GVWR and Hitch Weight

[chris199]

My Tundra (5.7L Double Cab 4x4) has a GVWR of 7200 lb. Gives me a payload capacity of 1540. Have purchased a Hensley hitch. Have a 32SAB Cougar on order...primarily because the hitch weight (650 lb before the stow area is filled) is so much less than another unit with a front kitchen (hitch weight 860 lb....before the stow area is filled) that the DW really prefers.

I have had people tell me that I don't need to worry about hitch weight. I am concerned, however, that I will exceed the GVWR of the truck if we go with the front kitchen unit with the significant hitch weight. Does the WDH/Hensley permit heavier hitch weights that otherwise would be adviseable?

I would appreciate the input of the experienced with this!! Thanks!!!

[f6bits]

WDH doesn’t change the hitch weight, it just spreads it around. Your Tundra still needs to bear the full weight of the hitch. Check your Tundra’s documentation to find out what your max hitch weight is.

And of that payload, you need to find out how much of it can be supported by the front, and the back, axle. In other words, not only do you have to be concerned about GVWR, you need to be concerned about GAWR (gross axle weight rating).

There are plenty of Tundra owners here who I’m sure will let you know what they’re able to safely tow.

[Festus2]

I would suggest that when your new 32SAB arrives, load it up with what you would normally take with camping, pack your fully-fueled Tundra with whatever cargo you would carry- including passengers - take it to a weigh station and get your unit weighed.
By doing that, you will know for certain what are all the various weights, (including your hitch and axle weights), and also if you are safely within the recommended limits for your truck.
Redistributing the weight in your TT will change your hitch weight. Sometimes, moving things around from back to front or front to back can make significant changes. Depending upon the location of your holding tanks and what, if anything, you have in them will effect your weight distribution. As was pointed out above, the WDH also acts to distribute weight.
You should be concerned about hitch weight despite what some others might have told you.

[michol02]

I went and weighed my 32SAB, and wow!!, it is heavier than I thought. I originally took the weight on the sticker and added the propane tanks, battery, and all the supplies and junk we take with us(weighed this with a small bathroom scale). I thought I was about 8800 lbs, but the scales said 9235 lbs(max is 9700), and the tongue weight was 1220 lbs(my max is 1100), so I moved a few heavy items from my front storage to the rear while traveling, I leave only 5 gallons of water in the fresh water tank(used to keep it half full), and I upgraded from a Equalizer 1000/10000 to a Equalizer 1400/14000. My TV rides a bit bumpy( going to install some HD shocks soon), but I'm under my max on everything, and it tows well. Maybe the 3/4 ton gods will shine down on me one day, but I'm ok with what I have now(just wouldn't take it through mountain ranges).

[chris199]

Brochure says tongue weight is less that 700 lb. What did you add that would get it up by 500+ lbs?

[JRTJH]

Not trying to sound "flippant" or "terrible" But what he added was a good container of "reality"

Brochures give a "highly controlled but often unrealistic view of a product" That said, brochures are designed to sell. Salesmen love to use them to "validate" their "sales pitch" of "Sure, you can tow with that vehicle, no problems at all"

In a "perfect world" where Escapes can tow a 26' RV and half tons can tow a 34' Fifth wheel, the brochure rules, but in the real world....... You get the picture???? :)

[michol02]

I have small BBQ pit, folding chairs, hoses, misc small tools, and small misc camping gear. Inside, I have clothing in the closets. In the storage under the bed, I have bedding, a couple of small appliances, and a vacuum. I replaced the door between the bedroom and bath with a cabinet which I estimate weighs 80lbs full. I used the door I took off to replace the cheap accordion B.R. Door(about 15lbs for the frame and hardware). All these things add up. I thinned out about 50lbs of stuff last week that I don't use or need. I wish I would have weighed the tongue when I bought it, I bet that it didn't weigh what the manufacturer said. All and all, I'm still pleased with what I have. We are really enjoying this trailer(living room is so roomy compared to the Rockwood we had previously). I feel safe towing it, just get a little nervous towing it in Houston traffic when we camp there( you couldn't pay me a million bucks to drive in Houston traffic every day):banghead:

[ktmracer]

Brochure says tongue weight is less that 700 lb. What did you add that would get it up by 500+ lbs?

propane +60lbs. Battery(s) +75-150lbs. so the real "empty" tongue weight probably puts the OP at close to 900lbs. +200lbs w/o adding anything else to the trailer!! Empty tongue weight is measured w/o any propane in the tanks or any batteries on the trailer.

As an example my 295RE has an empty tongue weight of 695lbs. My real tongue weight with two GC batteries, full propane and stuff in the trailer is 1250 with an empty water tank, 1400 with a full fresh water tank.

Stuff in the front pass through transfers mostly to the tongue, In reality it's not hard to double the empty tongue weight on a trailer.