVWR to be safe. For example my trailer has a GVWR of 8200lbs and 12% of that is 984lbs(8200 x.12=984).. My actual tongue when loaded is 940lbs. Also keep in mind that a properly setup WDHitch is going to transfer weight to the front truck axle and about 20% of the weight back to the trailer axles.. Good luck,

Kevin

 

Also, don't get too concerned if you are close to the rated capacity, over or under. Truck manufacturers are quite conservative in their ratings, and actual capabilities are usually greater. That being said, the warranty could be voided if something happens and it is determined that you were over.

 

The yellow sticker is the combined weight of cargo = people, gas, stuff in back and tongue weight of camper.

If your hitch weight of your loaded trailer is 900- 1000lbs that would leave very little wiggle room for "stuff". So if you are looking at trailer be sure to know what the hitch weight is and the gross weight of the trailer.

 

The weight listed on the yellow sticker already figures a full tank of gas but no driver or passengers or 'stuff'.