Newbie question about towing weights
Hi We're looking at 5ers and wondering how to figure pulling weights. Which numbers do you use to figure whether your truck is strong enough? (I know it's a basic question, but I'm really scratc...
Forum Discussion
Turbo Turtle wrote:
Thanks for your patience and replies, everyone!
Sorry to be so dense.
We'll get the trailer this coming weekend, and plan to weigh it empty before we pick up the trailer and then afterward, with the trailer on, but low on gas in the truck. We can figure gas weight; then we plan to weigh everything that goes onto the trailer as we come up to speed, and the truck (though, we are light travelers on weekends and won't need much in the truck). Our first trip will be in mid-March, a weekend, and we'll pack very light. Still, we'll weigh again as we pass the CAT scales just to see.
FWIW: My truck is in excellent condition. Was babied all of its life, though it sure does guzzle gas! We have pulled smaller horse trailers with no issues, and we live in the mountains of WV. However, last spring, my EMPTY horse trailer snapped its axle (it was an ancient, bumper pull kind) in the parking lot overnight (after being towed all day) so I'm sensitive to what can happen. Don't want to see that on a 10K# trailer and on the Interstate!
So sad IMO that you were offered advice here before you bought the FW..
Here are the specs for the sandpiper you bought.
Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 11064 / 5018.6
Payload Capacity (lbs/kgs) 3262 / 1479.6
GVWR (lbs/kgs) 14326 / 6498.3
Hitch Weight (lbs/kgs) 2326 / 1055.1
:?:S
Thats the advertised weight... I kind of doubt your truck will have a 2326 lb payload capacity. And that # again is the advertised #.. Im sure it will be alot heavier.. I bet that pin Is much more.
25% of the dry 11000 lb weight is 2750 lbs pin... Geez... And once you load the FW It will be higher... 3K???
Unless I am missing something I feel you put the cart before the horse... Ya ya everyone says they pack light etc etc...
Some just try to justify it somehow..:R
You should of got the truck weighed before you bought. But I assume you already bought it when you first posted here. So all the replies were somewhat of a waste IMO..
Guess you fell into the dealer trap...
Well good luck... Hope you dont break some suspension components while doing 65 mph... It will not be pretty im sure...
I just hope you dont hurt yourselfs or kill anyone if indeed you are way over weight...
Above is all my opinion of course.. I tried to help you..
