Determining the vehicle weight when shopping for a new TV

[MarkEHansen]

As I understand it, the tow vehicle's owner's manual will list the maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating for the TV/TT combination. I can get the empty/wet weight of the TT from the Keystone web site (with the understanding the official value is on the weight sticker on the trailer) but I think the value listed on the web site will be close enough for estimating purposes.

How do I get the weight of a prospective tow vehicle? For example, if I'm shopping for a new vehicle and going through the manufacturers "Build your Vehicle" web site, selecting features, etc. - how do I determine what will be the weight of that vehicle?

If I'm lucky, I may find the same vehicle, equipped the same way on a lot some place near by that I can go look at - but I don't think I'm going to be that lucky.

How do you figure whether or not a given truck will work if you don't have that truck to go look at it's weight sticker?

[JRTJH]

I've got a couple of suggestions that you should consider.

First, when you "go to the trailer website" don't look for the empty trailer weight. You'll only tow the trailer empty ONE time, that's away from the delivery site. After that, you'll be "at camping weight" which will be "up to the GVW"... So, rather than use the empty trailer weight, use the GVW. You'll be amazed at how much you "stuff into nooks and crannies" in your new trailer, how much your DW decides to bring along on every trip, how many pairs of shoes (and spare boots) get stored, forgotten and found, only at the end of the season when you unload the trailer to clean it for storage.

Second, you won't find an "exact tow vehicle" to compare, but you can get a very accurate idea of what to expect by looking at similar vehicles on any dealers lot. If, for example, you're looking for a F150, then find one on a dealer's lot that has the same engine, same trim level, same cab/bed configuration, same 2WD/4WD option. Look at the payload and the GVW of that truck. That will give you (by subtraction) the truck curb weight (GVW-PL=CW).

Nearly every truck with similar build options will have a similar payload. You won't find a significant difference with whether the truck has a navigation system or not, whether it has leather or fabric interior, whether it has a bench seat vs bucket seats and console. Essentially, as in this instance, all F150 Lariat trim, with 3.5l Eco Boost, crew cab 6.5' bed 4x4 trucks with a GVW of 7600 pounds will have a payload that's "close enough to the other similar trucks". If you're looking for a King Ranch trim level, then DON'T compare it to an XL trim level. There are several hundred pounds difference in "luxury options" in the upper trim level trucks. Between "similar trucks, there may be a hundred pounds difference, but certainly not 1000 pounds difference between what you want to order and a similar truck on the lot. The GCWR will also be similar.

You've got to do your homework, talk to salesmen (trust but verify) and then ask others who have similar trucks to get comparisons.

[Logan X]

This doesn’t answer your question directly but it might help. In my opinion, it depends on what kind of towing you are planning on doing. For a small trailer (around 20 feet long) you might be ok with a well equipped 1/2 ton. For a bigger trailer I would suggest a 3/4 ton or bigger. For a fifth wheel, a 1 ton and a dually would be best. Those are just general guidelines.

You should be able to find each manufacturers tow charts on line and that will tell you how much a truck can tow. These number are often inflated so leave plenty of cushion. The other number you need to be concerned with is the trucks payload capacity, which is how much the truck can carry with all occupants and cargo. You should be able to find approximate payload capacities on line and that will give you a rough number to work with. Again, I would leave plenty of cushion in the payload amount.

My rule of thumb is it is better to have a lot more capacity than I need with my tow vehicle. I would hate for something to go terribly wrong because I was unsafe or overweight.

I think the payload capacity is the most overlooked number when matching a trailer to a tow vehicle. Remember, the hitch weight of a travel trailer and the pin weight of a fifth wheel are apart of your payload capacity. The hitch weight on a travel trailer is usually around 10 percent of the weight of the trailer and the pin weight on a fifth wheel is usually very heavy, like 2000 lbs and up.

Also, use the Gvwr numbers (or the loaded numbers) when you are figuring how much you can tow.

I included a link below that might help with finding curb weights.

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-...rb-weight1.htm

You should be able to get a rough idea of the truck you need and once you have decided it seems like you could contact the dealer to get the sticker information on your truck to confirm it will work.

This is all my line of thinking when I was putting my truck and trailer together. I hope it helps.

[Javi]

My way is much less expensive and time consuming.... buy a F350/3500 dually and quit wasting your time and money... trying to match a trailer with a minimum TV..

[fjr vfr]

Originally Posted by Javi

My way is much less expensive and time consuming.... buy a F350/3500 dually and quit wasting your time and money... trying to match a trailer with a minimum TV..

You can't have too much truck.

Never mind though if you're just buying an IPod or pop-up.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by fjr vfr

You can't have too much truck.

Never mind though if you're just buying an IPod or pop-up. [emoji38]

Then next year it's a 40 foot 5th wheel... [emoji1787] been there, done that.

[mtofell]

Originally Posted by MarkEHansen

As I understand it, the tow vehicle's owner's manual will list the maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating for the TV/TT combination. I can get the empty/wet weight of the TT from the Keystone web site (with the understanding the official value is on the weight sticker on the trailer) but I think the value listed on the web site will be close enough for estimating purposes.

How do I get the weight of a prospective tow vehicle? For example, if I'm shopping for a new vehicle and going through the manufacturers "Build your Vehicle" web site, selecting features, etc. - how do I determine what will be the weight of that vehicle?

If I'm lucky, I may find the same vehicle, equipped the same way on a lot some place near by that I can go look at - but I don't think I'm going to be that lucky.

How do you figure whether or not a given truck will work if you don't have that truck to go look at it's weight sticker?

Go to a dealer lot and check a few door stickers for similar trucks. The big ones that add weight are 4X4 and long bed vs short bed. Interior options won't change things that much. A bed liner adds maybe 20-30#, running boards maybe about the same. If you print out a couple window stickers and take them to lots and write the weights on them you should be able to come super close with future shopping.

[Gegrad]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I've got a couple of suggestions that you should consider.

Nearly every truck with similar build options will have a similar payload. You won't find a significant difference with whether the truck has a navigation system or not, whether it has leather or fabric interior, whether it has a bench seat vs bucket seats and console. Essentially, as in this instance, all F150 Lariat trim, with 3.5l Eco Boost, crew cab 6.5' bed 4x4 trucks with a GVW of 7600 pounds will have a payload that's "close enough to the other similar trucks". If you're looking for a King Ranch trim level, then DON'T compare it to an XL trim level. There are several hundred pounds difference in "luxury options" in the upper trim level trucks. Between "similar trucks, there may be a hundred pounds difference, but certainly not 1000 pounds difference between what you want to order and a similar truck on the lot. The GCWR will also be similar.

Interestingly enough, the RAM website gives you a "payload up to __" number when building a 2500/3500 truck on the trim selection page. And true to form, the "payload up to" number drops several hundred lbs as you move from Tradesman up to Laramie Longhorn. So at least one manufacturer is being somewhat transparent about payload numbers from the build page.

[mazboy]

Can you give us an idea on what you are talking about? tow? 5th wheel? slide in? what are you talkinga about?

[MarkEHansen]

Originally Posted by mazboy

Can you give us an idea on what you are talking about? tow? 5th wheel? slide in? what are you talkinga about?

I'm trying to determine how to figure the weight of a prospective truck so I can determine it's limits for towing. I don't know which truck/trailer at this point.

[MarkEHansen]

Originally Posted by Javi

My way is much less expensive and time consuming.... buy a F350/3500 dually and quit wasting your time and money... trying to match a trailer with a minimum TV..

Why do you think I'm trying to match a trailer with a minimum tow vehicle? In fact, that is exactly what I'm trying not to do.


Are you suggesting that an F350 with DRW has no towing limits? I'm pretty sure that's not true

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by MarkEHansen

As I understand it, the tow vehicle's owner's manual will list the maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating for the TV/TT combination. I can get the empty/wet weight of the TT from the Keystone web site (with the understanding the official value is on the weight sticker on the trailer) but I think the value listed on the web site will be close enough for estimating purposes.

How do I get the weight of a prospective tow vehicle? For example, if I'm shopping for a new vehicle and going through the manufacturers "Build your Vehicle" web site, selecting features, etc. - how do I determine what will be the weight of that vehicle?

If I'm lucky, I may find the same vehicle, equipped the same way on a lot some place near by that I can go look at - but I don't think I'm going to be that lucky.

How do you figure whether or not a given truck will work if you don't have that truck to go look at it's weight sticker?

Well so far some good responses some not.
#1. The rated MAX trailer weight listed in the owners manual along with MAX trailer weight are fictional numbers if you are looking at staying within GVWR and max rear GAWR.
The only way you could tow the max of those listed numbers is with a very light or zero hitch weight. In other words a tow dolly to carry the hitch weight.

So the real numbers you need to be looking at is that Payload number on the yellow door sticker that list the MAX payload sitting on the lot. Then the rear GAWR the max weight that can be placed on the rear axle.

Please understand that Payload number is the curb wight of the vehicle as it leaves the factory subtracted from the vehicles GVWR. Once you have it and start adding stuff to it that payload number goes down.

One last item, ALWAYS look at the trailer GVWR as the main number to work from. About the only exception to that would be a smaller trailer with a huge payload rating, but not often seen.

To answer your last posted question, NO there are limits to what a 350/3500 DRW can carry and pull, but nowadays that is approaching about 25,000# to 30,000#.

[MarkEHansen]

I saw once such door sticker which showed the max cargo weight for the vehicle. However, all the other calculations are centered on the Gross Vehicle Weight (vehicle + cargo).

Do I then determine the weight of the vehicle using the following?

GCWR - Max Trailer Weight - Max TV Cargo Weight

where GCWR and Max Trailer Weight come from the owner's manual and Max TV Cargo Weight come from the door sticker on the TV?

In one example I looked at, I see that GCWR is 14,000lb and Max Trailer Weight is 8,100lb. Subtracting those give a max TV weight of 5,900lb. Subtracting the max cargo weight then gives a TV net weight of 4470.

Is this right?

NOTE: I'm not talking about the weight of any particular trailer here - I'm just trying to determine how to figure the weight of the tow vehicle.

[MarkEHansen]

By the way, in the videos I've seen they refer to a door sticker which includes values for gross vehicle weight, axle weight ratings for the front and rear, etc. - All I can find is one sticker with the tire loading information. This includes just the tire pressure and max cargo weight values. I've checked all the door posts. Is this 'other' sticker only included on pickup trucks? Mine is an SUV.

[66joej]

In Canada SUVs are classified as trucks and have the tire info stickers.

[MarkEHansen]

I'm in the U.S. and my sticker is titled "Tire and Loading Information". Should I have a second sticker? Where would it be located?

[meaz93*]

MarkE,.....it seems you are making this harder than it is?
Locate/download the manufacturers OEM towing specs chart for whatever particular truck you plan on using.
Do the same for the trailer you like.
Than follow the enclosed simple weight calculating charts.
Plug in the numbers.
Get out their and start camping mister!-lol

[MarkEHansen]

Thanks, yes that seems simple.

However, your pictures show that the gross vehicle weight is the sum of the net/dry weight of the truck + cargo + people + hitch weight. My question is how do I get the vehicle net/dry weight?

[Logan X]

Originally Posted by MarkEHansen

I saw once such door sticker which showed the max cargo weight for the vehicle. However, all the other calculations are centered on the Gross Vehicle Weight (vehicle + cargo).

Do I then determine the weight of the vehicle using the following?

GCWR - Max Trailer Weight - Max TV Cargo Weight

where GCWR and Max Trailer Weight come from the owner's manual and Max TV Cargo Weight come from the door sticker on the TV?

In one example I looked at, I see that GCWR is 14,000lb and Max Trailer Weight is 8,100lb. Subtracting those give a max TV weight of 5,900lb. Subtracting the max cargo weight then gives a TV net weight of 4470.

Is this right?

NOTE: I'm not talking about the weight of any particular trailer here - I'm just trying to determine how to figure the weight of the tow vehicle.

I believe it is the opposite. the GCWR of your tow vehicle minus the GVWR of your tow vehicle equals the maximum size trailer you can tow. But, as already mentioned, you have to stay within your payload capacity and not exceed the GVWR or GRAWR of your tow vehicle when you are fully loaded.

[meaz93*]

I got mine from the Ford Towing Spec Chart for 2014.