Just weighed my Trailer and truck.

[hexmex357]

I was a little nervous about having a F150 pull a 2810Bh. I tried trading the F150 for a 250 but I would loose to much money. So I added firestone air bags and a hellwig stabilizer bar. As I also read that I would be overweight or close to it. So here are my number from the CAT scale. I think Im pretty good as far the numbers look.

Truck Only full tank of gas and the truck has a #7000 GVWR and #14000 for both

Steer Axle 3200
Drive axle 2420

Truck and Trailer fully loaded with all gear and family on the scales.

Steer axle 3360
Drive axle 3320
Trailer axle 5100
Gross weight 11,780

Am I in the ball park of pulling this thing safely still a noob? Thanks

[Dave-Gray]

Now that you have your weights, use the four-step weight safety plan at FifthWheelStreet.com

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[sourdough]

The trailer is almost 32' long so that can pose a problem in and of itself...but probably not a deal breaker unless you don't use a WDH or sway control.

Your truck scaled 5620 with nothing but gas. Your gcvw is 11780 meaning the trailer, people and gear added 6160 lbs. Dry weight of the trailer is 5145. That means you added 1015 lbs. for people, kids, gear in the truck, food, kitchen utensils, cookware, clothes, tools, shoes (28 pr. - joke), bbq grill, chairs, charcoal etc. etc. etc. - you get the picture. I'm thinking 1015 is awfully light for all that. I carry more than that in my trailer and that much again (almost) in my truck (not counting DW and myself) and it's just 2 of us.

We don't know what the trailer itself weighs because we have different combos in the truck. We do know you are at 11,780 gcvw against a 14k max and 6680 on the truck against a 7k max. When the truck and trailer are truly loaded I suspect you will exceed the gvw of the truck and we haven't talked about payload (on the door sticker) which I suspect you'll exceed as well.

All that doesn't mean you can't try to go camping safely. It just means that you will have to do what most 1/2 ton owners have to do (been there done that) and have to pick and choose what you can and can't carry, what you can and can't do etc. without exceeding one or more weight limits.

Pull your payload off the door and let's see where we're at.

[hexmex357]

Those weights are with everything we need to go camping. I loaded all of our gear when we went to the scale with family full tank of gas and all the utensils plates etc in the trailer. The only thing that is back of the truck is our generator. We don't carry much just the basic essentials to eat and Clothes.

Truck has Gcwr 14,300 Lbs
Hitch is rated for 1,220 Lbs
Front GAWR 3450 lbs
Rear GAWR 3800 lbs
GVWR 7000 lbs

[hexmex357]

With those numbers I calculated with 20 percent safety margin I came up with
Maximum Trailer weight 6,500
Maximum tongue weight 976

The only thing that is against me is length of the trailer and of course the WIND!

With a Sway bar installed on the truck, air bags and a Sway/weight distribution Hitch in place I think Ill be ok! Ive already driven it in high winds going 65 miles per hour. I did feel trailer behind me but nothing out of the ordinary. My true test in a couple of weeks when we go to the Smokey Mountains. Thanks everyone for the help!

[sourdough]

What is the payload of the truck - on the door sticker?

[Bolo4u]

It looks like, from his first post, he weighs ~5620, and with his 7000 GVWR, he's got about 1380 left.


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[hexmex357]

Originally Posted by sourdough

What is the payload of the truck - on the door sticker?

Payload On door sticker is 1880 Lbs

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Bolo4u

It looks like, from his first post, he weighs ~5620, and with his 7000 GVWR, he's got about 1380 left.


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You would be right!! Sticker would be irrelevant. Hopefully my thinking cap is working better today!

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by hexmex357

With those numbers I calculated with 20 percent safety margin I came up with
Maximum Trailer weight 6,500
Maximum tongue weight 976

The only thing that is against me is length of the trailer and of course the WIND!

With a Sway bar installed on the truck, air bags and a Sway/weight distribution Hitch in place I think Ill be ok! Ive already driven it in high winds going 65 miles per hour. I did feel trailer behind me but nothing out of the ordinary. My true test in a couple of weeks when we go to the Smokey Mountains. Thanks everyone for the help!

I think you'll probably be OK as well. If you haven't, think about upgrading the tires if you have P rated tires on the truck. Good luck and have fun.

[GMcKenzie]

I've got similar. GMC Sierra with their max trailer package (payload of 2015) pulling a 34'4" trailer.

I'd suggest upgrading to a WDH hitch with better sway control than the slide bar. I've got and Equal-i-zer 4 point hitch and it is much better. Also be sure you have a 10,000 lb setup, as dealers often toss in 800 lb ones..

If I hadn't found my Equal-i-zer used and cheap, I was looking at the Blue Ox system, but there are other good ones out there.

[hexmex357]

Yes I upgraded to D rated Michelin T/A KO tires. I am glad I joined this forum I have learned a lot about the science of towing.

[bsmith0404]

You are near the max, but your numbers are within the range of your truck. As with anything, when you get near max capabilities your margin for error is reduced. As long as you keep that in mind and travel accordingly, you should be okay. Stepping up to the LT LRD tires on the TV was a good move. You have a lot of spare weight capacity, just watch them very closely. Rapid air loss of a tire when your have that much weight behind you and near the edge of capacities can be a handful.

[Drydays]

"POOR people cannot afford to buy cheap" And IMHO this is unsafe. In the hills he is going to have fun. I wish him well and safe travels.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by Drydays

"POOR people cannot afford to buy cheap" And IMHO this is unsafe. In the hills he is going to have fun. I wish him well and safe travels.

Curious, why do you feel this combination is unsafe? Based on all of the numbers he has given, he is not exceeding anything. I can agree that there are better combos and a 1 ton dually diesel with an exhaust brake would be much better than any 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton in hills, but that doesn't mean everyone needs to have one.

[busterbrown]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Curious, why do you feel this combination is unsafe? Based on all of the numbers he has given, he is not exceeding anything. I can agree that there are better combos and a 1 ton dually diesel with an exhaust brake would be much better than any 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton in hills, but that doesn't mean everyone needs to have one.

It's about time people stand up to the 1/2 tonners who are within specs. I've been following this tread to see how much "inappropriate policing" the OP would receive. His numbers are all legal. A quality sway control hitch will help mitigate trailer movement. Don't expect the friction bars to compete with a 4pt Equalizer. And if he really wants to ELIMINATE sway, the Hensley's and Propide's will be his ticket. As stated, not everyone needs a 1 ton Cummins to move an ultralite trailer. These modern day 1/2 tons properly equipped can be just as effective and a lot more comfortable.

[Desert185]

"Manslaughter Motors - The Continuing Saga of the Killer 1/2 Tons"

Entertaining read.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Desert185

"Manslaughter Motors - The Continuing Saga of the Killer 1/2 Tons"

Entertaining read. [emoji38]

Or... how to spend $10K to make my 1/2 ton tow like a truck..... almost[emoji12]

Javi

[Outback 325BH]

I understand (sometimes) the WP knocking folks who are overweight, but to keep up with the snarky remarks and bigger truck recommendations when a guy is clearly within spec is just being a *ick.

The guy is in spec... which used to be what the WP was trying to preach. Now being within spec is not good enough? I don't get you guys sometimes.


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[Javi]

Originally Posted by Outback 325BH

I understand (sometimes) the WP knocking folks who are overweight, but to keep up with the snarky remarks and bigger truck recommendations when a guy is clearly within spec is just being a *ick.

The guy is in spec... which used to be what the WP was trying to preach. Now being within spec is not good enough? I don't get you guys sometimes.


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Hey... I applaud those who are in spec, but I've also been where he is currently. In spec but on the edge and towing that size trailer with that size truck will drive most people to drink.. Anticipating the wind, the grade and the traffic every minute waiting for that one moment when the trailer is controlling the truck instead of the other way around. Buying tires, shocks, airbags, and fancy hitches in an effort to make a 1/2 ton tow like a truck.... been there, done that... been in spec, been legal... and been relieved when I lost money on the trade but gained peace of mind..

Javi