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09-30-2019, 06:49 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: go west young man
Posts: 31
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The weigh in... towing with a half-ton
Hi all,
We all see many posts asking about half-tons and towing a TT. Here is my experience. (one of many)
I had to make a relocation move recently. It was on short notice and I just finished shopping for the month when I got the news. The closest Walmart was 220 miles round trip and some things I just could not get locally.
Anyway, I saddled up and got on the scales.
Details:
- Truck had a full tank
- weight distribution hitch on
- truck bed ~100 - 120lbs (guess)
- camper fresh water tank had ~15gals out of 40
- waste tanks empty
- way too many groceries inside camper, of course
- three 35# propane cylinders mostly full
I guessed right that the camper was under 7000 gvw (5380lbs dry weight).
But look at the rear axle weight. Over by 360lbs. The camper, truck and I need to go on a diet anyway, but sheez! I even moved some things to the rear of the camper to offset the tongue weight. Did the truck and camper perform well? Yes, even with 20+ mph crosswinds. There was no time to relax and enjoy that part of the trip because, as expected, I got pushed around a bit. Even with a 1000lbs less, I would have been pushed around, but that's the winds out West.
So! As so many here have said, your payload is very limited when towing with a half-ton truck. Now, I need to go and lose some weight.
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09-30-2019, 07:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,286
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Thanks for sharing your actual numbers, it is very helpful.
__________________
Mike
2017 F250 6.7 Powerstroke FX4 crew cab
2016 Hideout 24BHSWE (27 foot TT)
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09-30-2019, 08:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
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Quote:
Originally Posted by major bumm
There was no time to relax and enjoy that part of the trip because, as expected, I got pushed around a bit. Even with a 1000lbs less, I would have been pushed around, but that's the winds out West.
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Getting pushed around a bit is exhausting during the long haul. When one's camping objective entails a 30 minute trip to the local state park, those conditions tend to be tolerated and/or understated.
However, when the objective becomes a cross country adventure into the country's prairie lands and through the higher elevations of the NM and AZ where turbulent winds can make a grown man incontinent of his bowels, every lb of tow vehicle is much appreciated.
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier
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10-02-2019, 06:31 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: go west young man
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Logan X
Thanks for sharing your actual numbers, it is very helpful.
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Thank you, and you are very welcome!
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10-02-2019, 06:36 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: go west young man
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by busterbrown
Getting pushed around a bit is exhausting during the long haul. When one's camping objective entails a 30 minute trip to the local state park, those conditions tend to be tolerated and/or understated.
However, when the objective becomes a cross country adventure into the country's prairie lands and through the higher elevations of the NM and AZ where turbulent winds can make a grown man incontinent of his bowels, every lb of tow vehicle is much appreciated.
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Hey hey hey! Here come Fat Albert!
Only one moment when I thought I would need to change the skivvies. A semi rolled up in the left lane quick... so quick I didn't notice until the rear of the camper felt like it was being sucked into the semi! It was almost a "Pooh" moment. Oh! Bother.
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10-02-2019, 09:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
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Quote:
Originally Posted by major bumm
Hey hey hey! Here come Fat Albert!
Only one moment when I thought I would need to change the skivvies. A semi rolled up in the left lane quick... so quick I didn't notice until the rear of the camper felt like it was being sucked into the semi! It was almost a "Pooh" moment. Oh! Bother.
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Yep. The reality is that it only takes a split second to go from a "pooh moment" to "bathing in it". Either way, I prefer to limit those to "none".
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier
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