Calling all weight police!

[Heavy_Chevy]

Well, bottom line, I may be eating some crow. Hit the scales today for a dry weight getting ready for the move, and from my math, I am just 400 lbs under max GVWR (payload) with 3/4 tank of gas, me, the wife, and a relatively empty trailer.

No bikes, no dogs, no kids in the truck. No clothes in the trailer, or cold food in the fridges, or water in the tanks.

Did have Full LP tanks, linens, dry foods, all normal supplies ie- high lift, tool kit, hoses and cords, chalks, bottled water, chainsaw, rug, grease & oil, chains, snatch rope, lights, etc etc. Truck does have a brush guard, 12k winch, full toolbox, roll up tonneau, and 2 batteries. Here is the ticket and my door stickers. Somebody please double check my math before I have to go belly up to a stealership.

[JRTJH]

That right there is the only reason I don't have a new Cougar fifth wheel sitting in the pole barn right now... Like you, I've got a 3/4 ton truck (mine's diesel) and to stay under the GVWR, it's either leave DW or the hitch at home.... Can't pull the trailer without the hitch and if I left her at home, I wouldn't have a home to return to..... So, I'll keep the Cougar XLite that barely squeaks by under the pin weight.

[Heavy_Chevy]

Thanks JRTJH. So sounds like my math checks, and I need more payload, which I don’t think I can get just by adding a leaf.

Insert string of profanity here.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Heavy_Chevy

Thanks JRTJH. So sounds like my math checks, and I need more payload, which I don’t think I can get just by adding a leaf.

Insert string of profanity here.

Adding a leaf might give you less squat but it won't change the "rating of the truck GVWR" so if anything, it reduces your available payload by the weight of the leaf you add. Same with air bags... Levels the truck but if they weigh 40 pounds, you just lost 40 pounds of payload by installing them...

Or removing some of the other "heavy stuff" like the bumper guard, winch, etc ???? Not a pleasant alternative, but beats trying to find a new truck (chip shortage as well as a bankroll shortage)...

[sourdough]

I think you're finding what has been discussed previously. Not a happy place (btdt). IIRC (not looking back at all your posts, but think you have lots of "add ons" that aren't really related to towing from memory). Maybe removing all of that might give you a bit of relief but, in general, a 3/4 ton is hard pressed to adequately carry a 5th wheel in most cases. On the other hand, a new truck (if you can find one) might be just the ticket (1 ton). Good luck.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

That right there is the only reason I don't have a new Cougar fifth wheel sitting in the pole barn right now... Like you, I've got a 3/4 ton truck (mine's diesel) and to stay under the GVWR, it's either leave DW or the hitch at home.... Can't pull the trailer without the hitch and if I left her at home, I wouldn't have a home to return to..... So, I'll keep the Cougar XLite that barely squeaks by under the pin weight.

You must have a very light hitch! (wink, wink)
Does she read these posts?

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by flybouy

You must have a very light hitch! (wink, wink)
Does she read these posts?

A CURT A-16 resting on FORD pucks... It weighs about 135 pounds and sits, "like a toad on a lily pad" in the bed of my truck, from mid May to Mid November...

Yes, she sometimes reads my posts, usually I get a cold supper those days.....

[Ken / Claudia]

We were RVing last week and had 5th wheels on both sides of us in a campground. Normally I do not pay much attention to 5vrs, but likely will go that style in a year or 2. So, I am looking at them a little closer.
Both TVs were newer 2500s 4x4s, both 5vrs still without license plates, (ie brand new).
Judging by the size 32-34 ft range was a toy hauler with 3 or4 slide outs it's no wonder the truck had air bags. The other may have been at or under his payload with a 30-32 ft with 2 slides. I suppose they tow just fine. Both arrived as I was setting up, just by the long time it took them to set up, I will assume they are new to RVing. I kind of wanted to ask about pin wt's and payload rating, but realized they don't know or care.

[jfk69]

Kudos for stepping up. One ton time.

[RickV]

I ran into the same problem about 7 years ago. I had a 2003 F250 PS 7.3 that I used to pull my first 5ver a 30' Rockwood. in 2014 we updated to a 36' Crusader empty I was just under the GVWR of the F250 with the pin weight of Crusader. It was fine with the GCVW. The truck had no problem pulling it and my Wife called me the weight Nazi because I wouldn't want to load stuff in the front storage areas. I decided I wanted to be legal and found a 2003 3500 Duramax Dually problem solved. Since then with the new 5ver had to upgrade to new TV because the Duramax was limited to 15600 lbs of 5ver weight. Bottom line is you can never have too much TV because as soon as you think you got it covered you make a change and are overweight again.

[Cracker]

[QUOTE=RickV;448908]I ran into the same problem about 7 years ago. I had a 2003 F250 PS 7.3 that I used to pull my first 5ver a 30' Rockwood. in 2014 we updated to a 36' Crusader empty I was just under the GVWR of the F250 with the pin weight of Crusader. It was fine with the GCVW. The truck had no problem pulling it and my Wife called me the weight Nazi because I wouldn't want to load stuff in the front storage areas. I decided I wanted to be legal and found a 2003 3500 Duramax Dually problem solved. Since then with the new 5ver had to upgrade to new TV because the Duramax was limited to 15600 lbs of 5ver weight. Bottom line is you can never have too much TV because as soon as you think you got it covered you make a change and are overweight again.[/QUOTE

I had the same 2003 Diesel Dually long bed crew cab with 4wd. Absolutely loved the beast, but I removed the overload springs, when I bought a 30' Airstream, just to soften the ride for the Airstream. The front axle was always real close to maximum load with just the wife snd I onboard. All you can do with a load-equalizer hitch on that truck was, once again, just add enough pressure with the bars to smooth out the ride. You can never transfer much load to the front axle due to the rear axle being so far back and the length of the chassis being so long. Accordingly, I only used 600 lb bars for a 950 lb hitch weight. It was one heck of a smooth ride and the guy I sold it to bought it specifically to tow another 30' Airstream. I tried to find a 5th wheel that I liked, and that it could tow, early in 2003 - but they were all too heavy. My wife fell in love with the Airstream and that began a happy 10 years!

[flybouy]

RVs, like everything else in life, is a trade off. A vehichle is a tool and I beleive in using the appropriate tool for the task at hand. If it's just you commuting to work then a smart car may work but if you intend to carpool and take six others with you then you'll need a 7 passenger van at minimum.

Towing a trailer is no different. The truck is the tool that hauls the trailer. An undersized or ill-equipped (as in engine, drivetrain options not what Radio option) will be stressed and possibly unsafe. Many people want a smart car that can pull a 17K trailer but thus far it just doesn't work that way. This is a lesson that many of use have learned the hard way by leaving a trail of truck, trailer, then truck, trailer, then truck, trailer behind. So my advice is to look behind, note the learnings, then consider those learnings going forward.

[Heavy_Chevy]

HUA Flyboy. Rip the bandaid off. I’m 1 Ton shopping now.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Heavy_Chevy

HUA Flyboy. Rip the bandaid off. I’m 1 Ton shopping now.

Smarts a mite when the light finally flips on... don't it

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Heavy_Chevy

HUA Flyboy. Rip the bandaid off. I’m 1 Ton shopping now.

HUA is typically a military saying. If you were in the military I guess you've never been talked to in a frank manner My apologies if it hurt.

[Heavy_Chevy]

Originally Posted by flybouy

HUA is typically a military saying. If you were in the military I guess you've never been talked to in a frank manner My apologies if it hurt.

Still active duty. That’s why I was on the scales. Time to move again. Frank manner?? I don’t know any other way!

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Heavy_Chevy

Still active duty. That’s why I was on the scales. Time to move again. Frank manner?? I don’t know any other way!

Well thank you for your service sir and I mean that sincerly. Sounds like you're in for some busy times.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Heavy_Chevy

HUA Flyboy. Rip the bandaid off. I’m 1 Ton shopping now.

Took a quick look at FB & CL and it isn't a great time to buy; prices are crazy high so good luck.

[jadatis]

Originally Posted by Heavy_Chevy

Well, bottom line, I may be eating some crow. Hit the scales today for a dry weight getting ready for the move, and from my math, I am just 400 lbs under max GVWR (payload) with 3/4 tank of gas, me, the wife, and a relatively empty trailer.

No bikes, no dogs, no kids in the truck. No clothes in the trailer, or cold food in the fridges, or water in the tanks.

Did have Full LP tanks, linens, dry foods, all normal supplies ie- high lift, tool kit, hoses and cords, chalks, bottled water, chainsaw, rug, grease & oil, chains, snatch rope, lights, etc etc. Truck does have a brush guard, 12k winch, full toolbox, roll up tonneau, and 2 batteries. Here is the ticket and my door stickers. Somebody please double check my math before I have to go belly up to a stealership.

10754 lbs is your GAWR's together, GVWR 9200 LBS.
This indicates that your car is set in the market for a lower GVWR then technical possible.
Mayby its possible to get the car officially upgraded to for instance 9900 lbs GVWR.

What is the GVWR and GAWR' of your 5Thw?
mayby that has some payload left over. Then with WDH you can shift some weight to tires of 5thw.
Combination of both , can bring it all within the limits.

[CaptnJohn]

If looking to cut weight cheap ~~ take off the new tailgate with built in steps! I did on my last F350, not to save weight but as I like a 5er gate. A drill, $20 on Ebay for a camera and $23 at Ford for the harness.